In today’s modern world many businesses are looking for ways to be able to clearly identify the people they work with. Whilst workwear obviously has many essential and practical uses, workwear is also becoming more of a banner for the identity of a business or corporation, much the same as branding has now become an important part of commerce. Workwear not only makes it easy for a client to see which company they are dealing with, but it also creates the notion of a workforce and reinforcing the idea of a team mentality in which all players are, in some way, ambassadors for the company they represent.
However, this also places demands on the designers and manufacturers of workwear. As well as the logo and design of the workwear reflecting the ethos of the company, it also has to meet the demands of the employee and the job itself. For many employees, workwear must be comfortable and require minimal attention to maintain its presentation. Yet, manufacturers have to balance these issues against the durability and practicality required from workwear, particularly in industrial environments where safety is a top priority.
There is little doubt of the importance of workwear’s ability to withstand the often harsh environments that can be encountered in an industrial setting. Materials used often have to incorporate such elements as being waterproof, oil resistant, heat-retardant, flame-retardant, offering breathability, offering adequate protection against the cold, increasing visibility, physical protection and many more features essential to specific jobs. Every branch of industry places its own demands on workwear. Yet it also seems that workers can feel more valued when their workwear denotes their responsibilities and their position within a company.
New technologies within the workwear industry are seeing the rise of workwear that suits the desires of the corporation, the requirements of the employee and the demands placed on the workwear by the job. Workwear is emerging that enables a company to be identifiable through its workers, offers comfort and maneuverability to the employees whilst giving them full protection from the hazards that their environment can present. It seems that the physical protection offered by workwear is also matched by a psychological boost to both the business and employees.
Government legislation states that an employer must “provide free any protective clothing or equipment, where risks are not adequately controlled by other means.” Ultimately, an employer does not want to be responsible for the injury of an employee that could be avoided through supplying the appropriate workwear, so they should ensure that the workwear they provide is up to the job. However, a business is only as good as the sum of its workers and it often pays an employer great dividends to listen to the needs of employees and consider seriously demands such as uniform comfort.
In a world where branding and image are becoming more and more important, there is little reason why a company cannot supply workwear that is practical, protective and comfortable, but that also projects a professional and unique image that the company and its workers can be equally proud of.