As the UK government moves to limit branded school uniform items to cut costs for families, Luke Conod, CEO of SchoolUniformShop.co.uk, is speaking out about the hidden consequences of ultra-low-priced schoolwear dominating supermarket shelves.
The policy, which claims to save families up to £50 per child, may do more harm than good Conod argues, as it risks pushing parents toward low-quality, unethically made alternatives that offer neither value nor dignity. “Uniforms aren’t just clothing,” says Conod. “They’re about equality, durability and ethics. Cheap uniforms wear out quickly and are often produced in exploitative conditions that no parent would find acceptable for their own children.”
According to ActionAid UK, the reality of £9.96 supermarket uniforms includes the following. Factory workers earning as little as £12 a month; forced overtime, 16-hour shifts and dangerous working conditions; malnutrition, exhaustion and abuse; and women in Sri Lanka derogatorily referred to as “juki badu” – “slaves to sewing machines.”
One such worker, Sirin Ankar, a 24-year-old mother in Dhaka, Bangladesh, makes uniforms for British children yet cannot afford to send her own children to school. “It makes me feel so sad that I can’t afford to send my children to school,” says Ankar. “I want a better life for them than the one I have.”
With supermarket giants competing for dominance in the £450 million school uniform market, Conod warns that UK price wars are fuelling a race to the bottom at the expense of workers, families, and ultimately, quality. “Let’s be clear,” continues Conod. “When a uniform costs less than a takeaway pizza, someone, somewhere, is paying the difference with their health, future and dignity.”
Conod is urging parents, schools and policymakers to think critically about what lies behind ultra-low prices. He also supports ActionAid’s proposal for an independent watchdog to oversee ethical compliance in supermarket supply chains.
School Uniform Shop is committed to only partnering with ethically certified suppliers; ensuring fair wages and safe working environments; and producing uniforms that are durable, consistent and responsibly sourced.
“This isn’t about boycotting supermarkets,” concludes Conod. “It’s about holding them accountable. We must protect the people, especially women, who make our children’s clothes. Ethical schoolwear should not be a luxury, it should be the norm. We believe in providing value that lasts, for families and for factory workers alike.”