Dressing the Part

Uniforms are a growing part of the branded apparel market. Styles are becoming more fashion-forward, fabrics are becoming more sophisticated, and companies are becoming more conscious of the value of branding employee dress. It has never been a better time to get into the uniforms market, and with that in mind, here's what's new, popular and helpful in selling uniform apparel

What's New

2014 has brought a lot to the uniform market. Taraynn Lloyd, marketing director for Edwards Garment, Kalamazoo, Mich., explained some of the new uniform offerings the company has planned. "Edwards just launched our 2015 new uniform styles, which includes Synergy Washable Suiting and more fashion-forward styles for industries that service hospitality, restaurants, entertainment venues, health care and transit," she said. "The suiting offers upscale styling, and the lightweight twill weave has a natural stretch for all-day comfort. It's easy to care for, and the suiting performance is washable, colorfast and wrinkle resistant-tested at 50 home wash/dry cycles," she explained.

If you're looking for uniform apparel with more of a safety/heavy workwear slant, Atteff 
International has plenty of new offerings as well. "In addition to the safety apparel we have been carrying, we have added other safety/protective products in our line, like safety hard hats, safety glasses, ear muffs, knee pads, etc.," Kevin Xiao, vice president for Atteff International, Ontario, Calif., said. "We've also added a few higher-end anti-impact gloves recently. The new additions help expand our safety product collections and make us a one-stop shop for promotional safety products, providing conveniences and options for distributors."

What's Popular?

Sometimes, knowing what a company's top-seller is can be just the information you need to get the product selection process rolling with your client. Knowing what's popular can help identify trends in the market that you might not be aware of, and also give you a solid jumping-off point for a style profile.