Future Trends in Professional Clothing

Jamie Stokes, content writer for The Professional Industry Clothing Association Worldwide, outlines some of the latest trends in the professional clothing sphere.

The professional clothing industry, consisting of uniform, workwear, and PPE, is an essential part of the textile and apparel market, clothing employees and protecting frontline workers around the world. From hi-vis and hardhats worn by tradesmen to the smart and tailored uniforms of an airline host, uniform can be used to quickly represent the values of brand or the function of a particular role. The widescale use of uniform and workwear in many roles makes the industry dynamic, with new developments constantly changing the way garments are produced and designed.

The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) was established to support our members and educate the industry, so we are delighted to share with Printwear & Promotion our insights into the direction of professional clothing and what trends businesses need to be aware of.

Impacts of geo-politics on uniform supply chains

One of the biggest things which will impact the professional clothing market in the immediate future is international legislation which aims to combat greenwashing and promote the use of recycled materials.

In the European Union, the EU parliament is currently working to implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which will result in more rigorous fact-based standards for sustainability claims and potentially mandate that apparel must use some portion of recycled materials. Using recycled thread in stitching and embroidery is one of the ways garment manufacturers are making their products more circular, and we can expect the range of recycled products to increase over time.

Another factor affecting professional clothing is global instability, destabilising the textile supply chain. In 2023 intensified global conflict and more severe weather caused by climate change affected key production regions such as Eastern Europe, The Mediterranean, and Asia. Many businesses within the professional clothing industry are addressing heightened risk by looking at alternative multishore and onshore solutions for their supply chain, with much success in countries like Portugal, Tunisia, and the Balkans, which are regions with a rich history of textile production.

Design trends and decoration innovation

Regarding changing design principles in workwear and uniform, the key change PCIAW has noticed is a more focused and considered approach to branding and aesthetic, ranging from stylish safety boots to comfortable hi-vis hoodies and even cut-resistant polo shirts that are identical to retail examples.

End users report that employees who have a positive relationship with their clothing are more likely to look after their equipment and wear it regularly, ensuring greater compliance with health and safety standards and company policy. Industry leading safety brands like JCB, Mascott and GORE-TEX are leaning heavily into the identity and attraction of their brand in product aesthetics, featuring their logos prominently on items and collaborating with fashion and sportswear brands to grow their desirability.

An opportunity for garment decorators to show their innovation is removable branding, as garment security is currently an active issue in workwear. Companies are concerned that end-of-life garments with their logo are not being dismantled effectively, allowing anybody to steal a garment and impersonate an employee. Aside from security, these solutions are also useful in simplifying garment dismantling during recycling. Some innovative decorators in this space are using dissolvable thread for removable embroidery or enzyme solutions to remove print from garments, but there is still many opportunities for decorators to innovate on these solutions and join the growing market.

Professional clothing design has also been more considerate of worker needs regarding female fit and disability. Women’s-cut workwear has become more common in the past few years due to a greater number of women working in the trades and active roles, requiring better form-fitting garments to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Garments which support people with disabilities also on the rise, which is great news for the 1 in 6 people across the world who have some form of disability which affects their daily life. In the US Walmart have recently released a new range of innovative hi-vis workwear using print design to alert co-workers if the wearer has a hearing impairment or limited mobility, helping to avoid accidents in the workplace. There are many ways to support employees through their uniform, so it’s important to consider how the textile and apparel industry can meet special uniform requirements at work.

The new trajectory of professional clothing

As part of the professional clothing supply chain, it’s important print and garment decorators understand how current events are affecting their customers so they can adapt to changes  in the market and seize key opportunities. This is why PCIAW hosts an annual Summit & Awards event, which is an educational conference shining a light on the innovation present in all parts of the professional clothing industry.

In 2023 the event was held in Portugal, owing to the country’s rich textile history, featuring speakers from some of the biggest organisations and companies in the professional clothing industry such as the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX), the European Textile Service Association (ETSA), and Milliken & Co. The event highlighted the dynamic future of uniform and workwear, adopting the theme of ‘the new trajectory of professional clothing’ and providing a forum for businesses to share their knowledge on how to overcome the struggles the industry faces, from supply chain insecurity to best design practices and industry skills retention.

The Summit & Awards will return to the UK in November 2024 in Birmingham, with keynotes and panels discussing multishore manufacturing destinations and the circular economy in technical textiles, in addition to a variety of topics yet to be announced. The PCIAW Summit & Awards is the perfect platform for any business which wants to make quality connections and maintain awareness of current events in the professional clothing industry. The association hopes to greet many new visitors in 2024, and give delegates a window into the future of uniform, workwear, and PPE design.

For more, visit: https://pciaw.org/