Close to 30 million American's wake up each morning getting dressed in clothes that someone else picked out for them. For years, stiff pants and unisex shirts, accessorized with plastic name badges and oversized visors or hats have been staples in the fast food uniform industry. "For so long uniforms have been the butt of jokes - with employees embarrassed to wear them for fear of being ridiculed by their peers," says Jeff Rundles, Editor of Modern Uniforms Magazine. Uniforms are required to survive long shifts, absorb spills and stains, be worn repeatedly and survive frequent washes - so it's hard to imagine they could ever be fashionable. But recent and coming changes at some of the nation's largest fast food chains indicate alterations are being made. "Uniforms are trying to bridge 2 different worlds," says Rundles, "something the kids will wear and the serve purpose of being easy to clean" Operators still want their employees coming to work looking clean so wear ability, and wash ability remain important factors when considering upgrades to their uniforms in addition to unit cost. "The #1 selling shirt is around $5.00," says Rundles. "Cost has always been an issue with uniforms because of the high turnover QSR's face." Ironically the same reason that's restricted many QSR's from upgrading their styles is now one of the driving forces in improving them - understanding that employees that look good - feel good and this plays a positive role in recruitment. "Not only does the apparel program need to improve the customer environment and customer experience, but there is a secondary motive as well - and that is to create apparel that the employees actually like and feel good about wearing." 
Chicken chain Chick-fil-A, had a cross functional team made up of operators, marketing, purchasing, and field operators unanimously select OOBE from over twenty-five suppliers including branded retailers, fashion designers and fashion schools, to design their new line of uniforms set to be in all 1200 stores by February 2006. The company last made changes in 2000 and says that fashion and improvements in fabric technology play a role with when and how they go about changes. "We care about our team members and want them to look and feel good about themselves," says David Rissier, Senior Consultant of Brand Environments, "this impacts how they interact with our guests." The collection, which will come out in phases offering new pieces throughout the seasons, includes flat front pant.
Chicken chain Chick-fil-A, had a cross functional team made up of operators, marketing, purchasing, and field operators unanimously select OOBE from over twenty-five suppliers including branded retailers, fashion designers and fashion schools, to design their new line of uniforms set to be in all 1200 stores by February 2006. The company last made changes in 2000 and says that fashion and improvements in fabric technology play a role with when and how they go about changes. "We care about our team members and want them to look and feel good about themselves," says David Rissier, Senior Consultant of Brand Environments, "this impacts how they interact with our guests." The collection, which will come out in phases offering new pieces throughout the seasons, includes flat front pant.
