The college, which opens next month, has a tailor-made uniform designed with the help of students, staff and parents.

Principal Bretton New has overseen the formation of the new $50 million school - the product of two primary schools and a secondary college.

Its initial enrolments will be 500-plus P-7 students and 300 kindergarten pupils. It will boast community-shared facilities like a performing arts space, IT labs and a gym.

"It will be more than a school, it's also part of the community," Mr New said.

In keeping with the fresh start, parents were clearly keen that they wanted a "uniformed school" with a mix of traditional and modern styles - smart ties and blazers, hard-wearing polo shirts, jumpers and windcheaters.

The uniform sets the tone, engendering pride, identity, responsibility and high expectations, he said.

"We were looking for a uniform that was distinct and recognisable for Doveton College and one that the children were proud to be wearing. It couldn't be a mix and match of tracksuit tops and bottoms that you might see at other schools."

The group started with suggestions covering "every colour of the rainbow". They settled on navy blue, red and white.

The group consulted with Dandenong schoolwear manufacturer PSW, which helped design 25-30 "affordable" items with the logo and school name for parents.

The uniforms, which $150 for primary school and more than $200 for secondary school, will be subsidised by 60 per cent as a result of fund-raising and the State Schools Relief charity. It means parents will pay about $50 for a primary school uniform.

PSW also threw in free school ties and book bags, and a contribution towards school hats.

PSW chief executive Anthony Sterpin said the trend for more formal schoolwear was coming from the students. "In the past, it was the school saying you must wear a blazer. The kids now are saying we want to have a blazer."