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At the heart of this exclusion lies a critical yet often overlooked barrier: discriminatory and outdated sports kit policies that fail to accommodate the diverse needs, preferences, and identities of these underrepresented communities.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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our founder
TESS HOWARD
Our Founder is Team GB Olympian, Tess Howard. Over the last few years, Tess has led the successful campaign for international hockey to change their clothing regulations to allow choice of shorts and skorts in the same team - where previously only skorts could be worn. This hard-fought change is the culmination of her academic paper on the effects of gendered sports uniforms and her own discomfort as an elite athlete wearing sexualised gendered kit.
Tess is determined the movement not stop at hockey or just in the UK, and is on a mission to educate, advocate and inspire a movement in inclusive sports kit policies based on choice and comfort.
Commonwealth Gold Medallist 2022
Awarded MBE in 2025 for services to inclusive sportswear for women and girls
Our team
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Tess Howard
Great Britain & England Hockey Player | Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist
LEAD ADVISORS
Lou Pullan
Team England, Kit Operations Specialist | Creative Product Specialist
Simon Webb
ED&I vision project leader | NPUA Committee Member | Marketing & Communications ED&I professional | Neurologically disabled
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
Wendy Taylor
Senior Development Manager at Youth Sport Trust | Development Manager - Girls Active
Sue Anstiss
CEO at Fearless Women | Co-Founder of Women’s Sport Collective | Author, Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport
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.”