Uniforms are important to a resort's image, and affect the bottom line both directly and indirectly. Buying uniforms should not be taken lightly. Following is some basic information to consider for your purchase.

We need new uniforms. When do we have to order to get them in time?

Answer: To get technical skiwear by October the order deadline is March, or earlier depending on how much time you want to put into design decisions and sample testing. This is why: By early March, the fabric must be ordered from the mills. In general, it can take two months or more for the fabric to be woven and dyed from the time it is ordered. Then the customer, usually a wholesaler, approves lab dips (color swatches from the actual fabric in the chosen color). Sometimes other special tests must be done such as light fade tests or abrasion tests. Some say the best nylon or polyester fabric for skiwear is made in Japan . After the raw fabric is dyed, and it must be shipped to the place the garments will be manufactured, usually in a different country such as China.

While this is happening, the manufacturer is preparing the patterns for each style in each size. After the details of the item to be produced are complete, the hardware for jacket such as snaps and zippers will be ordered in the right sizes and specifications. There can be seven or more zippers on one jacket of different types and lengths that vary depending on whether the jacket is a small or a large. It takes at least 45 days to get name brand zippers, so any delay in the early stages of this process will effect delivery date.

Also during this period prior to production, pre-production samples of the skiwear will be made for the customer or wholesaler to review, approve and/or make small adjustments. Then when all the components come together, the factory will go into production. The fabric is cut, logos are embroidered on the right pieces, the pieces are sewn together, checked, packed and shipped. The final process can take anywhere from three weeks to 3 months depending on the size and complexity of the order and the size of the factory. Many factories have several customers, so there is a race between all the different wholesalers to complete the pre-production stages and get priority on the production schedule. If retailers or consumers are late to order, the wholesaler cannot begin the process and everything is held up, so at some point the show must go on, with our without your order.

What do I look for in uniforms to keep people dry?

Answer: There are a lot of good companies to choose from, offering good quality fabrics with waterproof breathable coatings, laminates, or linings to keep people dry. Coating is a rubbery mixture that is coated directly onto the back of the fabric in the fabric's production. A laminate is a sheet of a waterproof breathable film that is laminated to the fabric. A "drop" is loose lining of either one of these, as a separate barrier preventing moisture from getting to the body from the outer fabric. Note that most companies all have their own terminology and brand names for these "coatings", "laminates," or "drops".

It can be difficult to determine exactly how waterproof a given material is. Some companies that make waterproof breathable materials have tests done to rate the waterproofness and breathability of the fabric. For instance, one way labs measure waterproofness is by putting a column of water on top of a piece of the material, and at a certain level measured in milimeters (mm), the water starts to seep through. Using this method, a 2000 mm rating means the water seeps through at the 2000 mm level, so it not as waterproof as fabric that will resist the water up through the 10,000 mm level or higher. Other companies put emphasis on "field testing", and do not quantify the waterproof or breathability. There are also differences in the quality of the coating or laminate that affect how long the fabric will stay waterproof. This is why it is recommended to stay with the name brand fabrics such as Toray's Entrant or GoreTex.

How a garment is made also effects the ability of the fabric to fight off water. By using a waterproof drop, or liner that is placed between the fabric and the regular lining, the theory is no matter how wet a person gets on the outside, he/she won't get wet on the inside. A drop allows the design to have many panels and seams without worrying about seams leaking all the way through, because the drop itself has few seams with few panels - front, back and arms.

Taped seams are necessary when the fabric is coated or laminated. In most cases a laminated or coated fabric is preferred over a drop because the outer fabric can better resist the water. While many fabrics are treated on the outside with a water-resistant finish (DWR or durable water repellent), the real water barrier is actually the coating, laminate or drop. So it can be more effective when it is "part" of the fabric as a coating or laminate. But making and embroidering a garment requires punching tiny needle holes in the expensive waterproof fabric, thus harming the waterproof garment at every seam. So every seam must be taped so that the item won't leak. When a company advertises "taped seams", check that every seam is taped - some only tape "critical" seams. And it is critical to tape embroidery.

Finally, how you treat your waterproof ski wear after you get it is the most important. Don't wash it often. Use only a teaspoon of gentile liquid detergent if you must use any at all. Soap breaks down the water, and if any soap residue is left in the fabric, the water won't bead as well and will get through the fabric easier. Double rinsing is good, and hang dry.

What about sun fading? Why does some fabric fade worse than others?

Answer : There are many components that effect fade resistance in fabrics including the type and quality of the fabric, and the exact color mix, tone or shade of color you choose. Note that higher quality fabrics should hold color better, generally polyester doesn't fade as much as nylon, and purples and reds will almost always fade. If the tones or shades of these colors are slightly altered the fading resistance can be improved. The best answer you can get on your chosen colors, is to ask your supplier to have fade tests performed and get copies of the lab results, along with samples of the fabric that was tested showing 20, 40 and 80 hour results. Then you will know the extent of the fading and can make your decision. At that point you may want to change or re-arrange colors on your jacket if it is not too late. Remember that choosing the fabric and color is early in the process and any delays here can effect delivery. Changes may not be possible if the fabric has already been dyed. If it is too late to order a different color, it might be possible to switch the color placement on the jacket so that the color that fades the least will be on the top, getting the most sun.

What functions are important?

Answer : Functions vary by geographical area, each company or organization, and by each department. The basics include keeping employees warm and dry on stormy days, but not too hot on spring days, the uniforms must last for 3 years, and should enhance the image of the resort. Choosing something distinctive verses something that looks like what any ski area customer would wear is good for resort customer service. A jacket should also to have a fail-safe way to keep an employee's name tag on. When the employees are distinctive, and there is a theme carried through from department to department, resort customers can find resort employees easier when they need to, which can prevent early frustration for a customer with a question or problem.

There are many functional features available for the convenience of those wearing the items. Whether it be radio pockets, snow cuffs, soft and abrasion-resistant fabric in the collar, heavy abrasion resistant fabric along sides and inside arms for those that carry snowboards, extra cargo pockets, or special linings, etc., each uniform supplier offers various styles that will probably offer your favorite feature.

I want to add a small feature and make a color change to the jacket that I want to buy for a uniform. Can I do it?

Answer : This depends on the wholesaler or manufacturer you choose for your supplier. Some are more flexible than others, and they will most likely consider quantity in granting your request. Remember, the wholesalers have to convince the agency or factory that they use to produce the special request, and the factories have systems to produce the thousands of pieces that are assembled stage by stage. Color changes are usually easier than style changes, but ask your supplier. If they agree to do a style change, try to get a pre-production sample that includes the change you asked for. It is also good to get a sample reflecting your color change to be certain there is no misunderstanding.

How many pieces should I order to make the uniforms last 3 years, and how do I know what sizes to order? If I don't order enough, can I get the same thing next year?

Answer: In general, the order should be 20 to 25 percent more than the number of employees you need to outfit. This should cover a small theft rate, size variations from year to year, and any excessive wear and tear. It is best to keep records from year to year so you know whether you were short or over from the year before. However, if you don't know, consider ordering on a percentage ratio of 1% x-small, 6% small, 27% medium, 35% large, 28% x-large, 3% xx-large. This ratio assumes unisex or men's sizing will be used to uniform both men and women in the group, for a group that is more men than women. The trend is going larger and roomier for both women and men, but can change from year to year; and of course the above ratio should be adjusted if trying to outfit certain returning employees, or are doing a fill-in order.

Filling in orders from a previous year's style is often difficult for wholesalers because most wholesale business is driven by the retail market which wants something new every year. If the particular style you ordered is not being run for other customers on a given year, it is hard to get just a few pieces made of one unique style. Therefore, it is always best to over order, and project for the number of years you plan to keep a style as your uniform. Some suppliers can and do supply the same style to resort customers year after year, but get the details and a guarantee from the company - not just the rep, and then decide. No matter what, it is always best to order one bigger order in one year than 3 separate smaller orders in 3 years. By doing this, the fabric will be from the same dye lot, and you may save money on quantity discounts and prices may increase in subsequent years.

What can resorts do to keep employees from walking off with the uniforms?

Answer : Generally, when the uniform is issued, you can have the employee sign a form that says
1) it has been received and 2) that if it is not returned, he/she will pay a replacement charge and that 3) you are authorized to deduct owed money from the employee's last paycheck. However, since many employees have a small or non-existent last check, this makes the uniform and/or the money to replace that uniform difficult to recover. Most resorts would rather have the uniform than the money, since it can be difficult to replace.

Some resorts charge a deposit up front, which will be returned to the employee after returning the uniform at the end of the year. But check your state labor law before setting up a program to take deposits because many states have laws that govern the manner in which you can take money from employees.

Some resorts have employees buy their required uniforms. But if they own the uniforms and the employee doesn't return the next year, then maintaining a uniform program from year to year will be difficult. Also, in most states, a company cannot require an employee to purchase a specific uniform unless it is a general item that is easy to find and might otherwise already own. For instance, a company can require that an employee wear black pants as part of their uniform, and the company can make the employee responsible to get their own black pants. However, if the company requires a certain brand or type of black pants, then in most states, the company must supply them. In situations like this, most resorts will purchase a large supply of black pants and make them available to the employee at a substantial discount. Again, if there is any uncertainty regarding an employee's appearance, it is best to contact a labor law attorney for state law on the issue.

When you have a distinctive uniform that cannot be purchased at the local shop, it is harder for the employee to wear the uniform outside of work without being noticed, and then hopefully easier to recover.

In summary, coordinating your company or department uniform program is a thankless job. What you buy now, you and your resort will live with for the next two or three years. So know what you want and what you're paying for; and make sure they're the same as you compare suppliers.