The 600 School Uniforms in a Coastal District
A women's self-help group in a coastal district has won a contract to supply 600 school uniform sets (shirt and trousers or skirt) to a government school. The agreed budget is ₹420 per set, including stitching, thread and buttons. The school wants light blue shirts and navy bottoms that will last one academic year with about three washes a week. The group can buy 100% cotton at ₹180 per metre (about 15% shrinkage, soft, absorbent), 67/33 polyester-cotton at ₹210 per metre (about 2% shrinkage, strong, quick-drying) or 100% polyester at ₹150 per metre (strong, less absorbent). Each set needs about 2.2 m of fabric. Humidity is high, children play outdoors, and some children have sensitive skin. A supplier offers a cheap lot of cotton with no shade card, no test report and no information on pre-shrinking.
1. Recommend a fabric choice with justification. Show the cost per set for each option and explain the trade-offs you are accepting.
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Fabric cost per set at 2.2 m:
- 100% cotton: 2.2 × ₹180 = ₹396, leaving only ₹24 for stitching, thread and buttons. That is not realistic.
- 67/33 polyester-cotton: 2.2 × ₹210 = ₹462, which is already above ₹420 before stitching.
- 100% polyester: 2.2 × ₹150 = ₹330, leaving ₹90 for making up.
So the stated budget does not actually fit the two better-performing fabrics. The group must either negotiate the price, reduce fabric wastage, or renegotiate the budget.
A reasoned recommendation: choose 67/33 polyester-cotton if the price can be negotiated to about ₹190 per metre, because it shrinks only about 2%, dries quickly in coastal humidity, and withstands three washes a week better than cotton. The trade-off is lower absorbency than cotton and possible discomfort for children with sensitive skin. Mitigate this with a loose fit, cotton undergarments and a soft finish. If the school prioritises comfort, choose cotton shirts with polyester-cotton bottoms, but only if the cotton is pre-shrunk and the budget is raised. Avoid the untested cheap cotton: 15% shrinkage can make a uniform unwearable after a few washes, and without a shade card the light blue shirts may not match across 600 sets. Avoid 100% polyester next to the skin in a hot, humid climate despite its low cost.
2. Describe two practical tests the group should run on fabric samples before bulk purchase, and state what each test would reveal.
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- Shrinkage test. Cut a 30 cm × 30 cm square, measure it, wash it three times at the temperature stated on the care instructions, dry it and measure again. Calculate percentage shrinkage in warp and weft. This reveals whether the finished uniform will still fit after a term of washing. For cotton, 15% shrinkage is a serious risk; for poly-cotton, about 2% is acceptable.
- Colour fastness test. Rub a sample with a white cotton cloth, both dry and wet, and wash a sample with a white cloth. Check whether colour transfers to the white cloth or fades. This reveals whether light blue shirts will stain undergarments or other clothes in the wash, and whether navy bottoms will bleed.
Useful additional checks are fabric weight (GSM), fibre composition by burn test, and seam strength. The group should also ask for a shade card and a written composition and pre-shrinking statement. These tests matter because the cost of replacing 600 uniforms is far greater than the cost of testing a few samples.
3. Draft a care label and washing instruction for the chosen uniform, and explain how the label protects the group and the school.
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A sample label for a 67/33 polyester-cotton uniform:
- Machine wash at 40°C with mild detergent.
- Do not bleach.
- Wash dark colours separately.
- Line dry in shade.
- Warm iron; do not iron directly on any print.
- Do not tumble dry on high heat.
The label protects the group because it sets out reasonable care conditions. If a school complains about shrinkage or fading after washing at 60°C with bleach, the group can show that the garment was not cared for as labelled. It protects the school because it gives clear instructions that, if followed, should preserve fit and colour for the intended year. It also supports the consumer's right to information: the school is buying a product with known fibre content and care requirements. The group should attach the label to every set and keep a record of the test results behind the label claims.