Luke Conod, owner of the ethical school uniform store, School Uniform Shop, has responded to the recent announcement that the government is backing a proposal to fast-track statutory uniform guidelines.

The new legislation could see uniform becoming almost completely generic, subsequently leaving the market open to the supermarkets.

Conod, who is an ambassador for ethical and sustainable schoolwear supply and has been lobbying on the subject for the past 12 months, shares his concerns.

“The supermarkets are not championing the shopper. The only thing they champion is their profit margin to the detriment of the environment and the people in their supply chain.

“They also have no interest in supporting the communities their stores are in. They certainly have no interest in the people that manufacture the goods for them.

“Ask yourself if the supermarkets can produce, ship halfway across the world, and sell a complete school uniform for under £5 and still make a profit? How much are the wages of the people that make this uniform?”

Hereford based School Uniform Shop received The Good Shopping Guide Ethical Accreditation Award in 2019. The prestigious accolade illustrates the retailer’s independently verified ethical status. Only the highest ethically ranked 33% of any particular product sector is eligible for ethical accreditation.

The Schoolwear Association (SA) is currently working hard to prepare for the process of making the guidelines statutory. For further information on the SA’s work and its campaign to promote the true costs and many benefits of school uniform, please click here.

To become a member of the SA, please click here.