Britain spends over £428 million a year on workwear and corporate uniforms and over half its workforce wears clothes supplied by employers. The trend for companies to adopt a new look for the millennium is expected to give the market an added boost.

The Career & Workwear show (Business Design Centre Islington, October 5 – 7) provides the industry with its main focal point and will interest all involved in this growing clothing market, whether from the purchasing, supply or aftercare sectors.

The event attracts an international audience, in terms of both visitors and exhibitors. It looks at developments in aftercare and garment technology as well as providing a showcase for collections that target all sectors from workwear and businesswear to specialist clothing.

Of special interest to the textile care market, trends and technological improvements in protective clothing will be on view. The wide range of fabrics and fibres available allows suppliers to provide for particular needs such as high visibility, flame retardant or cleanroom applications.

The daily seminar programme has been compiled to respond to audience demand and covers purchasing a corporate wardrobe; personal protective equipment; corporate image; and the results of a recent survey into the state of the market and its trends.

Every industry sector needs some kind of work or corporate wear from the leisure industries, hotel and catering, business and retail sectors through to engineering, manufacturing and public utilities. Workwear fulfils a range of requirements from establishing a corporate image to protecting employees and their environment.

The Career & Workwear Show should be a valuable meeting ground for all involved in purchase, supply and aftercare.

Laundry journal awards its support

The British Clothing Industry Association (BCIA) awards will again be held in conjunction with the Career & Workwear Show.
The industry’s prestigious awards recognise the best in both current and future design.
In the current-range awards, organisations that have launched outfits since 1997 or plan to do so before the millennium will be eligible and can enter in two sections: Workwear categories include healthcare, engineering, personal protective equipment and public utilities. Careerwear includes awards for retail, travel & leisure, finance and utilities.
As well as recognising the best on the market, BCIA will also be addressing the future by presenting awards for design and innovation. Under the theme “People in the Public Eye”, these awards seek designs for a real or fictional personality in the occupation for which they are famous. Designers will have the chance to show their abilities without the restraints of a client brief.
This year for the first time, Laundry and Cleaning News will be supporting, and helping to judge, awards in the engineering workwear category. The journal has a long term concern to support growth in the rental market and the awards continue to demonstrate an ability to give the market a boost.
Companies wishing to enter the career or workwear awards should do so through their uniform supplier. The closing date for entry forms is July 16 and garments should be submitted by September 10.
In both career and workwear sections there will be category winners and an over-all winner. All winning designs will be featured in twice daily fashion shows held at the Career & Workwear Show on October 6 and October 7.