Uniformed choice

There has never been so much choice in clothing for the workplace as today, and nowhere has there been more development than in chefs' wear. Amanda Marcus reports.

While in many restaurants, members of the kitchen brigade wear a basic white jacket and traditional trousers, it is now a matter of choice and not necessity. "For some, that's the look they want. Until quite recently, that was also the only look you could get," says Laurence Tyfield, director of Premier Workwear, which sells the branded Chef Works line of chefs' clothing.

Things are changing fast, with most suppliers now offering an extensive selection for staff in all aspects of catering. Premier Workwear says that its strength is a range of printed cotton designs for chefs, ranging from the specific (such as fish prints) to general utensils, available on waist and bib aprons, and neckerchiefs and hats, with staff mixing and matching to find a look they like.

Nisbets sells Chef Works, as well as its traditional Whites range and the US brand, Chef Revival. Marketing manager Richard Cromwell feels that it's all about choice and comfort these days. "Ten years ago," he says, "we had two jackets and a couple of checked trousers. We still sell a lot of Whites, but we now have 30 styles of trousers and 29 styles of jacket."

Basic, traditional styles tend to cost less than fancier prints or trendy designs. But it can be false economy to opt for the cheapest items, according to Tyfield. A basic pair of trousers, for example, will need replacing if the owner changes shape. For a few pounds more, a pair of "baggies" will stretch several sizes and still fit comfortably.

Michael Jaffa, financial director of Wallers, also emphasises the importance of quality. "Not many people want expensive clothes," he says, "but if they see our quality, they realise the garments will last better."

Debbie Leon, director of Fashionizer, says that a good laundry service can make all the difference to the life of a garment. Fashionizer offers a bespoke design service at the top end of the market, where uniforms can represent a sizeable investment, so caring properly for garments is essential.

Much depends on the budget and style of the venue. Where money is less of an object, chefs' jackets in Premier Workwear's executive range can cost as much as £50 for Egyptian cotton and have added extras such as underarm vents, French cuffs and a thermometer pocket.

Tibard recently introduced a jacket branded by chef Steven Saunders. Features include zip-off arms, which can be teamed with combat trousers with zip-off legs. Tibard's managing director, Matt Shonfeld, says that while traditional ginghams and checks remain popular, people are interested in different fabrics and are ordering more Egyptian cotton, denim or waffle fabrics. The company has launched a range of prints called Pasta, Coffee, Pebbles and Coffee Cups. "Themed restaurants especially go for a more fun look," he says, "and everyone wants embroidery. There's a lot more branding today."

Alexandra is using high-street influences to create informal, relaxed styles in a many of its designs. Business development director Sue Tilley says that fast-food outlets often want a "whizzy image", which is why Alexandra has added colours such as zesty lime to its range. Its strong check design is also proving popular.

Denny's Nick Jubert says that his company is more conservative. "We don't go in for chilli peppers on trousers, and only eight of our 30-plus styles of jackets are coloured," he says. "We concentrate on comfort and on details, such as a drawstring trouser with a drawstring that lasts the life of the trouser. I'd say black is the colour of today. We can never supply enough." Denny's also claims to have the largest range of aprons in the UK, with some 400 to choose from.

Jaffa agrees that the traditional styles are worth sticking to. "We're not trying to be fashion leaders and we don't see the point of offering thousands of things," he says. "We stick to a more classical style, emphasising quality and service."

Comfort comes first

In the kitchen, baggies, beanies and aprons are popular, according to Tyfield, with chefs opting for comfort above all. Baggies can also be made to look more traditional by wearing a fitted jacket over the top.

Practicality, comfort and flexibility are the watchwords of Alexandra's latest collection in black, navy, charcoal and burgundy. A range of garments in a polyester/wool mix include details such as a choice of five skirt lengths.

Plastico has also taken on board the importance of comfort. It has launched its own branded workwear, including a full range of headwear, gloves and protective clothing. The chef's hat range has also been extended, adding non-woven material hats to the existing selection of paper hats. Plastico says the fabric version is more comfortable and longer lasting than its paper counterpart.

Multi-coloured future

Rex Regal is finding coloured shirts a best seller this year, and says that it will continue to add more colours to its range each year. Rex Regal's managing director, Steven Rose, says that an exclusive print called Pollock (after the artist) has been selling well, and its black and grey fitted tops for women and zip-up long-sleeved shirt for men have proved particularly successful. "It might be because the trend in decor has been for minimalism, with lots of white and grey," says Rose. "This look seems to suit that - it reflects high-street fashion."

Alexandra's approach to more modern interiors is to suggest brightly coloured garments, which Tilley says "brighten the whole thing up". The company also has four new contemporary colours - pistachio, terracotta, biscuit and mid-blue - in a wide range of garments and accessories.

According to Rose, decor trends are now moving towards warmer colours such as browns, golds and maroons, and Rex Regal is responding accordingly with colours to match. So next season's catalogues could be good news for those who look best in brown.

Out with the old

When Sunderland Housing Group, formerly part of Sunderland County Council, decided to rebrand itself, corporate logos weren't the only thing to change - Simon Jersey was brought in to design two working wardrobes for almost 1,000 employees. It came up with a look to co-ordinate with the corporate colour of blue, helping to build the new corporate identity.

Administration, concierge and business staff now wear a deep-blue, long-sleeved shirt, navy trousers and a single-breasted, fully lined jacket for men, while women wear a soft-touch blouse in electric blue and a navy ultima-weave skirt or trousers.

Building and ground maintenance staff and wardens have functional navy workwear trousers, with a unisex polo shirt or T-shirt, and the option of wearing a sweatshirt, navy apron and PVC-coated outdoor jacket.

Contacts

Alexandra
01454 416600
www.alexandra.co.uk

Denny's
01372 377904
www.dennys.co.uk

Fashionizer
020 8878 8212
www.fashionizer.com

Nisbets
01454 855555
www.nisbets.com

Plastico
020 8646 0456
www.plastico.co.uk

Premier Workwear
0191-274 0333
www.premierworkwear.co.uk

Rex Regal
01708 775900
www.rexregal.co.uk

Simon Jersey
01282 775421
www.simonjersey.com

Tibard
0161-343 2014
www.tibard.co.uk

Wallers
020 7437 1665
www.wallersclothing.co.uk

Fancy footwork

There's now a huge range of footwear on offer for kitchen staff, with an emphasis on comfort and safety.

Denny's claims to be the only stockist in the UK of the US Shoes for Crews range. At £50 a pair, they're not cheap, but they are guaranteed to be anti-slip.

Nisbets has introduced Lites safety footwear - a lightweight slip-on or lace-up in black and white, which is machine-washable. It also has 11 styles of clogs and the French Jallatte range.

Tibard's machine-washable clogs come in 17 colours, but the company also sells traditional wooden clogs. "They're fantastic," says managing director Matt Shonfeld. "We gave all our staff a pair to try and they're like wearing Nike trainers."