ED'S TARTAN ARMY!

Students at one of Bahrain's leading schools have been trying on new-style uniforms in readiness for the new term ... with some clothing featuring an exclusive 'signature tartan' twirl.

St Christopher’s School is getting a little ‘mac’ magic to help commemorate the learning institute’s 50th anniversary next year and has appointed a new supplier to provide the clothing.

The ‘St Chris tartan’ - a hot topic on internet social networking sites - has been created by Zaks, a Canadian uniform store with operations in Dubai which has a store in Country Mall on Bahrain’s Budaiya Highway.

Zaki Ali, head designer and managing partner for Middle East operations, said he has incorporated a modern look with old fashioned quality by using materials able to withstand the rough and tumble of the playground.

The tartan will be used in culottes for Infant and Junior School girls and a skirt for Senior School girls. It has also been used in an ‘easy to wear’ dress for Year 1 to 6. A tartan scarf can also be worn by senior girls.

Mr Ali said: 'Our main focus while creating a concept for St Christopher's was to create a design that is at the same time stylish and comfortable. The colours needed to be trendy and yet timeless so that they do not look dated after a couple of years.

'We have used a very unique shade of blue with surface interest which is quite a trendy approach and for the bottoms we have used a rich charcoal grey with a herringbone pattern which gives a traditional, yet stylish feel.

'A tartan was created for the school keeping in mind the school logo colours and the complete ensemble in mind. It is exclusively patented to St Christopher's and is their signature tartan.

'We used tartans to give the premium upmarket private school feel.'

Principal, Edward Goodwin, said in a letter to parents: 'Next school year will start with a bright new school uniform! Whilst I am really looking forward to seeing students wearing it, I know we have agreed that old uniform items may also be worn next year, but I can't help hoping that the vast majority will be in their new outfits!'

St Christopher's Tartan Army will keep cool as well as smart in their new school uniforms, the company behind its concept has promised.

Although students have been given a year's grace to adopt the change, this week parents have been flocking to the Zaks store in Country Mall in a bid to beat the rush when the majority of expat families return from their summer holidays.

Zaki Ali, head designer, told GulfWeekly: 'We have used design features on the trousers like permanent crease stitch which helps the trousers look crisp even after the student has worn them for the whole day.

'For the younger girls we have culottes, which are very practical, and we have incorporated pleats on the skirts for the elder ones for easy movement.

'We have even designed very stylish trousers for the girls, which can be teamed up with a blouse kept on the outside and worn with a scarf specially designed for the school.'

Designers are now working on a new concept for the sports uniform.

The school's community service development team will be collecting the old-style uniforms and hope to ship out the clothing to a needy community in Asia or Africa.

From its modest beginnings in a villa in 1961, St Christopher's has grown into a large, internationally-renowned, non-profit making school with more than 2,000 students from around 60 nations, aged from three to 18.

Pupils and parents have given a mixed reaction to the new clothing. Karen Moir, mother of three girls, Sofie, five, Lauren, 10, and Nicole, 11, who have all attended St Christopher's School for the duration of their schooling, said she was happy with the new style although she had no complaints with the old uniforms.

Mrs Moir said: 'I like the new colours. My youngest, who starts Year 1 in September, is looking very cute. I am happy with the uniforms although I think the store may need to extend its range of sizes for the junior school students.'

She also said that buying the new uniforms for more than one child was certainly going to hit the pockets of parents. The family spent BD110 on two sets of uniforms for each of the three girls.

The suppliers say that the garments have been manufactured in the UAE and the fabrics have been imported from 'ISO standard' mills from around the world.

The polo shirts are made of a quick dry fabric in which the sweat absorbs at the highest rate possible. The woven fabrics have H2o dry out finishes and the jumpers are just one third the weight of a regular jumper, specifically designed for the harsh Gulf climate.

Mr Ali said: 'These features are prevalent in all premium school uniforms in the UK and North America and we are one of the first companies to introduce this for students in the Middle East.

'Some of the more prominent features you will find in all Zaks garments are four stitch button holes for increased strength and spare buttons on every garment.

'All the shirts are French-seamed so there are no threads fraying out, all the collars are double fused and we use German interlinings so that even after constant washing you will not find bubbles in the collars.'

Zaks is also offering free alteration for a year so parents need not pay extra for 'made to measure' uniforms. An iron-on name tagging machine is also available at an extra charge. The store also hopes to introduce a special service from next year that will help parents get their children fitted for uniforms at home.

In the meantime, the change of uniform supplier will come as a huge bonus for the Country Mall shopping complex which has struggled to attract shoppers and retailers.

It faces tough competition just a short drive away - Bahrain City Centre as well as Seef Mall.

Now the Budiaya Highway alternative is guaranteed a regular flow of thousands of parents and children which will likely boost the trade of all its outlets and help fill the ones currently vacant.

Uniform fact file

Cost of uniform sets for 13 - 14 year olds

Girls skirt – BD8

Blouse – BD9

Boys shirt – BD8.5

Trousers – BD9.5

Tie – BD5

Cost of uniform for eight-year-old girls

Dress – BD13

Culottes – BD8

Polo T-shirt – BD6.5

Socks – 800fils

Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours.

   Tartans originated in woven cloth, but now they are used in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns.

   A government act in 1746 attempted to bring the warrior clans under government control by banning the tartan and other aspects of Gaelic culture. When the law was repealed in 1782, it was no longer ordinary Highland dress, but was adopted instead as the symbolic national dress of Scotland.