In 2020, Professor Clare Hanlon from Victoria University, led a research project to investigate the role that uniforms play in increasing the confidence of girls to participate in sport and physical activity. This landmark study, funded through the Victorian government’s Change Our Game initiative, confirmed a key strategy to keep girls and women involved in sport is to let them choose their uniforms.

This research sparked a movement in women’s sport, driving impactful change by informing policies and practices in the design and construction of sports uniforms.

A Vision Beyond the Uniform

We love our scoreboards in sport, so let me tell you about ours. The game we are playing is this one: Designing Sport and Physical Activity with girls and women in focus. And in this game, our key metrics are:

1. Participation

2. Performance

3. Personal Growth

These metrics act as our road map, ensuring we focus on what matters most in shaping an environment in which we leverage the drivers of sport and movement, whilst simultaneously removing barriers for our students to be physically active and perform to their best.  

At MGGS, we believe that being active every day should be as natural as breathing for every student. Sport and physical education are more than just curriculum subjects: they’re vital, celebrated aspects of our community.

What girls wear and how they feel when they play sport is essential to their physical and psychological readiness to participate and perform, and this is why we were excited to launch the new MGG Sport and Activewear Range in October this year.  

The Need for Change: Listening to our Community

Comfort, identity, and a sense of belonging all coalesce in the creation of a well-designed and constructed sports uniform. It signals a sense of belonging and respect. It creates a positive presence in the community, and identifies our role in a community.  

Students, staff and parents have been expressing dissatisfaction with the sport and PE uniform for many years, citing discomfort and functionality issues. Students opted for non-uniform alternatives to bridge the gap between what they needed and what the uniform provided.  

The primary complaints were about the uniform’s inadequacy in all-weather conditions, its poor fit, and a 'one-size-fits-all approach’ that failed to consider the diverse needs of different sports, programs and activities, or the age, body shape and cultural diversity of our students from 3-year-old children to 18-year-old young adults.  

Objectives: Building Confidence Through Comfort

The goal of the new Sport and Activewear Range is multi-faceted. We want more students to be physically active every day, and to do so in a way that makes them feel comfortable, confident and ready to perform. Our new range aims to:

1. Provide flexibility and choice, giving students a wardrobe of options that suit different activities, seasons and personal preferences.

2. Increase daily physical activity and high engagement in a variety of sports and fitness options.
   

3. Foster student comfort, confidence and performance readiness through well-designed, appealing and functional activewear.

4. Strengthen school spirit and team identity.

5. Offer stylish and contemporary apparel that aligns with the MGGS brand.  

Involving the Community: A Collaborative Process

The design of the new Sport and Activewear Range was the result of extensive community consultation.

Professor Clare Hanlon’s research laid the foundation for the construction of community surveys for students, staff and parents. Our surveys were developed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data regarding the current Sport and PE uniform, while also providing insights into key considerations for the redesign of the sports uniform and activewear range. Nearly 600 students from Years 5 to 12, along with over 200 parents and staff, participated in the survey, reflecting the significant importance this issue holds within our school community.

Since distributing the survey in 2022, extensive focus groups, product demonstrations, preview events and weekly meetings have been conducted on aspects such as design, branding, garment construction, fabric technology and sustainability. Every necessary process and requirement was meticulously addressed to ensure a comprehensive and informed approach to the uniform redesign.

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The Future: A Wardrobe for Every Grammarian

A uniform is more than just a garment; it’s a statement of identity. The new range represents our ongoing commitment to our students, their wellbeing and their success. With a focus on comfort, choice and performance, the new uniform is set to change the game, empowering students to embrace an active lifestyle and to thrive in every sport or activity they choose to pursue.

Shop the new MGGS Sport and Activewear Range here.

REFERENCES:

1. Victoria University Research Phase 1 Report: Uniforms that encourage girls to play sport and be physically active

2. Victoria University Research Phase 2 Report: The Effects on Sport Uniform Policy Changes

3. Dr Sarah Kelly: Uniforms Maketh the Athlete 

4. March 2022: Women's Agenda: Flexible uniform policies are key to keeping girls and women in sport 

5. August 2023: Women’s Agenda: How sportwear brands can build confidence, prevent injuries, and support girls and women in sport.

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