How to choose school uniforms that last all year (and tips for washing them)

The offers and the rush make us buy clothes that already have to be changed after a few months. To avoid this, two specialists share the keys to making a garment last until December and how to wash them without losing their original color.

There are always diligent and planned fathers and mothers, who before going on vacation have already bought all the equipment and school uniforms. They are the envy of the others, usually the majority, who leave everything for the last days of February, clinging to the last hours of vacation like a castaway on a board at sea.

But it’s not so terrible: beyond the time, because it will be necessary to act quickly, the important thing is that the purchases are well informed, so as not to have to complain about the poor quality of the products. Especially with uniforms, which will be the clothes that boys and girls will wear every day for the rest of the year. A rushed purchase, based on price alone, will surely result in ripped seams, scraped knees, and worn elastics within months.

Is it possible, or is it a utopia, to buy comfortable and resistant uniforms, able to last until December? Repeat after me: yes, you can. To find out, we spoke with two specialists in the field, who shared their secrets for choosing and maintaining them.

Endurance

school , a company dedicated for more than 30 years to the design and manufacture of school and work clothes, today manufactures uniforms for more than 35 schools, in addition to having a factory with the highest standards in the industry. If anyone is aware of this problem, it is Rodrigo Jadue Jamis, general manager of the Enterprise sector.

“The first thing you have to look at,” he says, “is the quality of the fabric, so that it is resistant to the use that the garment will have,” he says. That is, if we buy a diver for sports, the fabric cannot be thin or porous; on the contrary, it is to be hoped that it is firm and dense, because “this will allow better preparation and resistance of the seams”.

Marcela Morales, entrepreneur and founder of hair bun , a clothing workshop whose specialty is divers. “For a fabric to be good, it shouldn’t feel ‘ragged, with the weave open’,” he says. The less light it lets through if placed against a lamp, the longer it will last.

Which materials are the strongest? As Jadue explains, for PE pants and sweatshirts, the fabric they make is usually a flannel with 50% cotton and 50% polyester with carding. This blend combines the firmness, comfort and softness of cotton.

But they also have a 100% synthetic flannel, which is only made of polyester. “These fabrics have more weight and give the garment a better drape. Plus, they stand up to washing and everyday student use,” he explains.

25.01.2013 Showcases in the center of Santiago with clothes and accessories
Beware of offers: cheap can become expensive in a few months.

For formal uniform shirts, Scolari makes a piqué that is also half cotton and half polyester. This makes them soft but at the same time firm and breathable. For the sports shirts, they have already incorporated the fabrics dry fit“which are lighter, absorb perspiration better and dry faster”, is one of the innovations.

Wedge

This is the second most important point according to Jadue. What does adjustment mean? Basically, that the clothes adapt to the body of the wearer. “The garment must be comfortable and allow adequate movement for girls, boys or teenagers”, explains the helmsman of Scolari.

For this, you have to have the right size, which means that it is neither tight nor tight, but also that it is not too tight. Some long sleeves, for example, have as little future as those that are short, because when they are worn out, they wear out very easily.

If you are not sure of the height of your children – not all boys and girls correspond to the standard numbering – it is better to measure them well at home and compare these centimeters with a size chart.

Is it a good idea to buy more and more uniforms?

“Buy a bigger size, if the kids grow and it lasts until next year,” someone will tell you as advice. Thanks for the idea, but no thanks. This is what the two interviewees would answer.

“The size should match the child’s measurements,” says Jadue. “There are always exceptions, due to each person’s build and height, but in general the recommendation is to buy the size that works best when using it.” Buying “for growth,” he says, “can affect students’ comfort and mobility in sports or other activities.”

As much as we are tempted to look to the future, we have to think about uniforms for the current year. That’s what Morales thinks: a garment that’s too big is uncomfortable and will wear out just as much, if not more, than a garment that’s child-sized.

“If you buy him a really big wetsuit, it’s probably going to break before it lasts very long. It’s best to stick to the size,” he says. If it’s good quality, it can probably be used. the following year, or else be sold to other principals.

How many uniforms to buy?

Since we know that you have to look at the resistance of the material and the choice of the right size. But now the question is: how many uniforms are needed to survive the week? Because regardless of the quality of the clothes, if the same garment is worn every day several days a week, it will hardly last until the end of the year.

According to Jadue, it depends on each school and how often they use formal and athletic uniforms. However, in his experience, it is ideal for each student to have at least two full uniforms – two formal, two athletic – so that they can be swapped and washed frequently.

If one day he arrives with a stain of paint or dirt and there is no clothes dryer in the house, what clothes will he wear the next day? There has to be a plan B. If you don’t have a lot of budget, it could well be the clothes that survived the previous year – and that fit you well, of course – or something you buy from occasion.

If they are young girls or boys, who only wear one suit every day, in the experience of our interviewees and the parents of our staff, we recommend that you have at least three sets. It may seem like a lot, but you have to remember that five days out of seven they will use them for playing, jumping, running, sliding, rolling on the ground and many other activities.

As for T-shirts and shirts, it is better to have one for each day of the week (i.e. five), because it is very difficult, at least during the hottest season, when you can wear two days in a row: sweat, dirt and materials, among other things, will surely send them directly to dirty clothes.

The same goes for socks: you need at least five pairs. However, for sports days it is good to have extra pairs that can be changed after class is over. The aroma in your home will thank you.

How do you know if a sock is good? You have to pay attention to the materials. If it is synthetic, it is better not to buy it, because it becomes more stinky and has less resistance. Unless they are sporty and have special technology, those which are more expensive but may be recommended for those who practice more intense sports. Nylon, polyamide and elastane are the best materials to guarantee firmness and breathability. In this article on summer socks you will find more information.

No more sweaty feet: how to choose the best socks for summer

For winter socks, the star material for retaining heat is merino wool, which is unfortunately very expensive. If you are looking for something cheaper, thick or combed cotton This is a good option: thanks to their higher density, they maintain the temperature of the feet more effectively and last longer.

How to leave white shirts and shirts

the basic process

“Dirt buildup and permeability will also depend on the fabric the uniform is made from,” says Jadue. However, to remove stains faster, the Scolari manager recommends dampening heavily soiled clothes before putting them in the washing machine. “Remove the dirt first with soap, or apply a stain remover, then wash them with the other clothes, always separating white clothes from colored clothes and at a temperature of less than 30°”, he suggests. .

Always use a stain remover

Regarding the overalls, Morales advises not to put them in the dryer, “because they become very small”. In general, he recommends washing them in cold water and detaching them beforehand with special products. “I like the Vanish. It’s soap and liquid, and it’s great because it helps get the dirt out of those clothes that tend to get really dirty,” he suggests.

Vanish Stain Remover Stick 75g


For brilliant whites

How did a white piqué t-shirt turn grey? Why is the shirt, dawn like snow, now almost yellow? Over time and daily use, clothes take on unattractive hues, which make them look dirty even if they’ve just come out of the washing machine.

Don’t worry, there are options to get your target back, and luckily the internet has several suggestions. In many places, they recommend filling a container with lukewarm water and wetting the clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Using a bar of soap, you should scrub all garments by hand, ideally wearing gloves to protect the skin. Then you have to let it soak overnight, so that it gets rid of the dirt. If the garments are 100% white, a measure of chlorine should be added. After this process, you must wash the clothes in the machine, always separated from the colored clothes. Once the washing cycle is ready, let it dry on a hanger or clothesline, to maximize the life of the textile.

Clorox bleach for clothes 960 g


Watch out for the dryer

What is a clothes dryer good for if not for drying clothes? Good question. But if it’s sunny outside or not cold, Morales recommends not putting on divers – pants and sweatshirts – because “they get very small”. In an emergency it can be, but not when it is very hot or when they have just been washed: it is better to give them time to dry at room temperature. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Regarding other garments, you should always look at the instructions on the label. In some cases, depending on the materiality, there is no problem putting them in the dryer. For others, such as divers or vests, it is better to be patient.


*Prices for products in this item are updated as of March 1, 2023. Values ​​and availability are subject to change.

Source: Latercera

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