THE FIRST STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING A CORPORATE UNIFORM POLICY

Is 2019 going to be the year of the uniform for your business? Here is some great advice to get you started:

* Choose your colours

The colours you choose for your uniform can match your branding or contrast with it, if you’re going to include branded items. Consider going with a few patterned fabrics to allow for mixing and matching with neutral items.

* Select garments in a wide variety of styles

Remember that your employees are all different shapes and sizes and the aim of a corporate wardrobe is to ensure that every person looks their best at work. For this to happen, you’ll need to provide a variety of options for them to choose from, taking into account what makes them feel comfortable and confident. Another issue to consider is whether you’ll need to have formal and informal items.

* Take the seasons into account

Garments for all weather conditions are a necessity. Offer long and short-sleeved options, as well as jackets and cardigans for cooler weather.

* Choose durable fabrics

Your staff will be responsible for washing their clothes so make sure that their care is as simple as possible by choosing easy-care fabrics and those which don’t crease to minimise ironing.

* Decide if you want to colour-code teams

A useful strategy for building cohesion amongst teams is to have them dress in the same colour or pattern. When planning your corporate wardrobe, consider if it would work to have a standard colour for different departments.

* Consider the accessories

When planning a corporate wardrobe, think about what guidelines you’ll need to give in terms of jewellery, shoes and bags. Striking a balance between accessories which allow individuals to express their personality and those that work well with the uniform is key, and the guidelines may take a few revisions as the uniform is introduced.

* Host a fitting day

Get in a variety of garments in an array of sample sizes for your staff to try on and select those which work best for them. Having a tailor available to take measurements to custom-fit items is also a great option.

* Decide on the administration of the uniform programme

Rolling out a corporate uniform requires some administration. Consider how to streamline the process in a way that makes sense for your business. Do you want one person to oversee everything to do with uniforms, or will a representative from each department work better? Who will liase with the uniform supplier, organise the fitting day and handle any additional orders from staff? Deciding on these details before the programme begins will help to ensure its success.