The new kit has been designed to tackle the biggest issues girls have with their current PE kit – including lack of choice, uncomfortable fabric and shapeless designs
A new PE kit has been unveiled by ASICS, aimed at encouraging more teenage girls to participate in sports at school and prevent them from quitting. The innovative kit has already been tested by students at Burnley High School – an area pinpointed by Sport England as having some of the lowest PE participation rates nationwide.
A study involving 2,000 girls aged between 14 and 16 revealed that three quarters would enjoy PE more if their kit was comfier to wear. Additionally, seven out of ten said they would be more willing to get involved if they had a good kit.
The prototype, dubbed the ‘Undropped Kit’, has been developed by sportswear giant ASICS, in collaboration with Inclusive Sportswear and mental health charity Mind, to address the main issues girls face with their current kit.
The existing problems include limited choice, uncomfortable material, and shapeless designs. Other concerns revolve around suitability for varying weather conditions, period worries, and sweat absorption and visibility.
ASICS claims that the new kit prioritises comfort, choice, and confidence through three versatile components, allowing girls to concentrate on enjoying physical activity.
Comfort is catered for with the inclusion of sprinter shorts which can be transformed into a skort or looser shorts, depending on each girl’s preference.
The kit has also been designed to endure ‘all’ weather conditions, boasting packable and water-repellent features. It includes a stowaway hood and a detachable top layer for adaptability in varying weather scenarios.
The designers have also considered different body temperatures, incorporating a removable inner liner that can be worn as a gilet for easy temperature regulation.
The dark fabric helps hide potential leaks, with concealed zip pockets for tampons or valuables – addressing concerns about periods and storage space. Meanwhile, there’s also a built-in emergency hair tie in the zip.
Issues with current kits being see-through and uncomfortable have been tackled by using softer, sweat-wicking, darker fabrics. An elasticated bungee cord waist provides a better fit, resolving the problem of baggy, shapeless kits.
Tess Howard, founder of Inclusive Sportswear and international hockey player for Team GB, has spoken out about the issue, stating: “A PE kit is the most underrated reason girls drop out of PE, but the good news is we can fix it – and fast.”
She added: “Inclusive Sportswear is built to solve this issue by helping schools employ inclusive PE kit policy based on enabling choice and comfort. By listening to girls and evolving kit to support their needs, we can lift this barrier.”
Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity at Mind added: “We believe physical activity is a powerful protective factor for young people’s mental health.
“It’s deeply concerning to see so many teenage girls dropping out of PE in such big numbers. While the reasons are complex, simple changes like adapting PE kit could help girls feel more comfortable to stay active, giving them a lifelong tool to support their mental health.”
Parents and school staff are being urged to join the Inclusive Sportswear Community Platform, where they can gain access to free expert training, toolkits and guidance developed with the Youth Sport Trust to create meaningful change and help more girls enjoy PE.