Uniforming 101 - How do you create an on Brand look that your team will embrace?

How do you create a program that people can be comfortable with while staying brand compliant? It is an art. With thousands of items out there how do you choose a look that people will embrace?

Image from Sanmar for their Cool options for uniforming. Click to find these options.

Building a uniform program that will be embraced by your employees can be difficult. You are balancing different personalities, looks and body types. What will fit for once may not fit for another. Just like the David’s Bridal approach, they still need to look like they make sense together and still maintain their comfort and individualism.

FIT to Culture: Embrace your culture. If you have a formal culture the apparel should reflect that feel. If you are more relaxed, same thing. This should be written in your brand guidelines. What is your “look”. Even if your uniform is primarily going to be worn at a trade show or only on specific occasions consider something that they could work into their every day wardrobe. The more it fits with the culture and dress code the more people will enjoy the pieces and internalize the look. Encourage them to wear the items with special incentives like.

FIT to Logo: Consider your logo: Logo can limit or extend what is possible. Think about what the logo is, what it represents and the best way to showcase it. It isn't always left chest full color, in fact most of the time it shouldn’t be. As consumers we have seen an embroidered left chest logo so many times it never registers in our brains. There are so many techniques out there such as laser engraving, debossing, multi color flexible patching (each vendor has their own name for this), heat transfers and many more. If you have a tagline move it to another location to build interest with another form of decoration (mixed media) Make it interesting and engaging as often as possible.

FIT to User: One of the biggest mistakes is picking the wrong decision maker to finalize the look. Just because you own the company doesn’t mean you should pick items that you want to wear and expect all others to wear it. Just because you might like cuff links doesn’t mean everyone else does too. Try to consider the taste of your team and what they would want. It’s a really hard place to be in, especially if the decision maker started the company or if there is a gap in age or demographics. If you aren’t sure pull in a few other people to take a look at the options before settling on it.

FIT the Look: Let personalities show. Allow for suggestions for someone to personalize the look. Don’t dictate too many elements but do give guidance to the individuals if they are fitting into a function such as trade show staff or outside sales. Some guidance is how to put the look together, what kinds of pants or skirts can be worn, what accessories are acceptable. Don’t focus too much on matchy matchy as much as the over all look. What I love about these looks from SanMar is they show different people wearing different things but all looking like one unit when put together. Each person gets to let their individualism show.

For more looks check out the SanMar website! They are #onTREND