You are what you wear

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2024/8-9

Ideally workwear has a modern, fresh look, which suits both the business and the brand – and communicates the brand’s image. The human factor is perhaps even more important in today’s hospitality industry: workwear must be accepted by the employees, as only those who feel good about themselves can perform well and remain part of the team in the long term. It is key that the employee feels comfortable in their clothes, which they make sure to have the right style and material.

What are we wearing?

Csaba Csiki
managing director
Dresszkód

“Bragard’s product selection covers the entire HoReCa sector, but our customers are mainly looking for chef coats and trousers, plus aprons, from the restaurant and hotel world. We also have more and more buyers from confectioneries and bakeries”,

says Csaba Csiki, managing director of Dresszkód Kft.

With big purchases (for example by hotels,) price is still the deciding factor, but looks are important too. In the case of smaller purchases (1-40 items) customers tend to choose higher quality, better looking, more practical and comfortable garments made from better materials.

“We offer a wide range of clothes for chefs and waiters alike. Our portfolio includes shirts, tunics, jackets, trousers, shoes, gloves, as well as aprons, capes, bandanas, chef’s hats, and hair and beard nets”,

says Gábor Nevihostényi, managing director of Bunzl Hungary Kft.

In the hospitality industry there is also a fashion influence in workwear, e.g. slim fit clothes, but this typically occurs in the hospitality sector. In addition to classic white and black, blue, purple and grey are increasingly popular. Light colours give a sense of cleanliness and hygiene, while dark colours send the message of elegance and professionalism.

How comfortable the employee feels in his or her clothes is a key factor

Concepts and methods

Szilveszter Földvári
owner
Chef’s Uniform

“We primarily sell workwear for chefs, pastry chefs and waitresses, plus non-slip footwear and aprons. Our strength is that we do this not only online, but also in our specialist stores”,

explains Szilveszter Földvári, managing director of Chef’s Uniform.

Workwear fashion is also following the latest trends. Where it is the management that buys the clothes for the staff, the company’s essential products are popular, because price is very important due to the large number of items – for a large restaurant it is easy to run into the millions, even if it is only the basic items we are talking about. Approximately 70-80% of restaurants and hotels don’t pay for their staff’s work clothes, so employees have to buy them themselves.

According to Csaba Csiki, how long a piece of workwear can be worn depends on the intensity of use, the frequency of washing and the technique used, but the quality of a coat or a pair of trousers is still decisive. Customers who wear Bragard coats buy new ones every 1-2 years, but they also use the coats they have bought earlier. Coats that are 3-4 years old are common and even 5-6 years old coats aren’t uncommon.

Modern restaurant uniforms follow the concept of “less is more”

Colours and years

Gábor Nevihostényi
managing director
Bunzl Magyarország