One Dress, One Girl, One Year
Gabi Moore | May 14, 2010 | Comments 4
School uniforms may seem boring, but they definitely save on clothing, and sometimes spark the creativity of kids who accessorize to look different every day. Students in the United States might 
complain about their uniforms, but some kids halfway around the world would wear love to wear them, accessorized or not, because it means they can go to school in the first place.
The Uniform Project brought school uniforms, education and sustainable fashion together. The project was simple: one girl, with one dress, for one year. As part of a fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, one girl, Sheena Matheiken, wore the same black dress every day for a year, making a different outfit every day with reused accessories. Money donated to the project over the year went to fund expenses for uniforms and education for kids living in Indian slums, and at the end of the year, more than $80,000 was raised, which is enough to send 223 kids to school.
Sheena Matheiken grew up in India, where it is required that students have uniforms in order to attend most public schools. She began the project with seven identical dresses, one for each day of the week, and posted a photo on the website each day of a new outfit that included that dress. The blog encouraged people to “shop” their own closets and included discussions of green fashion along with information about the Akanksha Foundation and providing education for students in India. All of the accessories Sheena wore were auctioned off to raise more money for the project.
The project has ended, but Sheena says there is more in store and she hopes to continue bringing fashion, sustainability and philanthropy together. The Akanksha Foundation is still working to bring education to low income students who might otherwise not get the chance to go to school. You can learn more about the foundation and how to donate at their website.
Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.
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About the Author: Gabi Moore is a Michigan State University journalism student. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but she harbors a passion for telling moving and meaningful stories, and appreciates the power of storytelling to influence the world. An animal lover since she can remember, she volunteers at her local animal shelter and is involved with Michigan's Children, pushing for legislative support and funding for children's programs across the state.
Wow, this is awesome! It’s so amazing how everybody’s interests and passions truly can be channeled to make a huge difference for other people. All you have to do is use a little creativity.
Good cause, awful message.
Mandated dresses for schoolgirls is a pretty sexist concept.
Generally, I agree with you, Barrick (the idea of mandating dresses for schoolgirls IS sexist) but I think you’re missing something. The uniforms were required, not optional, which means that the real bone of contention is with the administrative officials requiring girls to be clad in oppressive-chic.
It’s unlikely that the school uniform premise could be challenged, at least initially. Thus, it makes sense to be somewhat more eco-friendly (at least) by challenging the idea that one needs to be multiple school uniforms. In actuality, I think that this success might yet lead to really confronting the sexist assumptions that keep girls clad in these things to begin with. Eco-feminism argues that the oppression of women and the environment are inherently linked; a little liberty for either is a step towards freedom for both.
Kids here in the US complain about having to wear school uniforms. Just imagine there are children all over the world that can’t even go to school because they don’t have a uniform. We should all count our blessings.