Sustainable: a sneak peek at uniform design details

One of the biggest questions we’re hearing about our new uniform, launching in 2026, is ‘What is it made from?’  

What our clothes are made from impacts people, nature and quality. Clothes made with care feel better, last longer and tell a story we can all be proud of. The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions – so our choices around clothes really add up.  

Girls are really aware of that too. Lots of the uniform designs girls sent us included requests to protect the planet by using recyclable and eco-friendly materials. And as part of our environmental plan, we’re on a mission to cut Girlguiding’s carbon footprint 50% by 2040.  

We know that the way the new uniform is made is just as important as the way it’s designed. ‘Uniform should be sustainable’ is one of the five design principles we’ve been using to guide the process. And that’s why we’re really pleased to announce that 80% of garments in the new range have been made using organic cotton.  

Why organic cotton?  

Check out this video, narrated by Evie from the creator collective, explaining how organic cotton works with nature to reduce its environmental impact.  

• Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or fertilisers and uses less water.  
• Healthier soil means better water storage – soaking up floods and holding onto moisture during droughts.  
• It’s gentler on farmers too – skipping pesticides creates safer, more sustainable working conditions. 
• Good for the soil and comfy on the skin: it’s a win-win.   

Will it last in the wash?  

Clothes made from natural fibres like organic cotton need gentle treatment in the wash. We’ll include care instructions with the new uniform when it launches, but in general, it’s always advisable to wash at 30 degrees and air dry, rather than tumble dry. That’s good advice to prolong the life of the rest of your wardrobe and reduce your carbon footprint too.  

We’ve also balanced the need for a more sustainable uniform with the need to make sure it’s durable and affordable. You’ll also see other materials such as recycled polyester being used across the range – we haven’t used organic cotton for everything. But we’ve tried to make sustainable improvements wherever we can. 

Designed to be recycled 

When uniform launches remember to check your labels and look out for certifications on the new range! Certifications are proof that an item of clothing meets high standards for the environment and people. We’re working on getting a large percentage of the core lines in the range certified by The Circular Textiles Foundation (CTF).  

If you see their ‘Infinitee’ mark on your uniform, it means that it's been designed to be recycled at the end of its life.

Managing the transition period sustainably  

As we get closer to launch, we’ve tried to prioritise sustainability in our decision-making as much as possible. That’s one of the reasons why there’s no set date by which you have to get the new uniform after it launches – we want to minimise the amount of old clothing going to waste. And we’re also trying to manage our stock levels responsibly and sustainably. This means you may see sizes and garments of old uniform going out of stock, as we’re only ordering what we’re confident we can sell before uniform launches.  

Our current and ongoing approach to uniform is a flexible one, where girls and members have a choice of items. We never want any girl or member to feel like you have to wear a piece of uniform that's not ideal or uncomfortable. And that's particularly important during this period of transition between old and new uniform.  

For that reason, we want to be clear that during this period, all members are welcome to wear any item of Girlguiding apparel as uniform for guiding-related activities. This can be uniform from other sections, items of casual-wear, or tops and hoodies from local, district, or regional events.   

Want to test it out for yourself? We’re looking for models…  

We’re looking for girls and volunteers to model our new uniform for 2026 photoshoots! These are the photos we’ll be using to promote the range when it launches in 2026.  

To apply please email [email protected] by 15 December with the following information: 

• Your name. If you’re applying for your child to take part, please include their name and your name.
• Your age and the role(s) you hold in guiding as of January 2026. If you’re applying for your child to take part, please include their age and section as of January 2026 (Rainbow/Brownie/Guide/Ranger/young leader.) 
• Where you’re based.  
• The clothing size you or your child usually wear.  
• And a fun picture of you or your child in a favourite outfit that best shows off your style and personality. (All images will be stored securely and deleted after uniform launch. They'll only be used for pre-production purposes and not for wider use.) 

We want to make sure that everyone can see themselves as part of Girlguiding. Because of this, we're keen to include people who are underrepresented within the guiding community particularly those from ethnically diverse backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and people from minority faith groups.  

The exact date and location will be confirmed but will likely to be from March - May 2026. There are limited spaces available – we’re getting a lot of responses, so don’t worry if it’s a while until you hear from us.