RC’s new uniforms are woven to beat the heat

By Claudia Ng and Morisa Wong

Sometimes, we forget how fortunate we are to have access to such a wide range of uniform choices. We are lucky to attend a school that values our comfort and considers our opinions, giving us a voice in something we wear so often.

“It’s the only school I’ve ever worked at where the uniforms are so relaxed… we don't have ties and blazers, we don’t tell you what shoes to wear, or how to style your hair,” says Mr. Copley, Vice Principal of Secondary Wellbeing at RCHK.

If you're observant, you may have noticed that the school recently changed the fabric of our polo uniforms. What triggered this need for change? In an interview, Mr. Copley—one of the key decision-makers regarding uniforms—explained the shift.

“We saw a lot of students coming in PE kits,” he said. This observation sparked the idea of creating a uniform using the same material as the PE kits. The goal was to produce new shirts with a modern material better adapted to the weather.

“Our old shirts were very thick cotton, which is great in the winter months, but in the summer months, it’s too warm, too hot, too sweaty,” Mr. Copley explained.

He stated, “What we have is a responsibility to make sure that when students come to school, they're wearing a uniform and we can identify that they are Renaissance College students.” He also emphasized that uniforms need to be practical, fit for purpose, affordable, and something students actually want to wear so that we can embrace our school identity.

Moreover, Mr. Copley revealed that the school is currently sourcing school leggings and sweatpants.

“We understand that a lot of students prefer to wear leggings in the colder months,” he stated. The school observed that students were constantly wearing other brands, such as Nike and Adidas, creating a difficult situation for teachers and staff who enforce uniform policy.

“We don't have a problem with leggings, but what we prefer is to have our own,” he added. The school is currently consulting with a manufacturer that produces leggings of the same standard as Lululemon.

In conclusion, RCHK continues to offer a unique and diverse array of uniform options. We are fortunate to have RCHK as our school and a supportive community—and new uniform products await!