When you wear a uniform on a daily basis, fabric matters. Understanding the types of fabrics for work uniforms can be the difference between comfort on the job and a major distraction to getting your important work done. It can affect efficiency, durability, cost and plays a big role in safety.

Let’s explore the different types of uniform fabrics, the benefits associated with various uniform materials and why you might choose a particular fabric for your uniform needs based on job duties, working conditions or industry.

Common Types of Uniform Fabrics

Cotton

Cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics for clothing. It’s made from the fibers surrounding cotton plants and is chemically organic as it doesn’t contain synthetic compounds.¹

It’s known for its breathability, water absorption, draping and its natural comfort and softness. While cotton fibers increase the strength of the fabric, cotton is also prone to pilling, wrinkling and shrinkage if not laundered correctly. But with proper care, cotton can maintain a neat, professional appearance.

Cotton is used in T-shirts and denim and is a favorite uniform material among landscapers and retail workers, to name a few. Vestis™ carries a wide range of cotton T-shirts in a variety of colors that can be customized with logos or names for a team look. We also have 100% cotton work shirts and workpants with mechanical stretch for easy movement on the job. Cotton jeans and coveralls are a good choice for comfort and durability in the toughest industrial conditions.

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric usually produced from petroleum. It accounts for over half of the global fiber market, making up 80% of all synthetic fiber use. Ethylene polyester is the most common type of polyester fiber. While most polyester fabric is made from synthetic chemical compounds, it can also be made from plant-based ethylene sources like cane sugar. Plant-based polyester, such as Sorona, is considered biodegradable. Some other eco-friendly polyesters are made from recycled, plastic bottles and sustainable oyster shells.²

Polyester is a common choice for uniforms due to the strength and durability of the fabric, high abrasion resistance, as well as its inherent shrink, fade, stretch and wrinkle resistance. Polyester’s low absorbency rate also allows the fiber to dry quickly. Finishes can be added to polyester to improve performance, such as flame retardance, UV resistance and anti-microbial finishes.³

Vestis outfits many industries in a wide variety of 100% polyester uniforms, including healthcare, automotive and hospitality. Our scrub tops, bottoms and jackets are 100% polyester and have a soft feel and moisture wicking properties. Chef coats, pants and aprons help keep busy kitchen workers cool and dry, while maintaining easy, no-fuss professionalism with wrinkle and stain resistance built into the fabric.

Vestis FlexFit™ work shirts, polos and T-shirts are 100% polyester for breathable comfort. They’re moisture wicking for a cool, dry wear and are fade, shrink and snag resistant. Vestis FlexFit™ Rip Stop Work Shirts provide UPF 50+ sun protection blocking from more than 99.9% of harmful UVA/UVB light. Vestis FlexFit™ is an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor work and is available in multiple styles, sizes and colors that can be customized for a functional and professional uniform.

Blends

Blended fabrics are made are made from a mix of two or more different raw fibers that are spun together. When mixed, the best characteristic of each fiber creates a distinct blended fabric. Blending is typically done with a natural fiber and a manufactured fiber. For instance, the new fiber might be a 50/50 poly/cotton blend meaning it is made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester.

Blends are a popular type of fabric for work uniforms because they can combine softness, durability, performance and comfort with features like UVA protection. Vestis carries a wide variety of blended fabric uniforms that work for nearly every industry. Our assortment includes shirts, pants, polos, T-shirts, outerwear and specialty garments including safety gear and enhanced and high visibility uniforms.

Twill

Twill is not considered a type of fabric, but rather a specific weave that makes a diagonal pattern. Fabrics, including cotton, wool, linen or polyester, can be used in the weaving process to make twill. Twill is durable and breathable and is often used in jeans, polos and jackets.

Other Synthetic Fabrics

Nylon, acrylic and Tencel are non-polyester synthetic uniform fabrics. Nylon is known for its soft, silky feel and stretch. Acrylic is often used as a less costly alternative to wool for warmth. Tencel is durable, yet soft.

Uniform Fabrics and Laundering Considerations

Fabrics come with specific washing instructions. To maintain inherent properties or to prevent unwanted shrinkage or fading, it’s important to follow the manufacturers’ directions.

This is especially important when it comes to wash processes for scrubs in healthcare settings, for example, where the risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is a top concern. It’s also true for safety uniforms that need to maintain flame resistant properties.

When you rent your uniforms from Vestis, you don’t have to give laundering various types of fabrics for uniforms a second thought. Vestis drops off clean uniforms at your location, picks up your team’s dirty uniforms, launders them with a scientific formula at our facilities and repeats the process on a reliable weekly schedule. We’ll also inspect uniforms and make any necessary repairs or replace them as needed.

When it comes to healthcare uniforms, our EPA-registered sanitizing wash process goes a step further than clean to help reduce 99.9% of organisms.⁴ Additionally, all of our rental FR workwear is professionally laundered to maintain inherent and treated FR properties, inspected and repaired with FR fabrics and threads and delivered back to you.⁵

Here for Your Business

To learn more about fabric material and the options that might work best for your team, contact us today. We’re here to answer any questions and provide you with a free quote.

¹https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/resources.cfm

²https://textileexchange.org/polyester/

³https://naumd.com/university-article/definitions-and-examples-of-uniform-industry-terms/

⁴Vestis’ wash formulation meets EPA requirements for laundry sanitizing and provides a 99.9% reduction of the following organisms during the wash cycle: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Sanitized products are only provided to customers of Vestis who require and request their products be processed as containing bloodborne pathogens.

⁵The garments in this section are flame resistant. The information presented in this section should not be used as a substitute for reviewing OSHA or other regulations and recognized safety standards or be used in lieu of official safety training or certified on site analysis. The use of flame resistant garments will provide thermal protection when worn properly. The amount of protection is generally determined based on fabric weight and composition. Once an ignition source is removed, flame resistant garments will generally self-extinguish. The information regarding flame resistant garments provided herein is based on information from the fabric/garment manufacturers and Vestis™ makes no independent representations regarding these garments. Please check with the fabric manufacturer regarding specific certifications, if any, for each garment.

WARNING: These garments are not intended for fire entry or structural fire-fighting activities and provide no personal protection from chemical exposure. Remove garments at once if fouled with flammable material. It is the wearer’s responsibility to determine if these garments are suitable for the intended use.