The American workwear market is pretty much like a battlefield. Anyone who’s sourced workwear for an organization will know. Finding quality ones in the USA can be such a pain, when there’s too many pieces in the puzzle – all-day comfort, durability, professional appearance, customizability, color retention, extra features and so on.
Between durability concerns, comfort requirements, and professional appearance standards, many business owners struggle to pick uniforms that actually work for their teams. But not those who know the brands to look into for great workwear that meets almost any budget.
Two such brands that I’d vouch for are CornerStone and Red Kap.
CornerStone & Red Kap
CornerStone is a well-known brand in America that offers durable, high-quality clothing designed for tough jobs. They are more popularly known for the polos and jackets, as a budget-friendly alternative to high-end brands like Carhartt. But that’s not CornerStone’s legacy is what I feel. The durability of their clothing is. Many of their garments meet IL50 standards, meaning they can handle at least 50 industrial washes.
Speaking of legacy, Red Kap is a very big name in workwear. They have a long history and are very well-regarded in the industry. The brand is over a century old, and, with this wealth of expertise, specializes in workwear. They are particularly known for their consistent quality and iconic offerings for the industrial laundry market.
Here’s my two cents on why these brands are getting ahead in the market today.
Professional Edge
Both brands are popular among organizations that seek uniform solutions and workwear for customer-facing staff. Delivering solid first impressions during customer interactions and without compromising on professional appeal, cornerstone polo shirts are gaining momentum. These polos blend sharp looks and a myriad of useful features, to keep wearers comfortable and looking fresh after long hours.
Red Kap shirts, while traditionally known for industrial settings, also offer options suitable for customer-facing roles. Their industrial work shirts provide a neat, crisp look, perfect for situations where a bit more formality is needed. Red Kap shirts also come in long size variants, and their collar designs stay flat and professional-looking even after a full day. These shirts work for managers who need a balanced appeal with a little functionality.
Fabric & Functionality
Both brands use the toughest materials in the construction of their workwear. The unique fabric blends from both brands also impart a few nifty features in addition, like CornerStone’s advanced snag-resistance and Red Kap’s unique “Stay-Clean” and “Touchtex” technology for superior durability and color retention. Additionally, both brands offer workwear styles that come with any combination of properties like stain-release, odor-resistance, UV protection, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry.
Comfort
No one wants to spend their entire workday feeling uncomfortable. Both CornerStone and Red Kap design their workwear for maximum comfort. CornerStone polo shirts often use breathable fabrics that keep wearers cool and dry, even on hot days. Red kap shirts are constructed with a focus on fit and wickability, allowing for wearers to break some sweat without the outfit causing concern.
Current Applicability of CornerStone & Red Kap Workwear
Various roles in a business often rely on uniforms to handle part of the hustle as they work their shift. A restaurant server taking orders and serving them, a retail associate moving stocks, customer service executives moving from customer to other either indoors or outdoors – there clearly is a need for outfits that have the fabric technology to aid them in their work. Polo shirts that deliver good air circulation during peak hours, shirts that stretch to grant mobility, material that takes the print of the business logo or tagline well – they all matter.
CornerStone and Red Kap consider all these factors, which are evident in their work shirts. These shirts have proven their worth over the years, among workers in the hospitality sector.
The brands also offer specific styles that cater to blue collar workers working outdoors. Featuring the likes of UV protection, quick-drying, snag-resistance and odor-resistance to keep them covered in almost all work conditions outdoors. The durability factor really shows up here – no torn seams or faded colors after weeks in the elements. There are more than enough small details to make a big difference in daily wear.
When considering costs, there are quite a few benefits to these brands too. While cheaper options exist, they often need replacement every few months. The more expensive ones call for considerably big investments that the organization may not want to go through every year. CornerStone and Red Kap uniforms typically last three times longer. This counts to significantly minimized investments from the uniform budget over time.
One of my clients’ retail team switched to these brands last year after I recommended them. The results? Fewer uniform complaints and a more professional look that customers most likely noticed. One store manager told me the uniforms still look new after six months of heavy use.
A Quick Breakdown: CornerStone & Red Kap
- CornerStone Polo Shirts: Great for a polished, professional look in customer-facing roles. Stain-resistant, comfortable, and durable. Works well in both indoor and outdoor settings.
- Red Kap Shirts: Known for extreme durability, especially in industrial settings. Offers options for more formal looks as well. A solid choice for tough jobs and outdoor work.
Track how the polo shirts for uniforms perform over several weeks. Pay attention to:
- Wash and wear durability
- Comfort during peak activity periods
- Staff feedback on fit and function
The Bottom Line
In customer-facing industries, your uniform choice affects both employee satisfaction and customer perception. CornerStone and Red Kap have cracked the code on blending professional appearance with practical performance. Finding the right workwear can be a headache. But with brands like these, you have access to high-quality, dependable options.