Thursday, October 16, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -The Cedar Riverside Community School girls' basketball team is asking for parents' opinions about their new uniforms. The girls designed the options themselves to be both religiously appropriate according to Somali culture, with a little help from the University of Minnesota. Parents were invited to see the unveiling and share their thoughts Wednesday evening at the Brian Coyle Center.
On Wednesday nights, the gym at the Brian Coyle Center is “NBA” -- no boys allowed. However, playing sports can be difficult for the girls, who are from East Africa, because they have to be covered from head to toe.
"Seeing them trip over their skirts, seeing them not be able to be safe and be active at the same time is really hard,” coach Jennifer Weber said.
That's why the girls, with some help from grad students at the University of Minnesota, came up with several designs for new sports uniforms that are both culturally and religiously appropriate. Some even got to model the final four to get feedback from their parents and community members. The uniforms are made with wicking fabrics that move perspiration away from their bodies to keep them from overheating. Plus, since they're designed for young girls, there was plenty of pink involved.
The G.I.R.L.S program received a grant from the Extension Service at the U of M to work on the designs and prototypes. Organizers hope to find women in the Somali community to sew the uniforms by next spring after the vote, then, they'll have a community fashion show.