Fashion Theory, Volume 17, Issue 2, pp. 159–178 DOI: 10.2752/175174113X13541091797607 Reprints available directly from the Publishers. Photocopying permitted by licence only.  2013 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Do School Uniforms Lead to Uniform Minds?: School Uniforms and Appearance Restrictions in Korean Middle Schools and High Schools Judy Park Abstract Korean people possess impressive skills and abilities and are making a mark in many different fields, but they are not usually considered the most creative in a group. There may be different reasons for the rigid- ness or lack of creativity of Korea, but this article especially focuses on the effect of school uniforms on the creativity of Korean students. School uniforms are introduced for multiple reasons, including disci- pline, eliminating class differences between peers, and better academic performance. However, based on an examination of the history of uniforms in Korean schools and the attitudes and habits of students Judy Park is CEO of Atelier Eleven (www.ateliereleven.com) and a lecturer of fashion design at Sungkyunkwan University, Inha University and Korea National Open University in Korea. She has a PhD and MSc in clothing and textiles from Seoul National University. judy5134@gmail.com Downloaded by [EP- IPSWICH], [Deviprasad K] at 05:13 07 July 2016