LITTLE TEARAWAYS
Discounters stack up well when it comes to choosing school uniforms
Discount chain Aldi are giving M&S a run for their money in the battle for the playground pound.
A uniform from the high street stalwart may cost families almost four-and-a-half times the German store’s budget offering.
But our textiles expert gave Aldi top marks when it came to quality and value.
Dr Alex McCluskey, who has 40 years’ experience in the clothing industry, said: “The Aldi uniform is a great buy at £5.
“The skirt in particular is fantastic. The make-up is great, the pleats are sewn in at the top to make the garment easier to care for. The material itself has a stain resistant coating and permanent crease. It’s a bargain at that price. In fact the whole uniform is.
“I’d rate it up there with M&S in terms of quality.”
With classes returning within weeks, the Sunday Mail asked Alex to examine a range of uniforms from high street stores.
We selected a two-pack of white polo shirts, grey trousers or a skirt and a sweater in age six to seven years from Morrisons, Asda, M&S and budget stores Aldi and Lidl who have just gone head-to-head in their annual price war.
Alex, retired assistant principal for Creative Industries at Glasgow Clyde College, rated the uniforms out of 10. He compared fabric quality, how well the garments were made, value for money and whether there were any extras included – such as an adjustable waist or reinforced knees.
He also gave a view on whether the uniforms would withstand the daily playground tussle.
And with that in mind, we also carried our own on- the- job assessment thanks to primary one pupil Alfie Macdougall, five, and seven- year- old P4 Emma Lynas, who put the uniforms through their paces.
Alex said: “Overall, there were good elements in all the uniforms.
“M&S was the best in the class, you really couldn’t fault it. “But that comes at a price.” Other highlights included the skirts from Morrisons and Aldi which were well made, had extra detail and would last.
Asda had the biggest selection of colours available in all the garments we looked at and Lidl were the cheapest at just £4.50 for their uniform package.
Alex said: “It’s clear that it pays to shop around this year.
“Mixing and matching is the way to ensure you don’t pay over the odds and still end up with a uniform or uniforms that will last the school term. In the past, I might have suggested buying several of the cheapest outfits and rotating them for wear. But today we have to consider waste – and opting to buy better-quality items with a longer life expectancy and mixing and matching would be the ideal approach.”
Emma, of Motherwell, really liked her red sweatshirt from Aldi, which, with a £1 price tag, also delighted mum Lisa.
Emma said: “It’s really cosy, feels thick and fluffy like a blanket. I can move around in it well.”
Alfie, of Airth, Stirlingshire, had a bit of trouble getting his Lidl trousers to fit properly. But they seemed to wear well as he slid along the f loor. But the M& S uniform was more roomy. He said: “I feel smart in this one.”
Most of the garments were made in Bangladesh and India but the M& S uniform came from Sri Lanka.
Alex said: “The factories are as good as anywhere now, that’s not an issue at all.The M&S uniform is an excellent buy for wear and care, styling is very good and clearly consideration of the growing child is part of the design process.
“M& S also offer three fit sizes, three leg shapes and four leg lengths. The sweatshirt has what’s known as a twin cover seam, which has double stitching, is durable and won’t come apart easily.
“Some of the cheaper garments have a simple overlocked seam. It’s these detai ls that make the difference.”
Top tips for buying uniforms include turning them inside out to check the stitching and manufacture. It also pays to be careful with washing.
Bruce Munro Roberts, of Heriot Watt University School of Textiles and Design, said: “Check for loose stitching and poor quality of finish. For polo shirts, jumpers and sweatshirts, stretch the garment slightly and see if it springs back into shape.
“If it doesn’t, then rest assured it won’t be looking its best after a few washes.
“Incorrect care of garments is the biggest reason they don’t last. Many garments do not need to be washed on a higher temperature. Minimal ironing will also extend their life.
“If your child is going through a growth spurt, go for elasticated or part- elasticated waists. Look for decent hems on trousers and skirts to give you the opportunity to take the hem down.”
Aldi said: “We conduct rigorous quality checks across our product range. During our
independent third-party testing of uniforms, key product s were highlighted for their excellent performance in areas such as pilling resistance ( bobbling) and appearance after washes.” M&S said all of their clothing is rigorously tested and their standards are the highest in the industry. They added: “We have a huge amount of innovation and more fit options than any other retailer.” Morrisons said: “We aim to make the start of the school term easier for parents by adding thoughtful details such as adjustable waist bands and making our clothing easy to iron and bobble resistant.” Lidl’ s collection is also independently quality tested. They said: “Fabric stress checks ensure the uniforms are hard-wearing, standing up to wear and tear in the playground. Rigorous washing testing ensures they survive being put through the wash again and again.”