What are the current workwear trends in the restaurant industry, for example in colors, materials, and accessories? How do people dress in the kitchen and dining room now?
Black is the new black in workwear too. Its timelessness remains. Black is brought to life with different textures, for example by combining matte black, denim black and shiny.
Muted tones are also making their way with ecology and ethics. They can be used to visually reflect a closeness to nature and environmental friendliness. I myself am very pragmatic when it comes to responsibility and I encourage customers to express their own responsibility genuinely through their own relevant starting points. For example, by paying attention to the quality of materials and sewing, longer service life and ease of maintenance, such as lower, more environmentally friendly washing temperatures and the durability of materials. These are not the most visible forms of expressing responsibility, but I think they speak even more authentically about the company's responsibility than, for example, superficial colors or material contents that are very ambiguous in terms of environmental friendliness.
Tone-on-tone outfits combine heavy and light, matte and shiny, casual and fitted, dark shades in hard materials and, for example, soft flannels. Alongside the color black, dark navy blue is making its comeback. Earthy, neutral shades, sand, khaki, muted greens and browns are also on the rise. Neutral colors are enhanced with brighter colors, which are intended to enhance the company's values, attitudes or, for example, lifestyle trends. In small doses, unusual colors attract attention and give an individual or distinctive touch, without being too unusual or strong.
What factors influence workwear choices? How are values reflected in workwear choices?
Responsibility is increasingly visible in workwear. I personally like the trend where responsibility is not just tacked on, but is truly part of the company's core, operations and values. In this case, responsibility is above all sustainable choices, the timelessness of designs and the quality of fabrics.
The individuality that is strongly visible in time is also reflected in communal dressing. The workwear ensemble is uniform and controlled, but the employee has the opportunity to choose and layer their clothing in the way they choose, stylistically and supporting their own user experience, for example, taking into account individual thermal properties, body shape and personal style. The timelessness of products has been a value choice for me throughout my career, as I want the clothes I design to last as long as possible and thus do my part in taking the environment into account. It is wonderful that customers have also begun to cherish the values of sustainable development. The charm of simple, genuinely functional and timeless clothes has no expiration date. Honest clothes are not designed for just one specific time or environment, but their intended use is relevant regardless of the year and prevailing trends.
What's new in the industry? For example, are there any emerging workwear trends?
Authenticity, relaxation, comfort, uncomplicated functionality – those are the most important. However, workwear should not be too casual. To increase credibility and attract interest, a touch of formality alongside casualness with fitted cuts or neat surfaces, is permissible, even desirable. Uncomplicated functionality means that there is no need to reinvent the wheel when the world is full of good solutions that genuinely serve to make the user’s work easier and more enjoyable.
Timelessness, nostalgia, simplicity and appreciation of the old, existing are raising their heads. People long for a slower life, peace and a sense of doing. Craftsmanship is valued. I hope that the same trend, the appreciation of professionalism in oneself, in the community and among customers, will become increasingly evident. I hope that people value their own professionalism and wear themselves and their work clothes, the external manifestation of their profession, with pride. Workwear should show that in these clothes you know what you are doing, you get your hands dirty and you are proud to try something new. There is a touch of old-fashioned romance in professionalism, including materials such as denim and leather. Perhaps the phenomenon is also a kind of backlash against efficiency, technology, digitalization and automation.
Headwear is making a comeback, after being a stumbling block in collections for decades, something that no one really wants to wear, but which, for safety and hygiene reasons, is part of many environments. Now beanies, caps, skipper caps and tasseled headwear are part of believable or playful dressing. In addition to headwear, other accessories such as various shoulder and belt bags have been noticed as elements that make work easier. You don't have to stuff all your tools into your pockets.
How have workwear trends changed in the restaurant industry?
I am happy that the clinical nature of workwear, the traditional features such as safety and ease of maintenance, have taken a back seat and I get to design products that are pleasant to the wearer, comfortable on the skin and, above all, support the wearer's professional pride and individuality, without forgetting community. Workwear is also cut more casually than before. It is more comfortable to be and work in them. At the same time, the clothes are increasingly functional. Practicality is seen in the adaptability of the products to the specific job. Despite the air of relaxation, a touch of formality, as a contrast and to bring credibility, is in place in work and professional dressing.
AROMI 1/2020 | published January 9, 2020 | Interview with Kirsimari Kärkkäinen about workwear trends