Whether it's high school uniforms, Catholic school uniforms or simply clothing that follows a certain dress code, school clothes require special attention if they are to meet the school's desires. The clothes will need supplies of their own to keep them presentable on the wearer. Of course, this also applies for specialty uniforms like those for sports teams and bands.

Both the school uniforms manufacturers and suppliers of discount school uniforms can help themselves and their clients with this. They can provide supplies and/or information on how to keep the clothes looking good. This can include methods on:

1. Keeping the wearer presentable while in dress.

2. Properly storing and displaying the uniforms.

3. How to repair torn or damaged uniform clothing.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get accessories to provide with school uniform distribution

Uniforms go beyond the shirts, slacks and skirts themselves. The uniform code may not work very well if kids are wearing their pants down low and keeping their hair mussed up. School uniform manufacturers and suppliers would do well to stock belts and hair care supplies as well.

I recommend: Schoolunifoms.com has numerous accessories to go along with uniforms, including appropriate hair accessories and footwear. Cookie's list of school uniform supplies includes belts designed especially for school uniforms. Look for lunchboxes, tights, backpacks and other accessories to match school uniforms at Blakes School Uniform Company.

Look for proper storage for individual and wholesale school uniforms

Whether uniforms are on display in the store or hanging in the closet, they must be stored neat and presentable. This is definitely true of families who want to make sure their girls' and boys' school uniforms remain clean and protected outside of school. This is also true of those who supply school uniforms wholesale who need to preserve large quantities of clothing.

I recommend: Garment Racks, Etc. offers custom garment bags with school clothing in mind. If several uniforms need to be stored at once, School Outfitters has storage cabinets designed to store uniforms with multiple hanger rods. Bizchair's supply of furniture includes mobile cabinets designed for uniforms for easy transport, and Lockers USA offers individual uniform lockers for both hanging and folding storage.

Find accessories for organizational school uniforms

While not every school may have dress code uniforms, chances are they have organizations like sports teams and bands. These groups definitely have their own uniforms and require their own special accessories to go with them, be it athletic protective undergarments or marching instruments and flags.

I recommend: Marching.com provides a list of retailers for all the equipment to go along with band uniforms, like flag fabric, music and color guard equipment. Allen Sportswear offers many accessories to go with athletic uniforms, including undergarments for sports teams and cheer equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Know the proper method of cleaning your uniforms. Buyers and sellers of school uniforms need to know if the clothes should be machine washed or dry cleaned.

School uniforms are no longer limited to Catholic girls and boys. Many secular public and private schools have started to see the benefits of requiring students to put aside their personal fashion choices and don the same – or similar – duds for each school day. In fact, a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005-2006 showed that about 14 percent of public schools required their students to wear uniforms.

There are many school uniform manufacturers to choose from. They offer boys school uniforms and girls school uniforms for elementary schools, which are the biggest sellers; some even sell high school uniforms. Many suppliers of wholesale school uniforms or discount school uniforms now allow the public to buy school uniforms online while still selling to retailers as well.

Consider these steps before entering the world of school uniforms:

1. Evaluate the needs of your community. For example determine the number of schools that require their students to wear uniforms, and determine what design features they will need.
2. Select styles and colors that are popular.
3. Determine if there are any other custom apparel areas you can branch into.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Explore discount school uniform suppliers

If you're looking to offer standard uniforms for the schools in your community, wholesale school uniform companies or suppliers of discount school uniforms are a good bet.

I recommend: Shirt Supplier accepts school and government purchase orders and also supplies wholesale school uniforms to the public. AllHeartKids offers everyday low prices on such popular school uniform brands as Dickies and French Toast.

Offer fashion-forward designs

Most school uniform manufacturers have branched out beyond the basic button-down shirt and trousers for boys school uniforms and cardigan and plaid skirt for girls school uniforms. Yes, school uniforms need to be . . . well . . . uniform, but there's nothing wrong with a little variety to keep things interesting.

I recommend: Cookie’s offers a wide variety of school uniforms – even high school uniforms – plus accessories like belts and shoes. French Toast is a school uniform superstore that has plenty of styles for children of all shapes and sizes.

Get in the school spirit with logo wear

Logo wear has become a popular offshoot of school uniforms, offering students a way to show a sense of pride in their school and their community.

I recommend: Dennis Uniform provides a variety of ways to translate a logo onto apparel, such as heat transfer, embroidery, and appliqué, among others. Ibiley School Uniforms also offers logo wear and a nice selection of school uniform styles.

Explore other niches

Once you've entered the school uniform game, you may want to consider other custom apparel areas, such as uniforms for the medical industry.

I recommend: Custom Uniform Company supplies school uniforms as well as apparel for restaurants, the military, hotels, and more. Jasco Uniform focuses on the medical industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work with local schools to determine what their students seem to gravitate toward in terms of style. Then offer discounts to schools if they choose you as their primary supplier.

School uniforms aren't just for private schools anymore. Some public school districts are looking to uniform dress codes, believing it can maintain order in their schools. The basic style of Catholic school uniforms is being joined by polos and slacks as required wear for public schools (especially high school uniforms).

You may be buying uniforms (for your school), distributing your own brand to schools or buying and selling together. If you're getting into the business of school uniforms, you need to know about making the most of school uniforms, like:

1. Whether you are exclusively buying or selling school uniforms.

2. The biggest manufacturers and suppliers of discount and wholesale school uniforms.

3. What schools need uniforms, especially in your local area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase discount school uniforms wholesale

If you are a school that provides its own uniforms or a store/distributor that needs supplies, you will need a large supply of uniforms. When purchasing wholesale school uniforms, you definitely want the largest number at the lowest possible price to keep costs down and/or increase profit margins.

I recommend: Children's Wholesale supplies more than 80 different styles of uniforms at any grade at wholesale prices. Children's Wear Outlet sells discount school uniform clothes at nearly half the retail price, allowing you to easily purchase in bulk quantities.

Locate public schools in need of school uniform distribution

Keep up to date with the school districts in your region. If any decide to go with a uniform code, the families will need a large supply of both boys and girls school uniforms. Finding a local distributor to provide uniforms for you may be best in this case.

I recommend: Apparel Search has a wide list of uniform manufacturers in several areas, allowing you to find one with easy access to your region. If you need to contact a school or district on supplier information or finding out if they need uniforms, Great Schools has a comprehensive list of all schools and districts in the country.

Find school uniforms designed specially for private schools

Since less than five percent of public schools in the country have uniform requirements, private schools are the largest customers for school uniform distributors. These schools may also require much more complex and elaborate uniforms, sometimes going with a full suit-and-tie style.

I recommend: Lowry's School Uniforms' wide list includes full-five-piece suits and sport coats for youths, fulfilling any elaborate uniform style. Young Fashions advertises as supplying for more than 1000 private schools in the South, making it the largest uniform manufacturer in that area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Know the trends for the type of schools you're supplying uniforms for. Public schools within a district may not follow as strict a uniform code as a single private school.

Private schools have traditionally had uniforms for students. However, in certain areas public schools have enacted a school uniform policy as well. While public school uniforms seem to be more simplistic, such as a collared shirt and shorts or pants, there are details that parents and schools should be aware of when placing an order or shopping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Custom uniforms

A custom uniform is different than a traditional uniform in either material or design. While schools and parents can order a traditional skirt or vest by choosing the size and color, custom uniforms usually require a special order. Custom uniforms are a good choice for a private school that wants recognizable school uniforms, or for public school students who want to stay in line with the dress code, while not looking exactly like everyone else.

I recommend: The Custom Uniform Company lets customers choose from different patterns or provide their own pattern.

Girls' jumpers

Many schools use the jumper style for girls' uniforms. The jumper is a one piece dress that may or may not have a belt. Solid or plaid design is common. Students can wear long or short sleeve shirts under the jumper. It's important that you specify whether the student needs a skirt or a jumper.

I recommend: Check out jumpers from Frank Bee Enterprises.

Husky size

Husky is a term now used to describe a boy that needs larger sizes. Girls commonly refer to these as plus sizes. There are manufacturers that sell sizes in husky, often characterized by an H next to the size. A parent who needs larger sized clothes should ask the company if they stock husky.

I recommend: Cookie's offers school uniforms for boys in the husky size.

Outerwear

Many schools require a uniformed outerwear, too. This includes jackets, coats, windbreakers, raincoats and cardigans. Private schools may offer their own outerwear with the school's emblem, while public schools may request a solid color or certain material of outerwear.

I recommend: Omega 1 Fashions offers outerwear from a variety of brands.

Cross ties

Cross ties go around the neck and are an accessory for school uniforms. These work with collared, button down shirts or vests. They come in a variety of colors and are a one size fits all type product.

I recommend: Durable Wear School Uniforms shows examples of different cross ties.

Mandatory school logo

Parents may get asked if their child's school has a mandatory school logo rule. This means that shirts and outerwear must have the school logo on it. There are companies that work with the schools to provide parents with proper uniforms.

I recommend: French Toast lets schools create an account so parents and others can order uniforms with logos or emblems.