Comparing School Uniform Quotations: What to Look For

To compare school uniform quotations fairly, make sure every supplier is quoting for the same thing: the same fabric, sizes, quantities, badge and delivery. Then look beyond the total at what is included, what is extra, and how each supplier handles samples, timelines and reorders. The lowest figure on a supplier quote is not always the lowest cost once the year is over.

Send the same brief to everyone

Quotes can only be compared if they answer the same question. Before you ask anyone, write a short brief and send it, unchanged, to each supplier.

Include:

• Items. Shirts, trousers, shorts, skirts, pinafores, salwar sets, PT t-shirts, house t-shirts, each listed separately.
• Quantities by item and size, or at least an estimate by class.
• Colours, with a reference garment or swatch if you have one.
• Fabric expectations, or a request for the supplier’s recommendation with specification.
• Badge and embroidery, with your artwork attached.
• Labels, if you want your school name or size labels sewn in.
• Delivery address and required date.

Our guide on collecting student uniform sizes helps you prepare the size breakdown.

Check what each school uniform quotation includes

Once quotes arrive, line them up item by item. A useful method is a simple comparison sheet:

Question	Supplier A	Supplier B	Supplier C
Fabric named and described?
Embroidery included or separate?
Embroidery set-up charge?
Sample offered, and any charge?
Size range covered at the same rate?
Packing method stated?
Delivery included or separate?
Taxes shown clearly?
Minimum order stated?
Lead time stated?
Payment terms stated?

Gaps in a quote are not necessarily bad, but they are questions to ask before you decide.

Compare the fabric, not only the name

Two suppliers can both say “poly-cotton shirting” and mean very different fabrics. The blend, weight and finish all affect how a uniform feels, how it washes and how long it lasts.

Ask each supplier for:

1. The fabric composition and, if they have it, the weight.
2. A swatch or, better, a sample garment.
3. Their washing advice.

Wash the swatches together at home and compare them for shrinkage, colour and feel. This simple test often tells you more than the quotes do.

Watch for differences in sizing

Some quotes charge one rate across all sizes; others charge more for larger sizes because they use more fabric. Neither is wrong, but it changes the total for a school with many senior students. Ask each supplier how their rates vary by size, and calculate the total from your actual size breakdown rather than from a single average rate.

Also check that sizes mean the same thing. A “size 32” from one supplier may not match another’s. Ask for a size chart with garment measurements.

Look at samples, timing and reorders

The real cost of a uniform order includes what happens if something goes wrong. Ask each supplier:

• Will you make a sample before bulk production, and what does it cost?
• What is your lead time from sample approval to delivery?
• What happens if some garments are faulty or sizes are short?
• Do you keep records so a reorder later in the year matches this one?

A supplier who can reliably match a mid-year reorder may save you more than a small difference in the initial rate. See our post on mid-year school uniform reorders for why this matters.

Questions to ask before you decide

Before you sign, it is reasonable to ask:

• Can we visit, or see photos or video of, the production of our sample?
• Who is our single point of contact during the order?
• How will changes after confirmation be handled and priced?
• What are the payment terms, and when is each payment due?

Clear answers to these questions are a good sign. Vague ones suggest you will need to follow up often during the order.

How we prepare school uniform quotations

When a school asks us for a quote, we itemise each garment, fabric, embroidery and any sample charge. Uniforms are made to order at our unit in Konni, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, in your colours, fabrics and sizes. The minimum order and lead time are confirmed in the quote, delivery is available across India, and payment terms are agreed before you confirm. We keep records of each order so reorders match.

To get a quote you can compare, see how we work with schools or send us your requirements.