You could perhaps check with a company that sells choir robes? I know when we ordered them with my church the price depended on the amount we ordered. Obviously the per item cost dropped with an increased order. Maybe you can get together with another chapter and purchase more, or have a set you can share until everyone can afford their own? I know some companies sell patterns for choir robes, and it could be a fun sewing experience for all involved. I'll pm you with the choir robe company name later GlitterKitty.
If you want to have alums help out (though you said it was shaky), perhaps they could purchase some and get their name put in the back on the inside?
honeychile, with those azure blue lycra catsuits, I hope you get them professionally done by a seamstress, that fabric could be hard to work with. Luckily it stretches though
