When you think about aprons, you usually think of someone baking or cooking in the kitchen. However, many businesses besides food, drink, and hospitality use aprons. They’re popular in different jobs, including floristry, health, beauty and elderly care, barbers and hairdressers, painters, special events and tradeshows, greengrocers and butchers, and schools and childcare facilities.
Why Are Aprons Worn at Workplace?
The word apron comes from the Latin expression 'Mappa,' which means 'napkin.' Aprons have several purposes aside from their visual appeal. Here are five reasons to consider an apron as a part of your staff’s uniform.
Hygiene
First and foremost, aprons are more sanitary than you believe! They serve as a hygienic barrier. Your clothing accumulates a lot of germs, which you can then effortlessly transfer to whatever you're working on, which, for many people who wear aprons, is food.
Style
The apron you pick should be one you enjoy wearing, one in which you feel secure, and one that adds flair to your job. Available in different fabric colours and denim, a stylish and practical apron with a neckline strap will make you stand out. It complements various work shirts and t-shirts for a complete uniform look. These aprons are entirely adjustable and look fantastic even after hours in the kitchen. You can also make a statement by styling an apron your way.
Brand Projection
Wearing an apron is an excellent approach to draw attention to your business and portray a favourable picture of your staff and organisation. Choose an apron style that accurately represents your company and how the general public will see your brand. Ask yourself if your business is hip and trendy. Or, you own a traditional upmarket restaurant. Choose an apron style that matches your company's branding, whatever it is.
Low Maintenance
What's the loveliest thing about aprons? They require little maintenance! They can withstand everything life throws at them, even the white ones. Choose aprons that are washable, robust and spill-resistant. They’ll last you for years. You no longer have to cry over a milk splatter on your beloved shirt.
Convenience
Having aprons with pockets makes it much easier for your personnel to work. They can conveniently store pens, notepads, cash tips, and other items in the apron pocket, making customer-employee interactions considerably easier. If your staff don’t wear an apron, you may notice that they’re frequently looking for pens and other crucial equipment. A neat, clean apron with enough room for necessary accessories can make your employee's shift go much more smoothly.
How to Choose an Apron for Your Work?
Before selecting the proper apron for your workplace, you must consider your surroundings, how you’ll use it, and how critical it is for complementing your workplace or the function you perform in it. Here are the most crucial factors to consider.
Types of Aprons
Bib Aprons
Bib aprons are the most common and traditional type of apron, featuring an adjustable neck loop and waist ties. This apron with a neckline strap has expanded from its basic black-and-white colour scheme to encompass a variety of styles, hues, and materials. These aprons often wrap your body to the knee and feature several pockets, useful for carrying tools, guest checks, or order pads. They’re great for personalisation with logos and names and are incredibly adaptable.
Cross-back Aprons
The cross-back apron is similar to the neck apron in that its straps sit on your shoulders and cross over your back, relieving pressure on your neck. Cross-back straps are available in fabric or leather-look strap apron options, and in some versions, the apron straps are detachable, allowing you to change colours and appearance quickly.
Waist Apron
This apron is knotted around the waist, as the name indicates. It doesn’t cover the entire torso but extends just above the knee, allowing for normal leg movement, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as a half apron.
The pockets at the front allow servers to hold their notepads and guest bills, while the short length of the apron allows for quick movement.
Material
It is critical to consider the various apron materials available and their appropriateness for your workplace. Aprons are available in many materials, including 100% cotton, different types of durable denim, fade-resistant poly-cotton or poly-viscose mixes, and waterproof choices such as PVC and Nylon.
Remember that 100% cotton and denim aprons are incredibly durable, whereas poly-blend materials are equally robust but more colourfast. Linens are inherently soft and lightweight.
So consider if you want your black to stay black, whether you prefer the look of cotton and denim as they soften and relax with character, or if you operate in damp, filthy environments where waterproof fabrics are required.
Colours and Design
Most of the clothes we wear have a design and colour scheme that influences which apron is ideal for us, and this may also impact which apron is best for you. You buy an apron to preserve your clothing underneath, but the way it looks should be equally important to you. As a result, while selecting an apron for your job, the design is critical.
Look for durable aprons designed for work-specific use, with a core focus on style. Search for designs that not only look great but are fit for purpose. Denim aprons, whether one with an adjustable apron strap or cross-back ones, have now become a hospitality and retail staple, as they're the perfect design-led and fashion-focused addition to staff uniforms that are practical and stylish.
