Whether you love or hate school uniforms, the reality is that these garments do have many undisputable positive attributes. Here are some interesting facts about them that will surprise you:
(I) Uniforms Reflect The Reality In Society
If you though that the restricted clothing in schools is just an artificial construct that hardly reflects real-life, then you are truly mistaken. Have you considered how many occupations require wearing of specific attire? This includes emergency service workers, hotel staff, military personnel (the army has various categories of garments such as ceremonial, mess and general duty dress, as indicated by the Australian Defence Force), air hostesses, pilots and so many more.
Even the professions that don’t expressly state specific clothing requirement also have unwritten dress codes. Why else do bankers and lawyers dress up in smart suits usually with dark hues – no fancy colors or outlandish clothes?
Just as you would go to work dressed in official garments and leave all your casual attire for home or casual use, so also should you feel comfortable wearing formal uniforms when attending your classes. If you really want to express your individuality and unique personality, then let that wait until you get back from school – most probably, that is exactly what you’ll be doing in future after a hard day’s work.
(ii) Could Uniforms Make You More Creative?
Have you noticed which countries such top designers as Miuccia Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo come from? Well, they all come from either Italy, Britain or Japan – countries that are known for their uniform policies in schools. However, the interesting thing is that the works of these designers are well-known for pushing the boundaries of fashion and art.
On the other hand, we have a group of designers whose works have an uncanny resemblance to uniforms. These include Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Where do these designers come from? Of all places in the world, you wouldn’t expect them to come from America, which has had a lot of flexibility in its school dress code.
Could it be that the experience of abiding by strict uniform policies, throughout the learning years, leads to more unconventional creativity, rather than stifling it?
(iii) A Cheaper Option
Every parent is sure to lament at the extra cost of catering for a child’s education, simply because uniforms have to be bought, apart from buying books, stationary, and other school necessities. This may seem like a hefty price to pay just for your child to learn. Wouldn’t it be so much cheaper if your child didn’t have to get any other clothes apart from the ones he/ she already has?
If you think wearing uniforms is more expensive, you haven’t considered how picky young children are when selecting their own clothes. Just when you think your boy or girl has all the clothes he/ she needs, you find yourself going back to the store for another pair of trousers or a new shirt, simply because the one you bought has ostensibly gone out of fashion.
Fortunately, uniforms are never in or out of fashion – they’re simply uniforms – always dependable and wearable. The only time you ever need to go for a new pair is if the one you bought happens to wear off.