Flexibly equip large teams: corporate workwear for your company 

Anyone who visited A+A, the world trade fair for protective clothing and workwear, at the end of October was able to observe two major trends in the corporate sector. On the one hand, workwear is becoming increasingly emotional and functional at the same time. It appeals to the wearer's gut and strikes a balance between functionality, modern design and a perfect fit with a high level of comfort. On the other hand, the proportion of personal protective equipment (PPE) in workwear is increasing. 

In many companies, especially large ones, there are both employees who wear workwear and those who rely on special clothing for protection in their work. For example, those who work as fitters, in maintenance or in warehousing and logistics require workwear without special standardised protection. Welders or high-voltage electricians, on the other hand, need protective clothing that fulfils several standards. 

But regardless of whether their employees wear workwear or PPE, many companies want all their employees to have a uniform appearance. Modern corporate wear must therefore overcome the boundaries between workwear and PPE, as this is the only way to equip even large teams. This is also an opportunity for the textile service, which supplies many large properties with workwear.

The fundamental advantages of corporate wear are manifold. "A uniform outward appearance increases the feeling of togetherness and team spirit," explains Felix Jansen, a psychological psychotherapist from Cologne and deputy regional chairman of the German Psychotherapists' Association in North Rhine-Westphalia. "Professional workwear signals that employees understand their job and are proud of it. 

This can increase employees' identification with the company and, accordingly, their motivation and performance," says the expert in this field. In addition to the integrative and motivating function internally, the external effect is also very important. "Uniform workwear increases the recognition effect among customers. It creates trust and respect and provides orientation." However, clothing should not be too uniform, says Jansen. "Then there is a risk that the wearer will feel restricted in their individuality."

Workwear needs to be accepted by the wearer 

The uniform is out - Carla Cacitti has also experienced this. She is Head of Product Management and Development at the Cologne-based manufacturer Bierbaum-Proenen, which is known for its innovative workwear concepts under the brand name BP. "Wearers want workwear that doesn't make them feel dressed up, but authentic and, above all, comfortable," says Carla Cacitti, describing one of the results of the wearer surveys that BP regularly conducts to find out what employees need and want from their workwear. 

Individuality instead of uniformity is in demand, without leaving the boundaries of the standardised outfit. Above all, a wide range of colours from which companies can choose offers a broad playing field for individual development. "If the colours are coordinated and the colour concept fits, it's no problem to outfit large teams in a variety of ways and still in line with the corporate identity," explains Carla Cacitti. The wearers no longer have to feel dressed up. And that is important because no workwear can exist without the acceptance of the employees.

"We live in an employee-owned society. No company can provide its employees with clothing over their heads or against their will." The influence of the wearers goes hand in hand with increased expectations of workwear, which are derived from leisure, fashion, sportswear and outdoor clothing. These trends represent both an opportunity and a challenge for both workwear manufacturers such as BP and textile service providers. Opportunity, because the right products are in great demand. And a challenge because the clothing solutions have to be harmonised with the textile service's handling processes. "It won't work without compromises on both sides," says Carla Cacitti. "But I am convinced that clothing solutions that create desirability and appeal to the wearer emotionally will benefit the entire textile chain." 

In order to be close to the wearer, BP develops its collections hand in hand with end users and translates their needs into a holistic concept suitable for the masses. At the beginning of the development of a new collection, Carla Cacitti and her colleagues enquire about the needs and requirements of the employees for their workwear. They then realise these in close consultation with the workers.

The BPlus collection is a successful example of corporate workwear. When developing BPlus, the experts focussed on three aspects that are very important to the wearers. The modern design, which offers employees maximum comfort and optimum freedom of movement thanks to a newly developed fit. This also includes the fact that there are no unisex models, but women's and men's fits - adapted to individual requirements. The use of robust high-performance materials that are breathable, waterproof, windproof and quick-drying. In this way, the workwear masters the challenges of changing climatic conditions and optimally protects the wearer in all weathers. And with maximum functionality, especially at the detailed level, which is reflected, for example, in the finely balanced pocket solutions.

Workwear should be tailored to the wearer - and not the other way round: this guiding principle was also at the centre of the development of the welding protection collection. The BP Welder's Comfort collection can withstand extreme stress. At the same time, it offers unrivalled comfort, maximum freedom of movement, functionality down to the last detail and an attractive design. The wearer immediately realises that the collection was not designed on the drawing board, but was developed together with welders and is specifically tailored to their needs in practice.

Plenty of scope for individual combinations 

Anyone who sees the collections will immediately notice that they can be easily combined without becoming uniform. BPlus also specifically develops the existing workwear range of the Cologne specialists and can be perfectly combined with the other workwear collections from BP. "This creates completely new and individualised options for dressing well at work - for individual workers and entire teams," says Product Manager Carla Cacitti, explaining the principle. 

The advantages are obvious: large companies whose employees wore BP's previous collections can re-equip team after team with BPlus without having to completely re-dress the entire workforce. The trend is clearly moving away from rigid clothing concepts. A harmonious mix & match system offers companies new opportunities to combine different items of clothing with each other, which fulfil the new requirements of employees - and textile service providers.

If the employees feel comfortable from a visual and functional point of view, the workwear has fulfilled its purpose. And then ultimately everyone benefits: employees feel valued by the clothing and are also motivated. Employers have employees who are happy to represent their company well to the outside world. And the textile service has satisfied customers whose wishes and expectations for modern, seamlessly usable clothing concepts are fulfilled.