The State of New South Wales' Department of Education site lists the following about life as a convict:
"Convicts were issued clothes from the government’s Commissariat Store. Each man and woman got a basic set of garments, known as ‘slops’, and was supposed to change to clean clothes once or twice a week.
Governor Macquarie also ordered spare trousers to be given out to allow convict men to ‘appear clean at church on Sundays.’
An identifiable convict 'uniform' was desirable, but due to shortages a hodgepodge of colours and types of clothes was issued, of varying quality and fit.
Supplies from England had to be supplemented with garments made in the colony.
The number and names of barracks convicts were written on their clothes, because theft of portable personal items was rife. Newly washed men’s shirts were often ‘dried on the shoulders of the owners’ to ensure they couldn’t be stolen.
The parti-coloured punishment suit shown was worn by recalcitrant men and repeat offenders, nicknamed 'canary men'. It was a public humiliation to have to wear the ridiculous suit made of yellow and black or grey and white wool.
The trousers had side buttons to allow them to be put on and taken off while leg-irons remained fixed to ankles."
Source: http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/Web/13651/13653/applets/11489_clothing/show_tell11489_text.htm
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