Hideyuki KAMON from Takarazuka / 宝塚市, Hyogo / 兵庫県, Japan / 日本, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Girlguiding has revealed its first uniform redesign in over thirty years, shaped by the ideas and feedback of 55,000 girls and women.
Created with HemingwayDesign, the range gives members more choice over how they wear it. To be considered in uniform, members need only wear a top from the collection, choosing from T-shirts, long-sleeved tops and hoodies.
The redesign follows Girlguiding research showing that 93% of girls aged six to 16 feel most comfortable when they can choose how to style themselves. Almost half feel most confident when choosing their own clothes, while 41% said strict school uniform rules limited their self-expression.
Comfort matters too. More than half of the girls surveyed said it was their biggest priority when getting dressed. The new uniform was therefore developed around five principles: affordability and inclusion, sustainability, practicality and comfort, a clear Girlguiding identity, and a recognisable, distinctive look.
Felicity Oswald, Girlguiding CEO, commented: “We are incredibly proud and excited to reveal our new uniform. Designed in collaboration with thousands of girls and young women with the expertise of HemingwayDesign, means we could respond directly to our members’ wants and needs.
“The new range is all about providing girls with the freedom to express themselves, whilst feeling part of our amazing organisation. With practicality, comfort and sustainability at the very core of the designs.
“We know that self-expression and confidence go hand in hand. With girls in guiding being 30% more confident, the introduction of the new uniform is designed to further nurture that confidence and foster a true sense of belonging.
“By 2030, we hope to reach more girls where they are, building their confidence when they need it the most, so more girls will know they can do anything.”
The launch will be supported by free creative workshops with sustainable fashion designer Lydia Bolton. Girls and their families can visit Girlguiding’s London headquarters on Thursday 13 August to turn previous Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger uniforms into new accessories.
Guide Laura, aged 12, added, “I’m really excited for the new uniform. I love the bright colours, and it’s so comfy! The shorts are a fun design, and I think everyone will want to wear them. The new necker is definitely my favourite, because the colours are really cool and I’ll get to wear it in different ways.”
Visit Girlguiding.org.uk to find out more about Girlguiding.
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