Corporate workwear has three global issues: customers are multinational, the material suppliers are sourced worldwide and the cheapest manufacturing bases used. Customer demands are making suppliers increasingly innovative in both design and materials. And finally,
it has not gone unnoticed that markets do not last forever. After setting up distribution networks in Asia, just as the market disappeared, many corporate and workwear suppliers are now less willing to risk an overseas adventure.
In the United Kingdom, just 25 suppliers have 90 per cent of a market worth more than US$650 million. The UK, with its enthusiasm for privatisation and corporate branding has been kind to the workwear providers. Half the country’s 22 million workers are reputedly supplied with workwear.
Contracts for careerwear are substantial and it is worth the material suppliers developing new and exotic textiles.
What does it mean for the aftercare market?
More, low-margin, medium-volume business with new, and sometimes difficult-to-clean materials. Well, no one said it would be easy.
Bill Evett
