Interesting Facts About Uniforms
Love them or hate them, uniforms make part of the job as they’re created with the purpose to provide protection and indicate the job role of the workers wearing them. Well, at least these were the sole reasons back in the days when they were first put to use, more specifically the Middle Ages.
In that time, it was common to wear badges as part of the uniforms too, to further indicate distinction or ranking, in the example of merchants belonging to a certain guild.
Though a lot has changed throughout the centuries thanks to the advancements of technology, the concept of uniforms remains the same, and so does that of badges used as part of branding today. Of course, nowadays, it’s easy to view uniforms from a stylistic point of view as well because of the attention to details paid on the clothes and accessories.
They’ve become the means that help a company create its image, convey that image and stand out from competition, climbing up the professional ladder and winning over customers by showing the right dose of loyalty, professionalism and cleanliness.
This would explain the wide range of work bottoms and tops one could have the chance to choose from at specialised uniform stores and designers, allowing the possibility to purchase based on comfort (in terms of fabrics), colours and styles too, instead of only being led by the functional aspect.
Throughout the centuries, there’s been a shift from the ranking sense to a more professional sense of uniforms due to the development of the corporate culture.
Though investing in the work bottoms, tops and accessories may not be on every company’s priority list, it’s well known companies like McDonald’s and their annual uniform programs that cost about $60 million that show the importance of such an investment.
Other than helping the company and the workers from a functional point of view, they’re also the means to increase the work ethic, making each and every worker feel part of a team. This can further be done by inquiring workers on the uniforms they would like to wear, letting them have their share in the decision making.
Gone are the days when a uniform meant something uniform. Uniforms can be as individual or fashionable as you want them to be, as long as there’s the freedom to accessorise, so the thought they represent monotony, the same look day in and day out just isn’t true anymore.
