Ready for wear: advanced fabric protection technologies enhance the appearance, comfort, & longevity of staff uniforms.

It's been said that image is everything--but these days, a successful and effective staff uniform is not built on appearance alone. Changing demographics, an evolving workforce, and an increased emphasis on keeping down costs all have created new expectations from uniforms and other forms of staff apparel.

At one time, the crisp, white Oxford shirt and tie paired with a similarly sharp-looking pair of dress pants was enough to craft a polished image and call it a day. Not anymore. The hottest thing that's happening to threads is occurring at the microscopic level away from the naked eye--and it's impacting everything from the look and feel of a garment to how long it endures the many and varied rigors of day-to-day use.

One such breakthrough is nanotechnology. While the term may sound like something ripped from the pages of a science-fiction novel, it's a process that is pointing the way toward a brighter future--literally, where colors stay more vibrant, whites maintain their luminosity, and everyday work garments are better able to resist the encroachment of wine spills and other stains.

Nano-Tex, an Emeryville, CA-based company, is leading the way in the field of providing textile enhancements through the use of nanotechnology. They introduced the industry's first permanent anti-static treatment for synthetic fabrics, and likewise rolled out a treatment that delivers a higher level of stain release capabilities combined with stain repellency.

"We're eliminating some of the most frustrating experiences consumers face in everyday apparel," said Renee Hultin, president of Nano-Tex. "Our new treatments enhance the appearance, comfort, versatility--and ultimately the length of use--of clothing consumers use most often in everyday life."

An increasing number of manufacturers have already incorporated the use of Nano-Tex technology in their apparel lines, including such notable brands as Lee, Nike, Champion, and Levi's.

Fabric Protection

With the casual movement having firmly conquered the retail marketplace, there seems to be less tolerance for stuffy, clingy, uncomfortable clothing when it comes to dressing for the workplace--even in an upscale club. This is not to say that fashion is out--far from it--but workers expect clothes to be flattering and therefore complimentary to their individual builds. To keep employees happy and morale high, look for apparel that utilizes new technologies to keep the clothing more user-friendly.

StainSmart 3 from Milliken is the company's newest dual-action stain repel-and-release fabric. "Effective stain prevention for the apparel markets has moved beyond repel-only capabilities," said Ben Shoal, division president for the Apparel and Specialty Fabrics Division at Milliken.

Milliken's StainSmart 3's repel function allows most liquid-based spills to bead up and be wiped off, preventing them from initially staining the fabric. The release function works on tough, ground-in stains--the number one threat to the appearance of staff uniforms--that penetrate fabric such as coffee or red wine by allow these stains to simply wash out during normal laundering and cleaning.

"Today's consumers rely on clothes that are durable, comfortable, and easy to care for--especially when it comes to uniforms," said Steve Haber, executive vice president of sales at Strategic Partners, Inc., a manufacturer of apparel uniforms.

Wearability and Durability

Active workers have for quite some time enjoyed the benefits of clothing made with 65 percent cotton/35 percent polyester blends, and the trend remains popular. When stacked against uniform fabrics made of 100 percent cotton, the blended items feature an enhanced level of durability that can lengthen the life of the garment by two or three times. Blended fabrics also provide superior color retention in that the polyester can withstand high-temperature laundering.

Soil release properties are incorporated into these fabrics, giving them the ability to resist some of the worst stains that can be encountered on the job. The clean, finished appearance provided by the blends is another plus for employers, who can take pride in seeing their staff in garments that are wrinkle-free. One possible drawback for garments made from polyester is seen in the situation of more active workers, who often find clothing made from blends to be less breathable than those made with 100 percent cotton. The reduced softness and flexibility of blended garments is another concern.

Staff members who work outdoors can benefit from clothing made from what are known as hydrophilic fabrics. Unlike the types of polyesters found in the 1970s, today's hydrophilic fabrics are 100 percent polyester knits. As such, the fabrics offer the soft feel of cotton--and a similar level of comfort.

Hydrophilic fabrics offer the advantage of wicking away perspiration from the skin, allowing moisture to evaporate quicker. The end result is a dryer, more comfortable uniform for the wearer. The technology also provides odor resistance by depriving odor-causing bacteria of the moisture they need to survive. The color-rentention, durability, and wrinkle resistance properties of hydrophilic fabrics are comporable to those found in 65/35 blends. Additionally, hydrophilic fabrics have soil release properties already built into them.

There's more that goes into uniform selection these days than cut, color, and style--it's about time to take a closer at the technology behind the fabric.