A retailer said the brand’s school sports kits drive the cost of school uniforms and “destroy the seller’s reputation.”

Jan Buchanan told MLAS on the Stormont's Education Board that many parents are now paying more for their children's sports (PE) kits, rather than for uniforms.

She is one of many retailers who provide evidence to the committee about proposed laws to limit the price of school uniforms.

A parent told BBC News NI that the rising cost of uniforms made it "extremely difficult".

In addition to the highest price limit, Education Minister Paul Givan also said that the number of branded items such as PE kits may be limited and schools can ask parents to purchase.

The Education Commission is currently reviewing the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act.

Kerri Denvir has two children at the elementary school in Newtownabbey, Antrim County.

She told BBC News NI that items usually need to be replaced throughout the year and that the costs are “continuously rising, rising.”

"They just don't last, they'll grow out of it soon," Ms Danville said.

"They landed on the playground and came across a hole among the joggers and that was another £20. You often have to replace things."

“There are sometimes agreements in August, but when you take it further in the winter, the price goes up.

“It’s not two to three pounds, it’s a lot of money, the expenses are up about £20 or £30.”

Three single mothers Tina Mellon said the rising cost of uniforms was “unmanageable”.

She told BBC News NI that her elementary school son needed a branded PE kit as well as his main school uniform.

"I think many non-brand items are acceptable, especially for elementary school students, the most certain thing is physical exercise," she said.

During a committee hearing Wednesday, retailers called for a "window" for three years before any new laws take effect.

Otherwise, the new law could make “bankruptcy and massive redundancy very real possibilities”, Alastair McCall of Lisburn told MLAS.

Francesca Cahillin of the real fare in Belfast told MLA that the current school uniform grants for low-income families in Northern Ireland are much lower than those in Wales or Scotland.

"By comparison, Northern Ireland fell."

Ms Buchanan from Warnock, Belfast said: “The school uniform itself has not changed, what has changed is the introduction of a mandatory brand sports kit”.

“As you know, these projects are provided only by sports companies that monopolize the supply of these items,” she said.

“So this raises the price of the entire uniform, destroys reputation and negatively affects small family businesses.”

Ms Buchanan cited an example of a school that wanted to be named, saying the united total price is £86.90, while the mandatory PE kit reaches £198.70.

Consultations on the proposed new law attracted 7,500 responses, with many parents expressing opposition to schools that require students to wear PE kits made by specific brands.