The Psychology of a Uniform

[M]any people have asked why everyone on WC000 was wearing matching jackets and gear.

The answer is much deeper than what you might think.

The concept of a “uniform” has been around for centuries and for good reason.  Militaries, schools, and associations have long used uniforms as a tool to increase morale, limit internal competition, and to provide a powerful sense of pride and belonging. I know I can still remember how proud I felt when wearing my school’s basketball uniform when we were travelling on an away game.

Wilderness Collective intentionally crafts experiences that bring men up or down to the same level in order to build community, so developing a uniform was a critical part of this formula. We didn’t want some of the experienced guys to show up with their amazing gear while the first-timers showed up in tennis shoes and a thrift store helmet. It was essential that we broke down those walls right away.

With all of us wearing the same gear it was hard to distinguish individuals from the whole collective…and that was the goal.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell said it best when he said “The uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted it covers up all differences of class and country.”