International News - August 2005

Gurus Feel Cool in Uniforms

India, July 15, 2005 (Times of India) - The idea of a dress code in colleges might be unacceptable to the student fraternity. However, in Kanpur, some private institutes have been for long defining the rules of dressing for the teachers. KT takes a look at what makes dressing alike so acceptable to the teaching fraternity of the city.

"A uniform dress code helps identify teachers with a particular institute, thereby helping to promote the organization, especially if the institute has branches across the country," says Amjad Khan, who runs a private educational institute.

Educationist Sanjay Malik Kapoor feels that as teachers are a source of inspiration for the students, "their adhering to a dress code will motivate students to follow suit. Moreover, uniforms impart a smart look to the staff and adds to the prestige of the institute they represent," he says.

Although the cost incurred in managing the uniform adds to the gross annual expenditure of the institute, most educational organizations see it as a productive investment. "We provide the entire staff with three sets of uniforms every year, free of cost. Generally the institutes do not follow any uniform code to avoid extra expenses," info rms Sanjay Malik Kapoor.

Paras Lahoti, owner of a cabin crew training institute, has recently implemented a dress code for the teaching staff, "to carve a distinct identity for my institute and to promote it," he says.

Motivated by the private institutes, where teachers are adhering to a uniform dress code, many schools are also planning something on the same lines for their staff.

Shubhash Chandra Verma, principal of a private school, says, "In the early era when there were universities like Taxila in India, the teachers followed a proper dress code which then became a distinct characteristic of that institute, thereby enhancing its visibility."

For teachers, a dress code saves the trouble of deciding what to wear the next day to the college. "Initially I used to spend a lot of time deciding my next day’s outfit, but now I need not worry about that," says Anita Choudhary, a school teacher.

"Another advantage is that it curtails the tendency of overdressing among teachers, which also prevents students from doing the same, especially in colleges," she adds.

So it's thumbs up to dress code, as far as city teachers are concerned.

Unisync Group Acquires J.P. Hammill and Expands Product Offerings

Toronto , Ont., July 19, 2005 (Company Release) – Unisync Group Ltd. of Toronto has acquired J.P. Hammill Ltd. of Guelph , a specialized apparel company that provides work clothing and uniforms including safety garments to a wide variety of industrial and retail markets.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of Hammill provides Unisync with a widely recognized and respected brand known for its proven capability to provide the highest quality, functional work wear. The Hammill brand will be added to York Uniforms and Showroom One, Unisync’s two existing brands. Customers of all three brands will benefit from a broader range of specialized products, design expertise, expanded manufacturing capacity and distribution capabilities.

“Providing an even broader range of high quality products and services to our expanding customer base is fundamental to achieving our growth objectives. We will continue to grow our business by adding companies and brands that will help us achieve these and other strategic goals,” said Kevin Young, President, Unisync Group Ltd.

“Hammill is an excellent fit for us and I am particularly pleased to welcome Tom and Jeff Hammill into our business. Together, they bring more than 40 years of experience in our industry,” he added.

Unisync Group Ltd. is a market-leading provider of corporate apparel, uniforms and image-enhancing products and services. Its brands include York Uniforms, a market-leading provider of fashion-driven career apparel for branded companies in industries such as quick service restaurants, retailers, grocery stores, gaming and entertainment venues and Showroom One, a provider of custom-designed promotional products and theatrical merchandise.

For further info rmation, contact Kevin Young at 905-274-2681 x277