Who we are
We are leading a movement in sportswear policies to champion rigorous inclusivity, dismantle participation barriers, and inspire belonging for every body in sport.
We want to see systemic change in the sport and PE kit policy landscape where participation, performance, enjoyment and belonging in sport and PE always determines kit choices.
Our why
Sports kit matters
Inclusive Sportswear tackles the pervasive and deeply rooted issue of exclusion in sports, particularly among women, girls, religious minorities, and diverse groups.
inspiring inclusion
At the heart of this exclusion lies a critical yet often overlooked barrier: discriminatory and outdated sports kit policies that fail to accommodate the diverse needs, preferences, and identities of these underrepresented communities.
promoting participation
Far too often, traditional sports kit policies have been designed with a narrow, homogeneous population in mind, disregarding the rich diversity of bodies, beliefs, and experiences that make up our sporting communities, leading to alarming dropout rates, especially for teenage girls.
Advocating for diversity
A lack of diversity acts as a barrier to the opportunity to progress in sport both recreationally and professionally as well as a profound sense of disconnection from the joys and benefits of physical activity.
Our Mission
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Tess Howard
Through the establishment of Inclusive Sportswear, she has created a platform to promote systemic change across various sports and at all levels, from grassroots to elite competition. By collaborating with schools, clubs, national governing bodies, and sports brands, Tess and her team at Inclusive Sportswear are working to ensure that every individual, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, ability, or body type, feels welcomed, valued, and represented in sport.
In recognition of her transformative work, Tess was honoured with The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Changemaker Award in 2023. Additionally, Tess was named the 36th Most Influential Woman in Sport by the Telegraph, acknowledging her significant contributions to the advancement of inclusivity and equality in sports.
Her tireless efforts led to a ground-breaking decision, allowing women to choose between wearing skorts or shorts within the same team. At the 2023 Europeans, the England team wore a combination for the first time. At the Paris Olympics 2024, the team will wear a combination, and this will be history-making in any sport. This monumental change not only empowered female athletes but also challenged traditional gender norms in sports. Tess's advocacy gained significant media attention, cementing her status as a powerful voice for change in the sporting world.
In March 2023, Tess founded Inclusive Sportswear after publishing her paper on the impact of gendered school sport uniforms on girls' participation in sport. Her research found overwhelmingly over 70% of women had seen girls drop out of sports due to sports kit concerns and body image issues, with 100% wanting choice and over 60% wanted the option of shorts. Conducted at Durham University, her research led the bedrock for her campaign for international hockey to change their long-standing policy of requiring female players to wear skorts during matches with no choice or shorts. The campaign and research garnered widespread media coverage, putting pressure on hockey.
First and foremost, Tess is a Team GB Olympian, GB and England Hockey player, with a Commonwealth Gold. She is a trailblazing athlete, researcher, and advocate who has dedicated her career to promoting inclusivity and equality in sports. Her experience with the challenges and obstacles faced by female athletes in terms of sports kit and uniform policies has shaped the mission and values of Inclusive Sportswear.
Our team
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Tess Howard
Great Britain & England Hockey Player | Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist
DIRECTOR
Simon Webb
ED&I vision project leader | NPUA Committee Member | Marketing & Communications ED&I professional | Neurologically disabled
CHIEF ADVISORS
Lou Pullan
Team England, Kit Operations Specialist | Creative Product Specialist
Suzy Levy
Managing Director, The Red Plate | Author, Mind The Inclusion Gap | Non-Executive Director
GROUP OF ADVISORS
Joanna Czutkowna
CEO at 5THREAD | Doctoral researcher in circular economy implementation within sport
Leigh Burns
Founder & CEO Lacuna Sports | Business Executive
Rimla Akhtar
Founder & Managing Director, RimJhim Consulting | Non-Executive Director, The Rugby Football League
Hema Choudhary
Project Lead of Get Keep Grow, Volleyball England | Strategic Initiatives | Community Development | Research & Insights | MSc Sports Management
Wendy Taylor
Senior Development Manager at Youth Sport Trust | Development Manager - Girls Active
Kath Curran
Senior Metaverse Manager at City Football Group | Co-Founder CFG's Global Women’s Network | MA at the Institute of Sports Humanities
Dr Clare Hanlon
Professor, Women in Sport Chair at Victoria University, Australia | Co-Chair Inclusion & Diversity Group, AusCycling | Lead, Building Inclusive Sport Clubs, Victoria University
Sue Anstiss
CEO at Fearless Women | Co-Founder of Women’s Sport Collective | Author, Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport
Marie Cartwright
Women in Sport Policy Expert | Former Development & Partnerships Manager, SportingEquals | Non-Executive, England Athletics & Football Supporters’ Association
Join the community to access the free inclusive sportswear guidance
Take th Advocate Module to become and offical advocate
Pledge your club to the inclusive sportswear charter to become an inclusive sportswear champion
Start the inclusive sportswear champion process
Join the community to access the free inclusive sportswear guidance
Take the Advocate Module to become and offical advocate
Pledge your NGB to the inclusive sportswear charter to become an inclusive sportswear champion
Start the inclusive sportswear champion process which will start with a consultation with inclusive sportwear
Our Partner
Orginisations
Dr Emma Ross, CEO & Co-Founder
“Our work aims to educate those who are supporting females in all sports settings and we know that kit is a huge barrier for girls and women when participating in sport - no matter what level or lifestage. Providing choice is key. We whole-heartedly champion Inclusive Sportswear in providing the exact type of action needed in order to create positive sporting environments - free from judgement, historical traditions and sexualisation - where all females can thrive. We are excited to be working in collaboration with Inclusive Sportswear Charter and expect this fantastic initiative will have an enormous influence and impact for all active girls and women.”
Helen Rowbotham, CEO
"Sports kit can be a significant barrier to participation for the disadvantaged and disabled children and young people we support, for a multitude of reasons including cost, comfort and cultural expectations. We encourage the clubs, coaches and volunteers we work with to adopt inclusive kit policies focussed on individual choice. We are therefore excited to be backing Inclusive Sportswear's Charter and working with sector partners to make inclusive kit the norm in community sport".
Victoria McIntyre, CEO
“Club71 are proud to support Inclusive Sportwear on their mission to deconstruct barriers to participation in sport. We believe that sport is for everyone and are delighted to stand as ISW’s creative partner, working alongside Tess and the team to assist them in their quest to ensure that no person is left on the side-lines because of inadequate sports kit.”