ASICS works with UK partners to redesign PE kit
ASICS, Inclusive Sportswear and Mind have worked with UK teenagers to create a new PE kit designed to improve comfort and participation in school sport
The “Undropped Kit” has been created following research that showed nearly three-quarters of girls aged 14 to 16 would be more likely to take part in PE if their kit was more comfortable.
The research, commissioned by ASICS, found that only 12% of UK girls were completely satisfied with their current PE kit. Among the key concerns raised were a lack of choice, unsuitable fabrics, shapeless design, limited weather suitability, period-related issues and visibility of sweat. Nearly two-thirds of respondents felt it was time for a kit redesign.
To address these concerns, the Undropped Kit has been designed to suit different body shapes, weather conditions and personal styles. The kit has been tested by secondary school pupils at Burnley High School, an area identified by Sport England as having one of the lowest levels of PE participation in the country.
The initiative forms part of a wider push to improve retention of teenage girls in sport. Sport England data has shown that 64% of girls stop participating before the age of 16, with consequences for both physical and mental wellbeing. By supporting Inclusive Sportswear’s campaign for more inclusive kit policies, ASICS has aligned the project with broader efforts to reduce barriers to participation in school sport.
Tess Howard, Founder of Inclusive Sportswear and international hockey player for Team GB, said, “A PE kit is the most underrated reason girls drop out of PE, but the good news is we can fix it – and fast. Inclusive Sportswear is built to solve this issue by helping schools employ inclusive PE kit policy based on enabling choice and comfort.”
Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind, said, “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.”
Lucy Greenhalgh, Head of UK Marketing at ASICS, said: “We believe in the positive impact of movement not just on the body, but also on the mind. With this new Undropped Kit concept, we hope to show how reimagining the nation’s PE kits could help to change attitudes and behaviours and keep girls in sport.”
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