Puke Ariki is sending out an SOS for old school uniforms.

One of the opening exhibitions in Puke Ariki's Taranaki Life Gallery will be education-related exhibits, with examples of school uniforms and school caps from throughout the region.

A changing exhibit will show the various high school blazers from throughout Taranaki which are in the Puke Ariki collection.

According to collections manager Ron Lambert, changes in school uniforms reflect wider social change.

"Hemlines go up and down and, of late, we've seen a big change in boys' shorts to a much baggier style," he said. "Of particular interest are high school uniforms from the 1950s and 1960s, and uniforms from Waitara, Stratford, and Patea High Schools, Okato College, and St Mary's School in Stratford."

If you can help, call toll free on 0800 PUKE ARIKI (0800 785 327).