Fresh FABRICS

RUFFLED UP

Catwalk trends are being translated into workwear through clever and stylish trimmings. Flu_ery ruffles, modelled by celebrities like Holly Willoughby and Gwyneth Paltrow, look set to remain popular in 2018.

This on-trend, new side-ruffle tunic from Simon Jersey has been introduced in four colours: plum, black, graphite and aqua, which has been another top trend in 2017. Practical as well as fashionable, the range, in sizes 6-26, also includes handy hidden pockets for salon essentials.

Trade price: £22.99

0370 4609 047

KEY FEATURE

“ This piece has been inspired by this year’s key trend of ruffles and frills. The ruffle trend was first seen on catwalks in late 2016. Since then, it’s been popping up on dresses and tops in every store on the high street. The beauty of the ruffle is that it’s a bold statement on its own, which means you don’t need to add many accessories to feel stylish,” says Helen Harker, design manager at Simon Jersey In its latest collection, Buttercups has given the classic square-neck tunic a contemporary twist with some trend-savvy trims to the arms and neckline. Black set against grey in this style (pictured) gives a subtle nod to fashion, while keeping intact the brand’s commitment to classic lines in a figure-flattering cut and bi-stretch material.

Trade price: £34.50

00 353 1 219 0215

KEY FEATURE

“ The range incorporates elements of the latest catwalk trends into our various uniforms to ensure we have something for each of our stylesavvy customers. This collection introduces colours inspired by designers such as Valentino and Victoria Beckham, including magenta, emerald green, grey and sapphire,” says Buttercups owner Grace Crowley

GO ALTERNATIVE

Uniform suppliers get creative in their newest collections, breaking from tradition and offering jumpsuits as a more relaxed alternative to tunics and dresses, or wraps teamed with skinny jeans for a versatile look.

The recent revival of the jumpsuit trend has inspired Diamond Designs to create this stylish one-piece in a range of classic colours and superior fabrics. Available in Linen Look and Luxury French Performance Natura, the jumpsuit features two breast pockets, a collared neck and a waist-down, full-length zipper. It comes in Black Natura stretch or Green linen.

Trade price: £49

042 974 6333

KEY FEATURE

“ Our Cotton Collection Uniforms are cool and comfortable throughout your working day. They are made from 100% cotton and in addition to being natural, they are also colourfast and easy care,” says Aisling Kavanagh, head of sales and marketing at Diamond Designs

Launched in July, La Beeby’s Amie wrap, available in black, offers a chic substitute to the usual salon dress or tunic uniform. The elegant wrap has been designed for wear over a blouse or t-shirt, providing a more casual, yet still professional, salon look.

Trade price: £29

0114 251 3511

KEY FEATURE

“ This wrap gives you the chance to have an individual look without losing the protection of a salon tunic and looks great with our Macy trousers or with skinny jeans for a more casual look,” says Amy Housley, sales and marketing manager at La Beeby

Pairing a top with a skirt allows salons to be versatile with lengths and styles to suit different therapists. Artejano’s new high-waist, A-line skirt can be ordered in petite, regular or long lengths. Pair it with the Alice capped sleeve top, which has an Oriental-style neckline. Both are made using a high-tech performance fabric that regulates the body’s temperature.

Trade price: £26 for skirt; £50 for top

01793 674 897

KEY FEATURE

“ The Decorative stitching featured on this collection creates original detailing and can be ordered in 20 different colours, to reflect personal taste and style. As an emerging design and manufacturing company, we are passionate about sourcing fabrics and manufacturing our designs in Great Britain,” says Marina Leigh, director of Artejano

MATERIAL WORLD

Innovative materials primarily designed to help salons cut costs or improve efficiency are proving a hit in the industry at present.

BC Softwear’s Supreme, a 300gsm plush, velvety bathrobe, boasts a super-soft polyester fleece outer and an absorbent cotton terry towelling lining, rendering it warm but lightweight. The dual-fabric material also benefits business, allowing the robe to dry faster than a traditional towelling bathrobe. You can also fit more Supreme bathrobes into a wash load than regular robes, contributing to savings in laundry turnaround times and energy bills.

Trade price: from £23.95

0845 210 4000

KEY FEATURE

“ The Supreme leads a trend for spas and hotels in bathrobe manufacture, with a design that is warm, lightweight and super-fast to dry. The polyester outer and towelling lining dries on average 31% faster than a traditional cotton robe,” says Barbara Cooke, managing director, BC Softwear

No matter the season, spa and salon environments can be warm, and certain uniform materials exacerbate perspiration. Simon Jersey’s Linen Blend tunic range was created in response to feedback from customers who wanted a cotton-feel option to help them feel cooler at work. The resulting tunics, in blue, grey and black, offer a cool, comfortable and stylish uniform.

Trade price: £27.99

0370 4609 047

KEY FEATURE

“ As well as the innovative fabric, the tunics offer additional features to make them practical for wear in a salon or spa. These include a ‘double-action back’, which means extra fabric in the shoulder seams to allow for more movement,” says Helen Harker, design manager, Simon Jersey

Majestic Towels’ new Terry Towelling Bath Sheet is double stitched to reduce the risk of fraying and uses the latest “azo-free” dyes, which are eco-friendly and don’t contain the potential carcinogens found in some other colourings. It measures 100cm x 200cm and is available with or without a face hole in colours including white, cream, chocolate, grey, damson and navy.

Trade price: from £11.25

0121 772 0936

KEY FEATURE

“ There have been massive advances in the technology and design of textile manufacturing machines. Our continued investment in these has allowed for further improvements in the quality of towels, bathrobes and other spa specialist items.” Abbas Vawda, managing director, Majestic Towels

SMALL PACKAGES

Eco-friendly, disposable towels are increasingly popular thanks to their ability to improve hygiene and decrease the amount of storage space needed in salons. Co_oning on to the towel’s versatility, suppliers this season are offering smaller sizes, suitable for a whole new range of salon purposes.

Easydry has just launched its smallest, single-use hygienic towel, measuring just 30cm x 20cm. This compact towel means busy salons and spas can save space and cut laundry costs. Its uses are manifold; it can be used as a towel in manicures, a cloth in facials, or a hand towel in bathrooms for clients. It is 100% biodegradable and is compostable within just 12 weeks.

Price on request

01300 071 714

KEY FEATURE

“ The Easydry Small Towel’s size makes it a great multi-purpose disposable towel for a number of different treatments. Reduce your laundry bill while offering your clients a premium, hygienic towel”, says Angela Byrne, general manager at Easydry

This petite Scrummi Spa Waffle White Small Towel measures 20cm x 40cm. Like the rest of the range, the waffle-embossed towel is eco-friendly, disposable and suitable for sensitive skin. Essential oils can be added to the towels to make them an integral part of a treatment, or they can be used as a protective layer over pillows during massages or facials.

Trade price: £45 for 700

01732 617 6100

KEY FEATURE

“ Having a neatly folded pile of our Small Towels next to the treatment area looks professional and shows the client that you place a priority on hygiene. They are hypoallergenic and bleach free; created from totally natural fibres that have been sourced from sustainably managed forests,” says Rob Cooper, managing director at Scrummi Spa