Extras

So, You Want to Be in the Uniforms Business?
The good news for ASI apparel distributors is that they are in a perfect position to take advantage of significant opportunities in the uniform market.

The bad news? Becoming a success in the uniforms market requires a big-time commitment. That was the message hammered home by a panel of uniform suppliers during Education Day at the ASI Orlando Show. “Uniforms are a natural fit for you because you know how to market, and you already have relationships with many of the companies that buy uniforms,” Gary Shultz, president and COO of Edwards Garment Co. (asi/51752), told the roomful of distributors that had come to learn how to break into the uniforms business. “You provide great service, you understand wearables and you know decoration.”

The flip side of the coin, panelists said, is that distributors need to learn how a wearables program is different from a uniform program. The differences are dramatic, said Brett Barthel, vice president of the services sector for VF Imagewear (asi/93150). Here are some of the differences that were highlighted during the session:

• Most wearables programs only include tops, while uniform programs include tops, bottoms, coverings (such as lab coats) and accessories (such as neckwear). “Half of our business comes from the bottoms,” Barthel said. “Uniforms isn’t about tops—it’s about the whole ensemble.”
• Wearables programs emphasize colors, while uniforms emphasize consistency of colors.
• Many wearables programs are one-time transactions that are event-driven. Uniform business is repeatable and image-driven, and a high value is placed on inventory consistency. “When we put a product in our stock line, we guarantee it will be there for at least three years,” Barthel said.

Click here to listen to Richard Lerman of the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors and here to hear Brett Barthel of VF Imagewear.

Click here to listen to how customer service challenges in fulfilling a uniform program are vastly different from the typical wearables order, according to Don Ames of UniLink.

Click here to listen to Brett Barthel of VF Imagewear describe the dramatic differences between a wearables program and a uniform program and the importance of fashion in a uniform program. 

Politically Correct Uniforms?
Why green just might be the “in” color for performance garments this year

Jason Neve at Boardroom Custom Clothing sees a sea change ahead in performance fabrics. Up to this point, most innovations have been chemical-based, but recent concerns about health issues and the environment are causing Boardroom’s fabric engineers to consider alternatives.

“We deal mostly in man-made fabrics,” Neve explains, “Our fabric engineers change the shape and size of the fiber to improve its softness, shine and breathability.” In the past, enhancing a fabric often meant weaving in a chemical agent or applying a topical coating like Teflon. Today, however, some suppliers are moving away from such options, choosing more environmentally friendly materials instead.

“For example, we’re using ground-up crab shell, which has a natural property to block UV and to provide breathability,” Neve says Boardroom is also introducing an Eco-Carbon line, which is made by burning coconut shell fibers. The leftover material, which is carbon-based and can be woven into fabric, is a natural anti-odor agent and provides antimicrobial, UV blocking and moisture-absorbing protection as well. “And because it is woven into a fabric, rather than topically applied, it doesn’t wash away,” Neve adds.

The Eco-Carbon line is made of 58% polyester and 42% reconstituted carbon-based fiber that does not affect embroidery or screen printing; in fact, Neve praises the fabric’s ability to accept sublimation.

Environmental sensitivity is evident in other textile advances as well. American Apparel (asi/35297) continues to expand its sustainable line of organic apparel and Unifi Inc. recently introduced Repreve, a line of yarns made from 100% recycled materials, including post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer plastics. The new yarns offer the design flexibility and performance properties of more traditional polyester applications, without the reliance on petroleum-based resources.

Going Organic
New uniform options for environmentally-conscious companies

We’re eating more organic fruits and vegetables and using more organic shampoo and toothpaste. It may not be long before we’re wearing apparel—and designing uniforms—made of organic cotton.

Unlike conventional cotton, organic cotton uses no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers in the growing process. Demand for “Earth-friendly” apparel is growing rapidly. A spring 2006 marketing report from Organic Exchange, an informational resource for companies and consumers interested in organic cotton, forecasts a 116% annual increase in organic cotton sales for at least the next three years.

Convinced that the apparel and uniform markets are ready for environmentally-sensitive fabrics, distributors are popping up to specialize in this growing category.

“While the demand for organic cotton and other sustainable apparel is increasing, we recognized that the supply side of the market lacked a company that offered a full range of organic cotton t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and bags,” says Flash Mandel, owner and president of econscious, an environmentally-friendly distributorship that grew out of Gary Mandel Promotional Concepts Inc.; econscious is now a separate entity. “By offering a rich selection of inventoried styles and colors in addition to the ability to design and produce private-label programs, we feel that econscious has filled this void.”

“We founded econscious because there is an ever-increasing number of companies, both small and large, committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” Mandel adds. “We provide these companies with the means to carry out their mission as it applies to the uniform as well as the corporate and promotional apparel and accessories that they use.”

A surprisingly diverse collection of companies are expressing interest in organic cotton garments, Mandel adds. “The list includes both organizations that you would expect to show interest in our product, such as environmental non-profits, organic farms, spas and cosmetic companies, as well as some of the largest retail food and beverage companies, automobile manufacturers and Fortune 500 companies that have a commitment to operating in an environmentally-responsible manner,” he says.

Fabrics for a Healthier You
Uniforms that literally make you feel better may not be far off

Imagine a uniform made of a fabric that not only protects an employee but potentially heals them if they suffer from circulatory disorders? That would be Holofiber® -- a material that modifies the spectrum of visible and invisible light, interacting with certain wavelengths, and altering them into energy. When Holofiber is worn as clothing or placed near a person, it transmits the altered energy to the body. This energy helps the body’s cells to be better oxygenated.

“It has been clinically proven that Holofiber increases oxygenation in diabetics by up to 15% and by up to 29.9% in normal, healthy adults,” says spokesperson Judith Langen. While the fabric hasn’t been introduced into the mainstream uniform market yet, Langen notes the potential for use, particularly when applied to socks. “Athletes currently use them when traveling and say that Holofiber makes all the difference when they get off the plane. The muscle fatigue and swelling are lessened, allowing them to go straight to practice or a game,” she explains.

The same concept is applicable for any industry with employees who either must travel for long durations (e.g. transportation, delivery, airlines) or work on their feet for extended periods of time (e.g. nurses, postal workers, retail salespeople).

While the cost of the socks at retail hit $20, making them a bit high for most uniform programs, Langen notes that custom, volume fabrication could reduce the expense significantly. There are also crew neck t-shirts, hosiery and undergarments available in Holofiber. Visit www.holofiber.com for licensed fabric mills and manufacturers.