The Schoolwear Association is reporting that, once again, children are getting bigger. This year it’s trousers that are in the spotlight, as boys in particular become taller and sizes in specialist stores are now up to 36 inch leg lengths on 30 inch waists.

Trends in uniforms are subtle but vital to kids, who feel left out if they don’t have the ‘new look’ which this year includes waisted blazers for girls and deep coloured polo-shirts for Physical Education lessons.

And a school in Shropshire is threatening to exclude pupils who don’t stick to their uniform policy – after complaints from some people that students looked scruffy. Controversially, hoodies are not allowed, shoes have to be plain and black and accessories are limited to one watch and a pair of earrings. The idea is to encourage children to focus on their appearance as part of a drive towards higher standards and improved GCSE results.

There’s a clear link, in many people’s eyes, between uniform, expectation and achievement and whether it’s putting pupils in a set uniform or kitting out staff in a smart set of personalised workwear, uniform clothing is seen as a key feature in success.

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A survey, carried out by Populus, reveals that while the overall rating of every other high street clothing retailer has either gone up or remained steady over the past year, Primark’s has fallen. The findings follow a recent Panorama investigation, revealing that some Primark suppliers in India were contracting out embroidery to firms that used child labour. And a survey by Drapers, the fashion industry magazine, shows that – as a result of the controversy – 44% of Primark shoppers say they would switch to another retailer.

The Populus survey also showed that nearly half of the consumers who expressed concern said that that their biggest worry when judging a clothing retailer is its treatment of workers in developing countries. Quality beat price as the most important factor when it comes to deciding where to buy an item of clothing for most consumers, reflecting a prevailing feeling that consumers are seeking value in terms of quality now that we’ve entered the credit crunch, rather than merely paying the cheapest price.

Such concerns are addressed by The Organic Exchange and Dutch-based fashion transparency label MADE-BY who have created an event focusing on sustainable fashion in Europe. It will be held at The National Library in Copenhagen, Denmark on 2^nd and 3^rd December. The theme of the event will be how retailers can respond to changes in consumer opinion and the shifting economic situation. There will also be talks on eco-friendly fabrics, consumer communication and marketing and textile labelling and certification.

And there’s a supply line response to this issue too. Intertek has launched a new system for measuring the environmental and socially responsible performance of textile mills. The new Mill Qualification Program (MQP) picks up on the challenges faced by retailers and brands to assist suppliers achieving their social, environmental and quality expectations. MQP quality evaluations cover the stages of textile production: fibre production, fibre processing and spinning, yarn preparation, fabric production, bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing.

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