1. What do we mean by (sustainable) corporate clothing?

By corporate clothing, we mean all clothing that employees wear in their role: from bar shirts and aprons to store outfits, logistics clothing, hosts at events, or uniforms in public functions.

In this guide, we consciously talk about (sustainable) corporate clothing. For us, this means:

• Good foundation: clothing that is comfortable, representative, and durable.
• Responsibly made: preferably in fair conditions, with transparent production.
• Conscious material choice: where possible, organic, recycled, or deadstock textiles.
• Plan for afterwards: think about repair, reuse, recycling or upcycling when clothing is worn out.

2. Who is this guide intended for?

This guide is written for organizations that want to have recognizable clothing made for their team – and want to choose more consciously than just "the cheapest catalog option."

In practice, this is relevant for, among others:

• Hospitality, catering & hospitality – service, kitchen, bar, hosts.
• Retail & brands – store teams, brand ambassadors, pop-ups.
• Events & festivals – crew clothing, merch, backstage teams.
• Offices & impact organizations – reception, front office, events, impact communication.
• Governments & cultural organizations – public functions, museums, libraries, cultural houses.

Even if sustainability is not your primary motivation – but you want to work locally, qualitatively, and neatly produced – this guide provides you with a clear framework to make choices.

3. Why consciously engage with corporate clothing?

Corporate clothing is seen every day on the work floor, in photos, on social media, and with clients. Conscious choices yield more than just "nice outfits."

• Strong brand experience: clothing is a carrier of your brand values and image.
• Employee satisfaction: nice, well-fitting clothing is worn with pleasure and radiates that.
• Less waste: better quality and thoughtful design lead to a longer lifespan.
• Prepared for reporting: think of UPV Textiles and sustainability reports.
• Better story to the outside: you can concretely show what you are doing in the area of people & the environment.

4. Materials: quality, comfort & sustainability

The choice of material determines a large part of the appearance, wearing comfort, and impact of your corporate clothing. You don't have to be "perfectly sustainable" all at once, but making a few smart choices already makes a big difference.

4.1 Basics: strong, comfortable fabrics

For many corporate clothing items, we work with among others:

• (Bio)cotton & blends: breathable, comfortable, suitable for T-shirts, polos, and sweaters.
• Sturdy twill & canvas: ideal for aprons, workwear, and intensive use.
• Stretch fabrics: useful for physical or active work and various body types.

4.2 More sustainable options

• Organic cotton (e.g. GOTS): fewer pesticides, better cultivation conditions.
• Recycled fibers: such as recycled polyester or cotton blends – especially interesting with high washing frequency.
• Deadstock & leftover materials: overproduced fabrics from the fashion industry get a second life.

4.3 Practical questions to ask yourself

• How often is the clothing washed, and at what temperature?
• Should it be wrinkle-resistant, or rather extra soft?
• Is color fastness important (for example in hospitality or retail)?

5. Design & branding: from brand story to clothing

A good corporate clothing line feels like an extension of your brand – not like a standalone uniform.

5.1 Start with your brand & practice

• Brand feeling: sleek & minimalist, playful, artisanal, high-end, colorful…
• Type of work: physical, representative, backstage, outdoor, office.
• Audience: who sees the clothing most often – guests, customers, visitors, residents?

5.2 Branding in clothing

• Embroidery: durable and wash-resistant, suitable for logos and names.
• Labels & details: woven labels, neck labels, buttons, stitches, patches.
• Color usage: in line with corporate identity, but practical in maintenance.

5.3 Inclusive fits

Consider different body types, genders, and heights. It’s a shame if a beautiful line does not fit well for a large part of the team in practice.

Many steps resemble designing a fashion collection. In our guide to starting a clothing line, you can read more about that process specifically for brands and labels.

6. Action plan: how to set up a corporate clothing project

The steps below can be used as an internal checklist or briefing for a workshop like Atelier Jungles.

1. Inventory the current situation

   What clothing is currently being worn? What works well, and what does not? What complaints do you hear from employees? Document this as a starting point.

2. Define goals & scope

   Is it about one team or multiple? What items do you need (T-shirts, sweaters, aprons, jackets) and how many sets per person are realistic?

3. Make choices about style & materials

   What appearance fits your brand? Which materials are practical to use? Where can you make sustainable choices without making the process unnecessarily complex?

4. Design & samples

   Have designs, patterns, and samples made. Test these with a small group of employees and gather honest feedback on fit, comfort, and appearance.

5. Production & logistics

   Plan the production, determine size distribution, and think about delivery, storage, and reorders. Also, make a plan for old corporate clothing if desired.

6. Use, aftercare & improvement

   Monitor how the clothing holds up in daily use. Plan repairs, replacements, and any further development of the line based on practical experience.

7. Recycling & upcycling old corporate clothing

Many organizations have cabinets full of old corporate clothing: old logos, outdated colors, or surplus stock. You can do more with it than just throw it away.

7.1 Recycling

In recycling, textiles are processed into new raw materials. This can be fiber recycling (for example, filling or new fabrics) or another form of material reuse. Good sorting and the safe removal of logos are essential.

7.2 Upcycling

With upcycling, we turn old clothing into new, high-quality products – often visibly linked to your brand:

• bags, shoppers, laptop sleeves, and accessories
• poufs, cushions, and interior items for the office
• new aprons, patches, or details in a next corporate clothing line

On our page textile upcycling & circular merchandise you will find examples of projects for, among others, Deliveroo, ImpactCity, and RDW.

8. Costs & budget: what determines the price?

The question “what does (sustainable) company clothing cost?” is logical, but there is no fixed price per set. The final price depends on, among other things:

• number of employees and sets per person
• number of different models (for example T-shirt, sweater, apron, jacket)
• material choice (basic, organic, recycled, deadstock, technical)
• type of branding (embroidery, prints, labels, extra details)
• minimum order quantity per style and per size (MOQ)

In practice, we see that more consciously made company clothing is sometimes slightly more expensive to purchase, but:

• lasts longer,
• looks more representative,
• and needs to be replaced less quickly.

During a production consultation, Atelier Jungles will go through different scenarios with you, so you can make choices based on budget AND impact.

9. Checklist: are you ready to start?

Use this checklist to see if you are ready for a process with a workshop:

• You know which teams wear company clothing (or should be wearing it).
• You have a rough estimate of quantities and needed items.
• You know the biggest annoyances of your current clothing (or the lack thereof).
• You have 2–3 keywords for the desired appearance (e.g. calm, playful, luxury, artisanal).
• You have an indication of budget and desired duration (e.g. 2–3 years).
• There is someone internally who wants to take ownership of the process.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Only looking at unit price: buying cheap, but high replacement costs and dissatisfied employees.
• Too large initial order: inventory that remains unsold, wrong size distribution.
• No employee testing: clothing that looks good on paper but is not comfortable in practice.
• No plan for old clothing: closets full of leftovers and missed opportunities for impact and storytelling.
• Wanting to do everything ‘perfectly’ at once: too complex a process. Better: improve step by step – first a good foundation, then make it more sustainable.