As the new academic year approaches, school uniform stores in Puerto Rico are facing challenges to supply uniforms to thousands of students in the public and private education system. The industry is affected by the decline of local manufacturing, with fewer workshops and factories to produce uniforms, and some manufacturers specializing in military clothing. The increase in transportation costs due to the rise in oil prices and the payment of tariffs on imported fabrics from Asian countries also impact the final price of the merchandise.
Some academic institutions buy uniform pieces directly from manufacturers in Colombia and Peru, bypassing local distributors. The Department of Education projects that the 2026-2027 academic year will have approximately 221,800 students in public schools, a reduction of almost 4% compared to the previous year. According to Evo Giovannoni, owner of the La Ideal uniform store, the decline in student population is one of the situations that most affects the sector.
Giovannoni's company, founded in 1976, has survived changes in the industry, but notes that there were more uniform stores in the past. The closure of workshops and factories that produced uniforms is another major problem for the industry, which was exacerbated by the loss of Section 936 of the federal Internal Revenue Code.