World-Class Uniform Without The Headache

hether you are well versed or not in organising new uniform for your team, here at Studio 104 we are always well aware that our clients find the whole experience a great challenge. The task is particularly onerous, as it never sits neatly into an individual’s job spec. You could be a CEO, Hotel Manager, Head of Housekeeping, Procurement Manager, Brand Director or in one of a number of other roles, and this significant, expensive and game-changing project could fall onto your shoulders.

From the moment a client makes contact we know that we must provide a multi-faceted service that will remedy the headache of high-end uniform, by simplifying the journey and achieving the high expectations of their own clientele. It is quite usual that our clients value our hand-holding as much as the end result, and it is this immensely personalised approach that sees old clients return, time and again, and new clients recommended.

"There is nothing that Studio 104 cannot achieve when it comes to uniform. They bent over backwards to accommodate our every need... The end result is a stunning uniform range that works as a practical uniform solution."

Paul Jenkins – Purchasing Director (Quaglino’s – D&D London)

Every clients’ expectations are different and few realise uniform is still a heritage business, where the majority of our output is handmade. Cost and timing are usually front-of-mind but quality, creativity, experience and service are in the end why they choose Studio 104.  

The first step is the brief, which we tend to develop with each client, and is effectively broken into these 2 main areas: Understanding your team and understanding your business.

Understanding Your Team

To be able to budget for your designer uniform the first most important aspect is to ascertain the breadth of your team. This is achieved by understanding your:

·       Head Count

·       Job Roles

·       Gender Split

·       Full time / Part Time Positions

Clients usually come prepared with the head count, however it is the 3 other, lesser-considered, variables that will ultimately determine the scale of your project. For our bespoke solution the level of design, development and sampling will depend on the number of job different roles (i.e. server, doorman, receptionist etc.) as well as if each role has male and female members.

The next significant factor is whether the staff are full time, part time or a mixture of both - this can have a surprising impact. For example a full-time server would typically require 2/3 times the amount of uniform compared with a part-time server.

Once this information is understood we are able to assess the full scope of each client’s requirements, as well as offer smart recommendations to simplify ranges where possible.

Understanding Your Business

Each enterprise requires an individual approach to luxury uniform. Is the company a formal business, like a Michelin starred restaurant? Or are they a casual business like a gastropub? Is it busy or relaxed? What is the company’s service? Hospitality? Retail? Corporate? Visitor Attraction? Is the brand modern? Traditional? Minimal? Layered? Textural? Extrovert? Introvert? Progressive? Creative? Fun? Serious? Decadent?

Helping to answer these will determine the scope of materials, complexity of styles, level of creativity, and depth of detailing, and can vary greatly for each client.

Choosing Bespoke or the new 104 Collection

Here at Studio 104, we have made our name providing bespoke uniform for the world’s luxury brands throughout the hospitality, retail, corporate and customer service sectors. Once the final scope is reached the decision will be taken on the viability of bespoke, and for those with time constraints or keener budgets our soon to launch 104 Collection is a welcome innovation. Watch this space for regular updates on the new pre-designed collection featuring customisable elements, which we know will be a game changer for the sector.

Written by Jane @ Studio 104