** Singapore school uniforms: Styles in 2000








Singapore School Uniforms: Styles in 2000


Figure 1.--Woodgrove Secondary School has uniforms that look much like Japanese school uniforms including the sailr suits for the girls and blue short pants for the boys. Only Japanese elementary boys, however, wear short pants.

Almost all Singapore students wear school uniforms. There is no national uniform, but rather it is selected by the individual school. A Singapore reporter described school uniform styles in 2000. Most are simple, utilitarian styles. Some of the girls are a little uncerain about "looking like Sailor Moon" as they put it. An April 3, 2000 article about Singapore school uniforms proclaims, "They're cool, they're hip, they're what students wear." The Singapore reporter, Serene Foo reveals that Singapore school uniforms are moving from traditional to trendy".

Sailor Moon

"OH my goodness, am I supposed to look like Sailormoon?" exclaimed 12-year-old Woodgrove Secondary student Anastasia Francis thought to herself when she first set eyes on her new school uniform. Sailormoon is, of course, the widely popular Japanese cartoon series that swept Japan and was widely played on televisions around the world. The main female character, Sailormoon, is a schoolgirl who wears the tradition distincr Japanese girls' school uniform--a sailor dress. It is a blouse with a distinctive squarish sailor-suit collar, a scarf and a pleated skirt.

The Woodgrove Secondary School Uniform

The new uniform at Woodgrove School is a dark blue blouse with distinctive collar and maroon scarf, matched with a pleated skirt--is based on the classic Japanese sailor uniform design. Anastasia's schoolmate Sasha Lim, 12, was also suprised. "I did not expect a uniform to be in such bright colours," said the beginning student in the secondary one class. Most girls' uniforms are in basic blue and white colours. The Singapore reporter indicated that both the girls are quite pleased to wear their new uniforms. Anastasia explains, "My friends from the other schools like it very much and they would like to have a uniform like that, too". The school's new uniform was the brainchild of one of the teachers, Ms. Dee Chia Yuteng. The inspiration for the design was the uniforms worn by Japanese girls in the movie, Loveletter. The Japanese movie, starring Miho Nakayama, was shown in Singapore as part of the 1999 Japanese Film Festival.

Classic Design

Girls uniform

"The design is classic--this Japanese style has been around for so many years, yet it looks trendy," explains Ms. Chia. "It is an ageless design that will always look good." Ms. Chia, an arts teacher who has teaching at Woodgrove Secondary for 3 years.

Fahion designer Thomas Wee was asked to comment on Woodgrove Secondary School's uniform design. "It is very Japanese, he said. "I have seen a lot of it in Tokyo... looks a bit like a French sailor too. I like the trimmings at the pocket (in the boys' uniform). But it should have two stripes, blue and red, to complement the (maroon scarf in the) girls' design." He felt a white shirt worn inside the outfit would have made it more interesting.

Boys' uniform

Design was not the principal factor in choosing the boys' uniform. Instead, practicality was the main priority when she designed the boys' new uniform. "Bermudas were chosen instead of the usual shorts and the collars were lined with dark blue trimmings inside to prevent any dirt stains from showing." "It is very cool and the blue stripe (at the shirt pocket) is stylish," student Arthur Choo, 13, decided. It is unclear to what an extent the boys had a say in the design of the new uniform and whether they would have preferred long pants. Singapore students have traditionally worn short pants, but many schools switched to long pants uniforms in the 1990s.


Figure 2.--Hong Kah students wear striking deep green shirts with dark blue skirts and pants.

Hong Kah Secondary School

Another school, Hong Kah Secondary's, is equally striking with a combination of deep green and blue. The girls wear a green blouse, which has blue trimmings on the collar, is worn with an A-line dark blue skirt. The boys wear green shirts with dark blue long pants. Fahion designer Wee comments on the Hong Kah Secondary uniform, "a subtle lime green colour would make it more cheerful, and the sleeves on the girl's blouse could be smaller and more fitted." Mr Wee also felt that "black shoes should go with black socks, maybe even bobby socks (the Japanese kind)."

Principal Dorothy Tay explained. "When Hong Kah started in 1984, the former principal worked with a group of students and staff to select the colour and design of the present uniform." The unusual choice of colours gives the school a distinctive image. The way the design was chosen also helped develop the school culture because the students had a say in it. This was a uniqwue step because Singapore students in the past the students has little input in selecting their uniforms.

Kalaivani Jayaram, an older pupil at 16, liked the striking combination of green and blue was which she thought was "unique and makes us stand out from the other schools".


Figure 3.--The boys and girls at Marsiling wear coordinated yellow and blue outfits. The girls have assymetrical collars. The boys wear blue long pant.

Marsiling Secondary School

Marsiling Secondary's principal, Mrs Choy Chee Meh, wanted her students' uniform to be different and fresh--yet practical. Fahion designer Wee also commented on the Marsiling Secondary's school uniform. He found the design especially appealing. "I like the crew neckline on the girl's blouse and the length of the blouse," said Mr. Wee, who has been working in the fashion industry for 25 years. "I like the idea of the concealed buttons too." He said the boys' shirt could also be worn out like a golf shirt, "slightly below the hip bone, and slightly tapered from the underarms to the hips".

Girl's uniform

The result was a asymmetric collar for the girls' light yellow blouse, black canvas shoes and no belts. "The school uniform can be trendy and smart but ultimately, it should suit the appropriate image of a student--prim and proper," said Mrs Choy. Andrea Cheah, 12 expalibed, "I think it looks nice, and the blouse is so comfortable to wear because it need not be tucked in. It also goes well with our black shoes."

Boys' uniform

The Secondary 1 boys were also pleased that they were able to wear long pants. Long pants are usually worn by boys in the upper secondary level only. "It's more mature and smart-looking," Chang Chua Yaw, 13, enthusiastically explained. His schoolmate, Gavin Tan, 13, decided that "it looks more grown-up."






Careful, clicking on these will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but several are highly recommended

  • Apertures Press International Project: Pictures at schools in different countries and a book on British schools
  • Apertures Press New Zealand E-book: New E-book on New Zealand schools available
  • School Uniform Web Site: Informative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs
  • British Preparatory Schools: A photographic book depicting life at British preparatory schools during the 1980s. Most of the schools are English or Scottish, but schools in Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ulster are also included. The pictures show the uniforms worn at many different schools.
  • Information: Information about school uniforms in America
  • Traditional school uniforms": How to purchase a traditional English school uniform




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    Created: April 6, 2000
    Last updated: April 6, 2000