Dressing for the Future

By Lara Unsworth ’95

Head of Community Relations

Over the past one and half years, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) has undertaken a comprehensive review of our student uniform. This work is aligned with our strategic framework, Flourish 2031, which outlines the near-term initiative to: Evolve the STS uniform to be more inclusive and current. This project also reflects the high value we place on forging an enduring sense of community, belonging, and respect.

My colleague, Jessica Richmond, Head of Middle School, and I were proud to take a lead role on this significant project. With our respective histories as former independent school students and current independent school parents, our commitment to our School and doing what is best for our students, and our deep connections to a wide variety of STS stakeholder groups, we felt we could tackle this with objectivity, empathy, understanding, and sensitivity – with the goal of doing this really well for the benefit all of STS students.

As we progressed through this complex review process, we addressed comfort, safety, tradition, functionality, affordability, inclusivity, choice/flexibility, and practicality. Moving STS uniforms forward while continuing to celebrate our rich history was critical, and we took that foundational premise seriously.

To begin this process, we conducted an in-depth review of all existing information and historical input on the STS uniform – there was a lot! We have come to realize that there is no better way to engage our diverse School community than to broach the subject of uniforms – many people have strong convictions and a lot to say on the matter – and for this we are grateful!

Once we felt familiar with the research already done, we kicked off broad community consultation (focus groups, surveys, 1:1 interviews) led by external consultant Linda Williams, a Certified Professional Facilitator with an International Association for Public Participation certificate. Linda was blown away by our community’s passion and engagement in this process – she had not seen levels of participation like ours in other projects she has worked on. The result was a gold mine of research-based feedback, allowing STS to evolve uniforms enhancing the student experience. This rich data and candid feedback continues to guide our uniform refresh journey.

The results from this comprehensive work drove a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, to which several uniform providers were invited to share how they could meet the needs of our students today and tomorrow, as outlined in the research findings. After carefully reviewing the submitted proposals, in-person presentations, and examination of uniform samples, it was clear that one particular provider’s products, service, and creative suggestions stood out as the best fit for STS moving forward.

Did you know?

The following items mirror uniforms at our three founding schools:

• The Black Watch tartan, used for our kilt, tunic, and some ties, comes from Tweedsmuir: An Academic School for Girls.
• The tunic worn in Elementary School comes from St. Hilda’s School for Girls.
• The grey pants, navy blazer, and some ties come from Strathcona School for Boys.
• Our STS crest comes from the original lettering from both Strathcona School for Boys and Tweedsmuir: An Academic School for Girls.

We are very pleased to be working with In School Wear as our new uniform provider who impressed us with their:

• responsiveness to our needs as a client, such as developing new products and offerings with important, unique-to-STS features at a reasonable cost. One example is their proposal to create an inclusive blazer for all students that tastefully incorporates our School colours and the Black Watch tartan, giving a nod to all of our founding Schools and past uniform iterations;
• genuine care and understanding of the importance of students feeling as confident as possible in their school uniform, including fitting a variety of body types and an inclusive shopping experience;
• ability to deliver ‘a return to our roots’ with an authentic Black Watch tartan (in a variety of styles) through their established partnership with a traditional source in Scotland;
• high levels of motivation, commitment, and accountability for engaging in the most sustainable and ethical supply chain in the school wear industry, backed by strong independent accreditations;
• genuine passion and commitment to be the best school uniform provider in class, combined with a deep respect for the STS brand;
• well-established, in-person storefront in Calgary, with dedicated “boutique shopping areas” for each of their schools and a very highly-rated shopping experience, as reviewed by real school families;
• proven strong recommendations from other CAIS Schools across Canada that also carry In School Wear uniforms; and thorough proposed transition plan framework.

Now that this fundamental work has been completed, we are excited to collaborate with In School Wear in developing our new STS uniform collection, which will be ready for purchase by Spring 2024. This will be carefully navigated to ensure consistency in service and offerings with our current provider until In School Wear is ready to launch our new line of items. Current uniform pieces will be grandfathered for two years to allow families to purchase new items gradually, as needed. To ensure we are on the right track, we will continue to connect with STS stakeholders who have played key roles throughout this journey.

While we can’t share the specific collection yet, we will be pleased to offer a new uniform line where:

• there will be more options in terms of fit and style to ensure confidence, flexibility, and choice;
• our honoured history and traditions will be thoroughly reflected;
• all items are available to all students – there will no longer be different colours designated for different genders;
• items are well-made, current, practical, and modern;
• students can be active and engage comfortably with nature on our beautiful campus;
• we are being thoughtful towards the planet and our global community;
• STS families will have an excellent customer service experience; and
• pricing will be reasonable and on par with current uniform pricing.

We are proud that STS is leading the way amongst independent schools worldwide in this significant and timely uniform refresh. We sincerely appreciate all of you who participated in this important work on behalf of current and future STS students.

While this work is complex and, at times, delicate, we are confident that by maintaining a measured, consultative approach, any changes resulting from this evolution will be positive for our students and reflective of STS’s core values and guiding principles. And at the end of the day, our students will feel confident, comfortable, and proud in their new duds!

A few notable findings from our uniform refresh community consultation:

• We confirmed that uniforms were an important part of an STS education (88% of adults agree or strongly agree).
• Despite some areas for attention, the more formal elements of the STS uniform are important to the STS community.
• 82% of adults think the formal uniform is an important element of an STS education.
• However, 64% say replacing uniforms through growth spurts is costly.
• We know that many elements of tradition are wrapped in the uniforms, with some being more important to our community than others.
• The logo/crest with the motto is the element that most reflects STS traditions (79% of adults and 70% of students agree or strongly agree).
• We also heard that part of creating a sense of belonging is supporting students feeling comfortable, safe and confident in what they are wearing to school:
• 56% of adults think the cuts of the pants are unflattering and don’t fit all body types (74% for female students), and 56% thought the fabrics were uncomfortable.
• Accommodating a broader range of body types was also considered important (82% of adults agreeing or strongly agreeing).
• STS is committed to a purposeful blend of in-class, co-curricular, active, and out-of-the-classroom experiences.
• Respondents resoundingly desire uniform designs that enable full participation in all activities (86% for in-class and 70% for adults and 81% for students for free-time activities).
• 80% of respondents stated that uniforms should allow students to feel comfortable and safe while learning.
• 56% think it’s important for school uniforms not to force, but allow students to express their gender identity.

Published in Optimum Magazine 2023 | Where Tomorrow Begins