By some, those who show off their clothes are thought to be ugly. If the job description includes customer service tasks, the employee's clothing has other criteria than functionality and cost-effectiveness – for example, aesthetics.
When developing workwear, you always have to make some compromises. Workwear should primarily be functional and cost-effective, but people also strive for aesthetics. So when choosing workwear for the workplace, it is worth considering the comfort, beauty and well-being of the garment. Workwear should be a garment that is comfortable to wear at the beginning of each shift and workday. As if turning on the role of a proud professional.
Comfort is emphasized in service professions, where you represent both yourself and the company. It is another thing to dress people who are not in contact with customers. Workwear is an excellent way to brand and market a company and, of course, improve the well-being of staff at work.
I've heard that people even choose jobs partly because of their work attire, "where the best looking clothes are."
Different shapes of people, different shapes of work clothes
People come in all shapes and sizes. When you look at the users, comparing for example a 180cm woman weighing 85kg and a 160cm woman weighing 60kg, we are talking about two very different sizes of people. They may not wear the same clothes at all. However, it would be important for both of them to feel comfortable at work.
The problem is that products are often chosen for workwear according to the largest dimensions, sometimes even 'designed', even though the garment should fit everyone. At Telakka, we design standard-sized clothing, taking into account, for example, the special features of the Finnish body. If necessary, we make our own pieces for special sizes. A little extra work pays off many times over in the work input of a cheerful and well-being employee.
Responsibility is a natural starting point for us
Clothing should not only look and feel good, but also be sustainably produced. The fact that responsibility is a self-evident starting point for us means that it is an essential part of our operations – not a tacked-on greenwashing or embellishment. More than ten years ago, committed to the values of sustainable development, I completed a specialization in responsible business at the School of Business. That has also naturally led me to think about what economic, cultural, social and ecological responsibility mean in my own business. I reject greenwashing, which is why Telakka workwear is not marketed with an ecological slant.
One fundamental measure of sustainability is the lifespan of a product. Good workwear lasts over time, not only in terms of quality but also in terms of design.
In the food industry, it is naturally ethical to consume seasonal products, but the same does not apply to clothing. In fashion, seasons are pure marketing, aimed at getting customers to buy more. I think it would be good for both workwear and other functional clothing to be timeless and not start looking old-fashioned after a couple of seasons. We have strong roots in sustainability, usability and timelessness. For us, fashion is based on values, not seasons.
Better workwear in a nutshell
- supports employee well-being and self-confidence.
- is functional, durable and practical.
- promotes occupational safety and health.
- is responsibly produced.
- also fits people of different sizes.
- fits the rest of the restaurant's visual appearance.
- is timeless; it will look stylish even in the next season.
Link to the original article: Increase workplace well-being, one garment at a time AROMI