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6 Reasons To Invest In High-Quality Branded Workwear

Apr. 29, 2024

6 Reasons To Invest In High-Quality Branded Workwear

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Ensuring your employees have the correct branded uniforms and workwear to keep them comfortable and safe in their role should always be a brand’s top priority. The clothing you provide for your team can also have an effect on lots of important things including staff retention and productivity. In this blog, we’ll explore 6 reasons to invest in high-quality branded workwear and how it can have a positive impact on your business.

1- Professional Image

Branded uniforms create a ‘one style’ professional image for the staff, which can enhance the overall perception of the company. When employees wear uniforms, they become ambassadors of the organisation, wearing the brand wherever they come in contact with customers. This sense of professionalism can boost employee morale and pride, leading to higher job satisfaction and increased job retention.

2- Equality and Team Spirit

Uniforms promote a sense of equality among employees, as everyone is dressed similarly regardless of their position or background. This can foster a feeling of unity and team spirit, reinforcing the idea that everyone is part of a larger team working towards a common goal. When employees feel connected to their team, they are more likely to remain loyal to the organisation.

3- Brand Identity

Quality branded uniforms provide a visual representation of the company’s brand and values. When employees wear uniforms with the company logo or colours, they become walking advertisements for the brand. This can enhance brand recognition and create a sense of pride and belonging among employees. It also contributes to higher job satisfaction and retention.

4- Safety and Security

In specific industries, uniforms serve a practical purpose by ensuring safety and security. For example, in healthcare, uniforms can include features like colour-coded scrubs. In other industries identification badges can distinguish different roles and help to identify the staff members. This can improve communication, reduce confusion, and enhance overall safety. When employees feel safe and secure in their work environment, they are more likely to stay and work hard.

5- Professionalism

Having a uniform immediately creates professionalism. Investing in high-quality branded workwear shows your brand really cares. The consistent appearance provided by a good quality branded uniform allows your team to focus on their work and responsibilities. Uniforms also represent your business’s brand and values and instil a sense of pride and identity in your employees.

6- Sense of Belonging

Wearing a uniform can help your employees feel a sense of belonging and pride. It creates a clear distinction between work and personal life. It allows employees to mentally switch into their work mode when they get dressed. This can help establish boundaries and reinforce the importance of their role within the organisation. Also, contributing to a sense of purpose and job satisfaction.

Branded uniforms alone may not be the sole factor influencing staff retention. But they can contribute positively to the overall work environment, employee satisfaction, and a sense of belonging. It is essential to consider industry-specific needs and employee preferences when implementing a uniform policy. This ensures its effectiveness in promoting staff retention.

Enhanced Comfort: Higher-quality uniforms are often designed with more comfortable materials and better construction. Staff members will appreciate uniforms that fit well, are breathable, and allow freedom of movement. Improved comfort can contribute to a more positive work experience and job satisfaction.

Durability and Longevity: Higher-quality uniforms are typically more durable and resistant to wear and tear. When staff members receive uniforms that last longer and maintain their appearance over time they appreciate the investment made by your business. This can create a positive impression of the company’s commitment to its employees’ needs.

Functionality and Features: Upgraded uniforms may include additional functional features that enhance the staff’s ability to perform their duties effectively. This can include extra pockets for storage, reinforced stitching in high-stress areas, or specific design elements for safety or convenience. Staff members who recognise the added benefits and improved functionality of their uniforms will value the organisation’s attention to detail and investment in their well-being.

This is an ideal time to involve staff in this decision process, get their feedback, and even try new products with them. If the team is part of the decision-making process they will take ownership and have even more pride in what they wear.

Confidence and Identity: When employees receive upgraded uniforms, it can contribute to a sense of pride and identity. Higher-quality uniforms reflect a commitment to excellence and professionalism. Staff members are likely to appreciate being associated with a company that values its image and takes pride in the appearance of its employees.

Employee Engagement: When staff members feel appreciated through upgraded uniforms, it can positively impact their overall engagement with the organisation. Engaged employees tend to be more loyal, committed, and motivated, leading to increased retention rates.

It is important to note that while some employees may readily embrace uniforms, others may have personal preferences or concerns. To maximise acceptance and satisfaction carefully consider employee feedback. Provide opportunities for dialogue, and be open to reasonable accommodations where you can.

At Streamline, we work as an extension of your business, our knowledge and experience can help guide HR or operations into selecting a uniform that works across various departments, and business needs whilst also being on brand.

We recognise that this process takes time to get right and would welcome the opportunity to discuss and plan this important process alongside you. Contact our team today.

An Essential Buyers Guide for Custom Construction Shirts

A quick search for custom construction shirts yields a mixed bag of results, from blank shirts to automated customizing options. There’s hardly any advice on choosing the most suitable shirts for specific workwear needs.

You definitely want to avoid outfitting your crew in a hodgepodge of colored shirts or for the clothing to fall short of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hazardous workwear regulations.

In this buyer's guide, we will point you towards the right custom construction apparel, keeping in mind that:

  • Safety comes first to ensure workers are out of harm’s way.
  • Comfort is key since wearability contributes to the effectiveness of the safety apparel.
  • Compliance with the OSHA standards will keep your workers safe and will protect you from hefty fines.
  • Proper branding makes workers easily identifiable and puts your brand out there positively. 

Types of Custom Construction Workwear

Construction shirts are easily the most visible pieces of workwear, but they work well when paired with other custom pieces, such as:

  • Custom Embroidered Beanies: Easy to layer beneath hard hats in cold seasons
  • Custom Logo Trucker Hats: Great for summer wear and guaranteed to carry your brand beyond the work site
  • Custom Face Masks: Turn a necessity into an advantage for your brand visibility

1 - Custom Hi-Vis

Hi-Vis clothing is a staple of construction workwear. Any construction site with motorized machinery or direct access to traffic requires appropriate high visibility workwear for all workers. 

Don’t limit your crew’s hi-vis to the ubiquitous safety vest. You can include hoodies, jackets, t-shirts, pants, bibs, coveralls, rainwear, and even accessories such as bags.

We can help you place your brand on just about any work item or accessory.

Important Features of Custom Hi-Vis

There a three key features that, in combination, identify hi-vis clothing:

  • Fluorescent safety red, yellow, and orange colors go beyond brightness. They absorb and reflect colored light that intensifies their appearance for better daytime visibility.
  • Retro-reflective strips reflect a cohesive image back to the viewer and enhance the visibility of the wearer at night or in low light. 
  • Compliance testing rounds out the essential features. The ANSI requires testing by accredited laboratories for all compliant hi-vis manufacturers.
  • Custom printed logos don't obscure the retro-reflective strips and are easily legible.

In this table, we compare the different reflective tape requirements dependent on the hazard level.

ANSI Classification Length of Retro-Reflective Tape Placement of Retro-Reflective Tape Areas Applicable Class 1
  • 2-inch wide tape should be 6.46 feet in length
  • 1 ⅜-inch wide tape should be 9.38 feet in length
  • Around the middle in 360º stripe
  • Above the shoulders
  • Low impact
  • Low traffic
  • Far from traffic
  • Slow traffic below 25 mph
Class 2
  • 2-inch wide tape should be 8.373 feet in length
  • 1 ⅜-inch wide tape should be 12.2 feet in length‌
  • Over the shoulders
  • Two 360º stripes around the middle
  • Near but good distance from traffic
  • Low visibility
  • Traffic faster than 25 mph
Class 3
  • 2-inch wide tape should be 12.92 feet in length
  • Full silhouette outline
  • Over the shoulders
  • Two 360º stripes around the middle
  • Stripes around arms and legs
  • Traffic close to or exceeding 50 mph
  • Close to high traffic or other hazardous areas

If your construction site isn’t in direct traffic, you can be less strict with safety apparel. For instance, enhanced visibility clothing can be any color, including black, with retro-reflective strips to improve visibility.

Enhanced visibility clothing still meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) criteria while offering muted color options.

How Hi-Vis Compare with Safety Construction Shirts

Hi-Vis clothing requires accreditation and compliance to ensure that they support health and safety conditions at work.

While comfort and quality are important, the choice of hi-vis focuses more on:

  • Quality of retro-reflective strips
  • Regulatory length of retro-reflective strips 
  • Correct placement of retro-reflective strips and custom printed logo

This is unlike custom construction shirts, which factor in aesthetics to enhance brand visibility and may or may not adhere to hi-vis regulations.

Expert Tip: Not all retro-reflective strips are equal. Make sure the retro-reflective strips on your hi-vis are high quality and comply with the ANSI standards.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit industrial safety helmet.

Additional reading:
What to Know About Cone Placement

2 - Custom Safety Construction Shirts

Custom safety construction shirts are a versatile staple for any construction worker. They fit easily under hi-vis vests in hot weather, yet wearers can still layer them under safety hoodies and jackets in cold weather.

Important Features of Custom Safety Construction Shirts 

Custom safety construction shirts should give the wearer comfort, versatility, and mobility.

The key features to look out for are:

  • A polyester and cotton blend or tri-blend, which provides good insulation, moisture-wicking, and absorption properties. They can also take a beating with regular wear.
  • Safety yellow and safety orange color options for daytime visibility.
  • Bold custom printed or embroidered logo in colors that complement the safety color.
  • Proper fit and sizing.

We use a selection of 5 great t-shirt blanks which give our clients the best combination of fit and quality.

Expert Tip: Women’s t-shirts have a notoriously snug sizing. Order one size up for your female crew members to ensure they get the best comfort and mobility. 

How Custom Safety Construction Shirts Compare with Hi-Vis Clothing

The major difference between custom safety shirts and hi-vis is the retro-reflective strip.

Safety shirts don’t require the retro-reflective strip since they are mainly for daytime visibility and work located away from traffic or motorized machinery.

That said, they pair well with hi-vis vests, jackets, and other enhanced visibility outerwear.

The safety orange and yellow create visibility on site while the custom embroidered or printed logo serves to identify crew members.

3 - Custom Safety Hoodies and Jackets

Comfort in all types of weather is essential to functional wear. Construction workers work in the elements for 8 hours a day, sometimes more.

In the summer, they may be fine with sun shades and safety vests. Winter, however, demands that whatever warm outerwear they choose is safety compliant and representative of your company.

If protective clothing is uncomfortable or ineffective, workers will find a million reasons not to wear them.

Long-sleeved construction t-shirts can double as both summer and winter wear. In summer, they protect workers from sunburn and exposure during long work hours. Workers can also layer them for warmth in the cold months.

Important Features of Custom Safety Hoodies and Jackets 

Functionality should be the top consideration for safety hoodies and jackets.

Key functional features include:

  • Correctly placed retro-reflective strips
  • Ample space to place your custom printed or embroidered logo
  • Pockets to put essentials
  • Insulation to keep the wearer warm

How Custom Safety Hoodies and Jackets Compare with Hi-Vis

Custom hoodies and jackets are more for warmth than anything else. That’s why workers in low or no traffic sites can make do with enhanced visibility and don’t have to stick to fluorescent colors, unlike hi-vis clothing.

What Are Custom Construction Shirts?

Custom construction shirts are work apparel that meet safety color codes and are custom branded with an embroidered or printed logo to identify workers.

Advantages and Benefits of Custom Construction Shirts

Custom construction shirts offer your construction business certain benefits and advantages over generic workwear.

Advantages of Custom Construction Shirts

By setting up your crew in custom construction shirts, you:

  • Enhance your brand image
  • Promote onsite professionalism
  • Create a sense of belonging and ownership of the project for all staff
  • Improve health and safety at work

Benefits of Custom Construction Shirts

What benefits can your construction business gain from the above advantages?

  • Better sitewide compliance with safety regulations and fewer citations
  • Higher team morale and productivity
  • Brand visibility within the community

Price Range

The price of custom construction shirts and other custom workwear can vary significantly depending on:

  • Type of customization: 
    • Embroidery is the most expensive way to brand workwear, but it lasts longer and has a high-end feel.
    • Screen printing and heat transfer methods are cheaper and faster to implement.
  • Purchase quantity: Some suppliers give up to 30% discounts on unit prices for orders in the hundreds.
  • Hi-Vis safety classification: Following the ANSI 107 standard, class 1 workwear is cheaper than class 2, which ‌costs less than class 3.
  • Quality and fabric:
    • Polyester clothing is cheaper than cotton or blended fabrics.
    • The higher the cotton content, the higher the cost of the clothing.
    • Clothing made in the USA will cost more than pieces made overseas. 
    • Many businesses in the construction industry prefer pocket tees. The addition of the pocket increases the cost of the garment and can potentially increase the cost of customization.

Expert Tip: Use a design logo that is a single color, preferably black. It’s cheaper to print and stands out against most colors. Customization will be cheaper if your artwork fits as-is on various apparel items without editing.

Here is a table comparing the price points of various safety construction apparel in safety yellow:

Product Low Price High Price Average Price Safety T-Shirt (Non-Hi-Vis) $4.50 $12 $6

Long Sleeve Safety T-Shirt (Non-Hi-Vis)

$7.00 $14.50 $8.50

Safety Hoodie (Non-Hi-Vis)

$13 $22 $16 Hi-Vis Safety T-shirt $17.99 $27.09 $22 Hi-Vis Safety Long-Sleeved $23.99 $30.66 $27 Hi-Vis Hoodie $44.99 $54.60 $50 Hi-Vis Safety Waterproof Jacket / Parka $58 $154.93 $85 Hi-Vis Class 2 Safety Vest $31.99 $58.22 $45

Custom screen printing and embroidery service providers like Jupmode often offer add-ons, such as redesigning your artwork. 

With all these variables, it’s best to get a custom quote to cover all your business needs.

How Customers Feel about Our Custom Shirts

According to buyers, custom construction shirts need to have:

  • High-quality fabric and logo prints
  • Affordable pricing to ease bulk purchases
  • Quick turnaround on orders

Very impressed by the speed and quality… done in less than a week (70+ shirts)... perfectly fabulous.
— Michael S.

Great to work with for large and small orders. Good quality shirts and able to assist with designs.
— Danielle N.

Get Started on Your Custom Construction Wear

With a clearer picture of price points and the options available for custom construction shirts and complementary safety workwear, you’re ready to take advantage of our branding expertise. Reach out to us today to outfit your crew in custom safety apparel.

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