5 Pro-Tips for Branded Uniforms

If you want your team to appear professional, cohesive and on brand – uniforms are the best way to achieve that. We’ve helped hundreds of clients to successfully adapt their branding to clothing, so we thought we’d share our top tips.

1. What is the intention of the uniform?

This is incredibly important as the intention and objectives will determine the style of uniform you choose. If you want to enhance your brand, what are your brand objectives and what does the uniform need to look like?
On the other-hand if your objective is simply to provide a stress-free option for your staff when they wake up every morning, then these two goals will likely deliver quite different outcomes.

2. What is your budget per person and who pays?

This is a big one. The sky is the limit in terms of what you can spend and if the budget isn’t bedded down from the beginning, the brief will be too vast and cause confusion. Set your expectations based on what best suits your budget. No point finding the perfect product, only to realise it’s out of reach.

The other key factor is deciding how the uniform will be funded. Is it a company paid initiative, salary sacrificed, employee funded or a combination?

3. When and where will it be worn?

Make sure you determine when the uniform will be worn and where. Is it every day, four days a week, for conferences?  Where it will be worn will determine the style, quality and quantities required per person, as well as the best fabrics and decoration to use.

4. Who will wear the uniforms?

Decide up front if the uniform is to be worn by all staff and if it’s compulsory.

Some companies like to create complimentary looks for different divisions, for example office staff and field staff might wear different outfits to suit their roles but the company branding is ‘uniform’.

If your company doesn’t want a compulsory uniform across the whole team, then creating a few branded pieces of clothing that are optional can be a great starting point. You might find it starts a trend because it’s simple and easy to just pop a uniform on in the morning and head off to work.

5. What image do you want it to portray?

Be very clear on your branding objectives so that the uniform style and colours you choose will communicate your company message clearly to the outside world.

Team members in uniform are a walking billboard. Work with your corporate colours and choose clothing items and styles that reflect your company personality and the market place you’re in.  For example,  a traditional, conservative business may opt for classic business shirts and tailored trousers and skirts in neutral colours.

A young, innovative business may take a more casual approach and introduce vibrant colours in their shirts and a take on a more casual approach in the overall look and, a trade-based business might head towards PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) or bold themed clothing on hard wearing pants and tops.