Benefits of a well-designed Uniform Program

A well designed uniform, be it for a school, an athletic team, a hospital, a golf club or industrial could be a source of pride, illuminating what that brand stands for.  While it creates a sense of belonging and loyalty for the people wearing it, It also leads to brand perception and awareness within the society. This is the very reason why millions of jerseys being sold to fans across the world who wants to feel associated with their team, and furthermore want to show it. 

Uniforms also meant to unite a group of people, instilling respect for the mission and goals of that group, team or organization. This explains why military pays utmost attention to their uniform. 

The history of uniform goes as far back as 11th century in England. Archbishop of Canterbury ordered a robe-like outfit called the ‘cappa clausa’ to be worn by scholars.  The garment looked like a long cape sewn up at the front – much like the Hogwarts robes in the Harry Potter universe!

School uniforms did not become widely used until later. It was not until the 16th century that the modern uniform began to be worn in school throughout the United Kingdom, and in other countries. It is believed that the Christ Hospital School in London was the earliest known school to adopt uniforms in 1552 when the impoverished “charity children” attending the Christ’s Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ’s Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ’s Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms. The school’s uniform comprises of a long blue coat and a knee-high yellow sock.  After all these years, its uniform remains almost unchanged and is also the oldest uniform to still be in use. 

 The uniform tradition has continued to this day where each organization has their own colours and designs, and attributes meaning to certain elements in their attire, where for instance red tie may symbolize maturity, yellow socks integrity and so on.

Similar to school uniforms, industrial work apparel and corporate uniforms has a multitude of benefits and purposes from more tangible benefits such as functionality, durability, safety to softer, harder to quantify benefits such as branding, marketing and sense of belonging. 

A well designed uniform portfolio can also serve to distinguish between various roles within an organization. We see more and more of this in hospitality, airline and healthcare industry. Take hospitals where different units in the hospital wear different colours by design so there is easy recognition and visual management of the employees. 

Benefits of a Corporate Uniform Program

Here are some of the most important benefits of well-designed uniforms both from the employee or customer point of view: 

Creating a Brand Identity

This is one of the most important benefits of employee uniforms or corporate apparel. The marketing and branding impact that it creates far exceeds the cost of providing your employees work uniforms or branded apparel. It creates an brand image and enhances the perception of your brand, along with all other marketing tools you leverage. 

Promotes unity

A uniform would immediately bring a team together, create a sense of team spirit and bonding and unites them around the same goal. Think of athletic teams who are made up of professional athletes. As soon as they switch teams their new colours become their new mission and the other players who are wearing the same uniform becomes their teammate. The uniform, and the colours you are wearing goes far beyond a simple outfit, it identifies you and your new goals. 

Efficient, Functional and Always Polished

A uniform program can also be major time saver for your employees when they get ready for work every single day. Not only it provides them with a consistent solution but also ensures employees show up to work in their best looking version, representing their organization the very best way, polished and ready for work. 

Safety and Protection

Unlike corporate uniforms, industrial work apparel do not just fulfill branding and recognition needs of a company, but also provides protection to employees working in areas of services that involves fire, chemicals, and other hazardous substances.  

With the advancement of fabric technology, the materials used in the making of industrial workwear has become more durable and safe over time. This workwear is carefully designed and needs to comply with the health and safety standards of that area.  

In addition to providing safety, industrial uniforms also help in recognizing or identifying an employee from outsiders. This especially holds true to areas like public safety. Take firefighters, for instance. Their workwear is designed in a way that it offers protection from excessive heat and flames, and also helps the public to identify them.  

And finally turning each employee into a walking advertisement

This is perhaps the most common and important reasons for a company to employ the use of workwear. In essence, a uniform is a walking advertisement for a brand and rather an inexpensive way to promote it.  

A well-designed uniform makes the employee stand out from the rest while at work or on the way to and from work, as well.  

Elements like a unique and distinguishable logo, colors, and design collectively help form a brand image. As it enhances the way the brand is perceived, it also helps in providing good customer experience by making it easy for the customers to identify employees in a crowded place.