Article - Quality Corporate Clothing’s Full Spectrum Specialists

25 Oct 2020

Everyone who has ever applied for a job and been granted an interview in the corporate sector is aware of the importance of presenting oneself to the best advantage, and this event invariably means dressing up, in more formal attire. This means choosing neat, smart corporate clothingrather than casually dressing down. This unwritten rule applies across the board, even if the position in question happens to be based in a comparatively informal work environment.

Here to Stay

In fact, this type of attire is even adopted if the interviewee is applying for employment in a less formal business environment. Corporate clothing is definitely here to stay. However, the face of this type of attire has undergone some changes during the past fifty or so years in South Africa.

Fundamental Changes

As many say: “Change is the only constant”. There is much merit in this tenet. If everything remained static and constant, there would be no evolution and new developments, accompanied by advancements, in any field. Progress in any and every sphere is dependent on change; so too, corporate clothing, which should look smart, professional, and chic at all times.

These are some key changes that have occurred over the years:

1. There is no longer a “one size fits all” type of approach to corporate clothing, since forward-thinking, proactive garment manufacturers and suppliers, like XCO Group, are at the forefront of the latest, workwear developments and trends in South Africa and abroad.
2. Different designs, styles, cuts and fits are available to cater to, suit, and flatter a multitude of body types, shapes, and silhouettes, for all ages and preferences.
3. Modern fabrics have greatly improved the appearance and comfort of garments. Improvements include the material’s crease-resistance, reduced weight without compromising its property to provide warmth in winter and coolness in summer, its ability to breathe and keep the wearer comfortable, dry, and fresh, and the incorporation of fibres that give and stretch to allow for increased freedom of movement.
4. A far greater choice of textures and colour selections are available, and many clothes are easily washable, fade-proof, stain-resistant, and colourfast. In fact, many fabrics retain their original “as new” properties
5. Easy and inexpensive fabric maintenance is possible, without the necessity of incurring additional dry-cleaning costs.
6. Because the range of fabric colours is so extensive, it’s possible to find an exact colour match to an organisation’s corporate colours, or a shade that contrasts, compliments, and displays a logo and branding more effectively and to its best advantage.
7. Modern production processes with specialised equipment enable garment and accessory manufacturers to produce corporate clothing items faster, more accurately and more efficiently, at more affordable costs.

The relative ease with which a company may establish and display a distinctive corporate image and visible brand that distinguishes one concern from its competitors is one of the most important advantages to emerge from the development of and changes that time, technology, and trends have brought about in the modern corporate clothingfield.

Adapting to Climate Changes

During the past century, corporate clothing for men almost exclusively consisted of business suits in shades of black, charcoal, or dark navy, worn with a long-sleeved lounge shirt, with or without cufflinks, a tie, socks, matched to the suit’s colour, and a belt to match the wearer’s shoes. Tie choices might be left to the wearer’s discretion, providing that his choice was garish, or the organisation might include a corporate tie, featuring the concern’s subtly depicted logo, to complete the ensemble.

Women’s business attire was similarly suit-based, usually featuring a pencil skirt, (occasionally an A-line version), and a matching tailored jacket with long sleeves, worn over a women’s long or short-sleeved shirt. Typically, the woman’s shirt had the upper one or two buttons undone. The outfit might be accessorised with the addition of a scarf, patterned in corporate colours, and tucked into the neck opening of the shirt or tied loosely around the lady’s neck. Dark court shoes, usually black or navy, depending on the colour of the uniform, were the norm as far as ladies’ footwear was concerned.

Women’s most popular suit colours were initially black, navy, or charcoal, but more colours were soon introduced and accepted as smart, formal business attire.

XCO Group’s Specialities

XCO Group manufactures, customises, brands, and supplies exceptionally comprehensive ranges of formal workplace attire, we also offer sports- and team wear, workwear, protective clothing, and associated PPE, promotional items, and gift options. All types of corporate clothing – formal and informal – remain the core part of our business. We constantly strive to bring the best possible products and services, at the most competitive prices, to all types of entities.