You don’t feel like yourself in it, but it still saves you money on work clothes. You can’t wait to take it off, but it still makes getting dressed for work in the morning easier and less stressful. It doesn’t show your brand in the best light, but at least the logo is there (kind of) – all publicity is good publicity, right? Well, it may not quite be the kind of promotion you want.
Uniforms have a long history dating all the way back to the Middle Ages, so it’s safe to say that the benefits have outweighed the downsides through the years. But instead of applying Neil Patrick Harris’ pizza analogy, “even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good”, why not transform the love-hate relationship into a blooming partnership that works for your staff and your business?
The Elephant in the Room
Dan Rențea | Dreamstime.com
The first thing that comes to mind when discussing branded uniforms is that they’re good for business. A personalised work uniform puts your company identity at eye level for every customer. This helps your business stay top of mind during direct and indirect interactions.
But the thing is, your employees aren’t walking billboards. They’re people with preferences, icks, and comfort zones. What they wear matters for comfort, confidence, and how they feel at work. Failing to address this can undo all the benefits you’re trying to bring.
From hurting morale to lowering productivity, you’ll be appalled at how a poor choice of staff apparel can quietly damage your business over time. If the clothes are making your team miserable, your clients are more likely to notice this than the logo printed on their shirt or the colours you chose.
That’s why it’s important to choose an all-round personalised work uniform that delivers in every aspect: comfort, practicality, identity, and team pride. Here’s how to go about it.
Know Your Fabrics
While you can create a personalised work uniform from any old cloth, there’s no guarantee that it will look right, feel good, perform well, or last long. Not necessarily talking about the cheap stuff either; you can pick the most expensive silk or cashmere and still be left with a garment that’s beautiful but useless in a busy workplace.
You should look for high-performance fabrics that are comfortable, breathable, easy-care, non-pilling, non-fading, and sweat-masking. Now that’s a long list of boxes to be ticked, but there are custom-developed fabric blends that combine the strengths of natural and manmade fibres to bring all these qualities together.
Match the Design to the Job
What works for the front of house team isn’t always right for the back of house crew or office staff. For instance, sharp, tailored garments are a great choice for reception roles where first impressions matter, but in the warehouse, these same pieces may restrict freedom of movement and make it impossible to work safely and efficiently.
That’s not to say that there’s a role where it’s ok for the clothes to be impractical, unflattering or unstylish. Even seemingly stark corporate suits can be comfortable, and utilitarian kitchen uniforms can be fashionable if the design is thoughtful and considerate, crafted with both the job and the person in mind. Every personalised work uniform should be practical and flattering.
Customisation That Showcases Your Brand in the Best Light
Once you have the perfect match in terms of fit and performance, it’s time to proceed with personalisation. Suppliers that offer this service in-house can save you time, money, and frustration.
There are many different branding options to choose from, including but not limited to:
- Embroidery – Best for items that see heavy wear and frequent washing because the stitching holds its shape and colour over time.
- Screen Printing – It works well for larger logos and graphic elements, provided the inks are high-quality.
- Heat Transfer – Affordable and flexible, suitable for short-term or seasonal uniforms.
- Badges – Pinned or magnetised badges are a great solution if you need a removable option.
If your goal is long-term, quality branding on everyday workwear, embroidery and screen printing are the top choices.
Look Before You Leap
Dan Rențea | Dreamstime.com
Before production begins, your supplier should be able to provide artwork proofs and sample swatches to ensure your logo and design are exactly what you envisioned. These give you a chance to check the colours, placement, and finish in real life – a step crucial to preventing costly errors.
Accessories That Complete Your Unique Ensemble
Accessories can bring personality and a touch of flair to any personailsed work uniform while serving practical purposes. Items like branded caps, scarves, belts, and aprons can tie the look together and reinforce your brand identity. These functional additions can also make daily tasks easier.
Take the hairdresser’s apron, for example. This accessory not only protects clothing from hair, dye, and styling products but also provides handy pockets for the essential tools. And since it covers a large block of the work clothes, it makes a great canvas for custom branding.
You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out by Yourself
Fabric, design, branding – a lot of moving parts, heaps of small decisions to be made. If that’s something you find difficult, time-consuming, or you’re simply open to expert suggestions, look for a supplier that offers a styling service, whether showroom-based or digital.
They can help you come up with a solution that suits your brand and industry, suggest practical features for specific roles, and recommend the most effective branding methods for building a strong and consistent image.
That said, they’re not the only experts you should consult. Don’t forget to ask for staff input. After all, they are the ones wearing the clothes every day, so their feedback matters. Plus, it goes a long way in ensuring acceptance and satisfaction. Discuss their priorities about comfort, fit, and features – you’ll have a much better chance of creating a design that everyone likes.
Closing Thoughts
When all these factors come together, you get a professional look of a personalised work uniform that benefits everyone. It keeps your team comfortable and confident, catches your customers’ attention, and makes your brand shine – more brightly than any logo alone ever could.
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