GOING Bespoke

KATIE MIDDLEWEEK

Purple reign

Ultra violet was named Pantone colour of the year for 2018 and the uniforms companies have been quick to get onboard, with a wide range of purple and fuchsia tones among the offering for the coming season.

Uniforms, Towels & Robes

In its latest summer collection, Buttercups has gone for seasonal brights in a range of slim-fitting tunics and trousers (above and left). As well as the classic black and white for those wanting a monochrome approach, there are offerings in bright fuchsia, deep purple, brown and even green. The brand is also offering a three-for-two deal on full-price uniforms, plus free postage on online orders over £60.

Trade: from £32.50 +353 1 219 0215

La Beeby has gone for a muted, yet bang-on-trend, colour this summer for its Emma design (right) – a deep plum hue. This tunic is accompanied by slim-fitting matching trousers, and has an unusual asymmetrical neckline with a subtle front pleat, in an added nod to catwalk trends. The new line also includes a fashionforward charcoal grey colour, available for La Beeby’s Gisele tunic, which has pleated sleeves and a wrap-effect front.

Trade: from £25.92 0114 251 3511

BESPOKING OPTIONS

“We offer a bespoke embroidery service where you can customise your uniform by either uploading your business logo or choosing from one of our stylish pre-set fonts. Prices start from 60p per letter or a minimum charge of £5 per garment, plus VAT” Grace Crowley, managing director, Buttercups

BESPOKING OPTIONS

“Accompanied with an embroidered logo, our uniforms enable staff to represent your company in the most sophisticated way possible. Embroidery can be added to uniforms from as little as £3 per logo” David Cottrell, divisional manager, La Beeby

Fifty shades of grey

Grey, in a wide range of tones, was the staple of many a catwalk collection for AW18. Here is how the industry has got on board with this understated, yet classically professional, palette.

Towels and bathrobes supplier BC Softwear has tapped into the grey trend, with slate grey releases in its Serenity and Sumptuous Towels ranges. Its bestselling Supreme Bathrobe, made from supersoft velour on the outside and practical towelling on the inside, is also now available in slate grey (as well as white and pebble), as are the new Serenity Waffle Towelling Headbands.

Trade: from £1.70 for the headband 0845 210 4000

Launched this year in on-trend slate grey, Majestic Towels’ Dual Layer Bath Robe (right) is both practical and sophisticated. It is made from two materials woven as one fabric for extra comfort and practicality. The combination of ring-spun cotton on the inside and the outer micro fabric creates the rich look and feel of velour but with a lighter overall weight. It is available in sizes medium, large and extra large.

Trade: £22.95 each 0121 772 0936

BESPOKING OPTIONS

“Adding a logo or simply a beautifully embroidered spa name can help give a premium touch. The logo is often quite subtle but helps give the towels and bathrobes a bespoke quality. We can give a price quotation on receipt of your logo” Barbara Cooke, managing director, BC Softwear

“The option of logo embroidery is available on both towels and robes. There is a minimum order of 25 pieces and costs vary from 95p to £5 per item depending on the size and intricacy of the design. As manufacturers, a second service we can offer is the creation of bespoke colours for customers that have very specific requirements to ensure a completely unique brand identity. A minimum order of 500 exists for this service with prices available on application” Abbas Vawda, managing director, Majestic Towels

Green credentials

An increasingly important factor for consumers is a spa or salon’s commitment to protecting the environment, and there are many ways to reflect this in your workwear, towels and consumables

REFLECT YOUR IMAGE

“Towels are a vital piece of equipment when it comes to customer perception. Offering clients their own personal, eco-friendly disposable towel ensures they receive a pristine one every time” Angela Byrne, general manager, Easydry

In a bid to save on the water and energy often wasted in laundering cotton robes, Easydry has expanded its disposable gown line for 2018 to include a new white colour option alongside the standard black. There are also additional sizes for its red, black and white towels. Although the towels are disposable, Easydry says they are more eco-friendly than traditional towels as they are biodegradable and save energy on laundering. These products are also good for customers having messy scrub, wrap and tanning treatments as they are recommended for single use only.

Trade: from £156 for the white gowns (available in quantities of 100) 0845 300 7764

Eco spa brand Scrummi Spa also follows a green ethos and has recently rolled out its Single Use Headbands, made from totally natural fibres, which are sourced from sustainably managed forests. They can even be recycled into compost after use. The headbands have an embossed waffle texture, and are fully adjustable and ultra-absorbent, ideal for a variety of treatments.

Trade: from 12p each (available in packs of 500) 01732 617610

REFLECT YOUR IMAGE

“By using our single-use towels and spa products, you can immediately reduce your vast amount of laundry as a business. Switching to our range is a simple change that spas can make to reinforce their green credentials and appeal to their eco-aware clients” Rob Cooper, managing director, Scrummi Spa

Design detail

Just because uniforms need to be functional and affordable, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. Some of the latest releases feature on-trend design details that add a sophisticated edge to make your uniforms a key part of your salon image.

Salonwear Direct has rolled out a range of uniforms for this summer that have a stylish look and feel, with three new tunics; two dresses featuring subtle design details such as buttoned waists; ankle-grazer trousers; and even a perfectly fitted blazer in a variety of soft colours, all created by in-house designer Naomi Williams (formerly of fashion chain LK Bennett). The company has also launched its much-anticipated tailored fabric, which holds its shape and fits close to the body, for therapists seeking a more fitted look.

Trade: from £29 0113 237 9010

BESPOKING OPTIONS

“More spas and salons are adding personalisation to their uniforms and the last year has seen record levels of embroidery going through our factory. By adding a logo to their uniforms, our clients find that it not only advertises the brand, but also adds a splash of colour to give the uniforms a lift. Logo embroidery is £25” Ilan Sherman, managing director, Salonwear Direct

New from Artejano this year is the Claire tunic, which boasts a wrapover front panel with an asymmetric hemline, giving a lean silhouette. Fabric is also a key appeal for this garment as it is made from jersey with “core body temperature-regulating” properties, unique to Artejano. Available in plain black or white, or black and white with alternating decorative stitching, the Claire is available in sizes 6-18.

Trade: £65 01793 674897

BESPOKING OPTIONS

“We use coloured accents with our decorative stitching to reflect a spa or salon’s individual colour scheme, skincare range or professional ethos. Businesses can further reflect their brand by having their company logo embroidered onto items or have a specific design feature of our garments changed – such as changing a cap sleeve to a long sleeve, for example – to create a bespoke piece of apparel. A fee of £4.50 is charged to have the name embroidered in a standard typeface. Logos start from £35” Marina Leigh, founder and creative director, Artejano