Anyone else have problems with sizing of Brownie t-shirts?

Eager_Elephant

When my daughter started Brownies we brought her a brand new t-shirt - size 32".

This year it is too small and trying to get another t-shirt is not going very well.

We live a few miles away from the nearest town and as I work 4 days a week and DD is at school it is not always possible to get to the shop before it closes.

I decided that second hand is the way to go so I have been on ebay :eek:

The first t-shirt I got was listed as 34" but I actually received a 30" - she has refunded me.

I then ordered another 34" which arrived yesterday but it is no bigger than the 32" I had anyway.

Looking online some others have commented that although the t-shirts get wider they do not get any longer.

My DD is a normal 9 year old but bless her she feels like a freak now.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a problem and what they did about it?

I am happy to order a 36" but it will be no good if it is wider and not longer.

I might have to resort to getting a yellow or brown polo shirt and getting a Brownie logo applique.

I know this is a bit cheeky but if anyone has a Brownie top in a 36" could you measure the length of the back for me?

I also wonder whether it is to do with the brand - the original t-shirt we got (32") has a label with GirlGuiding UK but the 34" I got from ebay is David Luke for GirlGuiding?

Thanks

djtonyb

As a Brownie Guider it is commonly know the sizing for the Brownie t-shirts are not great.

David Luke is licensed uniform although Girlguiding gets no financial reward from its sale. All uniform purchased thro GirlGuiding UK is channelled back into the organisation.

I would suggest you contact your local depot http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/parents/guiding_essentials.aspx and ask them to help you with your sizing difficulties

peachyprice

I can't say I ever had a problem with the sizing, but if you're buying 2nd hand I guess it's possible they've been shrunk in too hot a wash.

Can your Brown Owl not order one? This is what ours did at the beginning of the term, it means you don't have to pay the P&P as it's the same whether one t-shirt or 10 whole uniforms are ordered. Also, does your leader not keep a collection of used uniform? We all gave our out-grown stuff in so there was a good stock of uniform available in various sizes for anyone who didn't want to buy new. If she doesn't, it might be worth suggesting it to her.

dizsiebubba

There are a couple of manufacturers for the uniform and they are all different lengths, qualities and materials...some shrink more than others. On ebay there are also fakes (yes really!) which are rubbish!

Have you asked the leader if she has any secondhand spare uniform to swap for?

tyllwyd

When my DD did Brownies, the t shirts weren't too bad, but the sizing on the trousers were awful and the leggings weren't much better.

Eager_Elephant

Thanks for your replies.

I have spoken to the Brownie leader and she said that they do not keep any stock whether that is brand new or second hand - I told them it was a shame as I think people would really benefit from it.

I saw on the internet that some groups buy the second hand clothes off parents for £1-£2 and then sell on at £3-£4 and raise money for their group - I mentioned this as well but they didn't seem to keen.

The thing is I would be quite happy to organise this but maybe they think it's not needed.

peachyprice

I think that's rather short righted of her.

dizsiebubba

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

I have spoken to the Brownie leader and she said that they do not keep any stock whether that is brand new or second hand - I told them it was a shame as I think people would really benefit from it.

Perhaps they don't have anywhere to store it...it does take up quite a bit of space to do this and usually units meet in church halls with limited storage space that they use to store things they need weekly...it also takes time to organise a second hand uniform recycling policy and perhaps they don't have time... running a Brownie unit takes more than the 1.5 hours a week parents think you put in already so perhaps they just don't have time to add another job to their list.

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

I saw on the internet that some groups buy the second hand clothes off parents for £1-£2 and then sell on at £3-£4 and raise money for their group - I mentioned this as well but they didn't seem to keen.

I run a free one for my unit as it is much less admin, but fortunately have the space to store it all & the spare time to sort it all out... having more space means that I can organise into storage boxes by size so easier to sort through and find etc. Most people aren't lucky enough to have this space. If you knew the work that went into preparing the accounts (which have to be aduited) you would perhaps understanding that whilst you think it is a way of fundraising, it takes alot of time to buy and sell little bits and adds to the admin pile. If uniform is given by leaving girls for 'free' when they move on to Guides and then you swap it for free, there is much less admin involved.

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

The thing is I would be quite happy to organise this but maybe they think it's not needed.

Have you told them this...?

Eager_Elephant

dizsiebubba wrote: »

Perhaps they don't have anywhere to store it...it does take up quite a bit of space to do this and usually units meet in church halls with limited storage space that they use to store things they need weekly...it also takes time to organise a second hand uniform recycling policy and perhaps they don't have time... running a Brownie unit takes more than the 1.5 hours a week parents think you put in already so perhaps they just don't have time to add another job to their list.



I run a free one for my unit as it is much less admin, but fortunately have the space to store it all & the spare time to sort it all out... having more space means that I can organise into storage boxes by size so easier to sort through and find etc. Most people aren't lucky enough to have this space. If you knew the work that went into preparing the accounts (which have to be aduited) you would perhaps understanding that whilst you think it is a way of fundraising, it takes alot of time to buy and sell little bits and adds to the admin pile. If uniform is given by leaving girls for 'free' when they move on to Guides and then you swap it for free, there is much less admin involved.



Have you told them this...?

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I think you have misunderstood me - at no time did I suggest that they SHOULD have a stock of clothing I was just answering someone's elses reply who mentioned that the Unit might have stock.

Also at no time did I suggest that they would have the time to organise this and at no time did I suggest that running a Unit only takes 1.5 hours - I totally appreciate the time, effort and dedication it takes to run a Unit.

Of course I mentioned it to them and offered to run it but as I said above they were not keen on the whole idea - whether that be for free as a swap shop or to earn some money for the Unit.

mrs_sparrow

Yes, we had the same problem too. DD always used to complain that her belly was showing. We did go for the 36" in the end and it was slightly longer - just covered and average 9 year old properly. But they are short IMO and we always found the same.

See if your local guiding unit headquarters is nearby as they usually have stock but they are not open that often. I do not know of a single brownie/guide/cub/scout unit here or in the nearby town that carries stock apart from the headquarters - and that is open just limited hours. They have to buy them and will not as it costs the unit funds. Even when we wanted blankets for camp the unit ordered them for us and we had to wait as they had to be ordered in.

Ours have always been official and they have always been made by David Luke. Round here they are stocked in a local uniform market stall and a dancewear shop - however, they do not tell you this, I only found out by chance when walking by them.

kingfisherblue

Although the largest size stated in the catalogue is 36", you can order a larger size if required. I have ordered a larger size in the past for one of my Brownies.

http://www.girlguidingukshop.co.uk/Brownie-Short-Sleeve-T-shirt.aspx

Can’t see the size you’re looking for? Clothing in smaller and larger sizes than those listed may be available. Please contact Trading Service Sales department on 0161 941 2237 for details.