When buying workwear for a team, it's tempting to start with one simple question:
How much does each garment cost?
It's an important question, especially when you're ordering for multiple employees. But the cheapest garment isn't necessarily the cheapest option in the long run.
Whether you're kitting out construction workers, cleaners, care staff, hospitality teams or office-based employees, it's worth looking beyond the initial price.
Here's what we'd consider before deciding whether it's worth spending a little more.
Start with cost per wear, not just cost per garment
Imagine you're choosing between two branded polo shirts.
Option A costs £7 and Option B costs £13.
On a team of 20 people, the cheaper option initially saves £120. That's significant, so choosing the £7 polo might seem obvious.
But what happens if the cheaper polo starts losing its shape, colour or appearance after regular wear and washing and needs replacing considerably sooner?
If you have to buy it twice during the period that the £13 polo would have lasted, you've actually spent £14 per employee instead of £13.
And that's before considering the cost of having your logo applied again.
This is why we think cost per wear can be a much better way of looking at workwear than simply comparing unit prices.
More expensive doesn't automatically mean better
There's an important flip side to this.
We wouldn't recommend spending more simply because a garment has a higher price tag.
If you're buying T-shirts for an events team that wears them five times a year, for example, there's probably little benefit in specifying a garment designed to withstand daily industrial use.
Similarly, a premium jacket might make sense for someone working outside five days a week but be unnecessary for an employee who only occasionally needs one.
The right workwear is about matching the garment to the job.
Sometimes that's the premium option. Sometimes the budget option is absolutely fine.
Think about how often it's going to be washed
This is one of the biggest things to consider when choosing workwear.
A polo worn once a week in a relatively clean environment has a very different life from one worn during an eight-hour shift and washed several times a week.
This is particularly relevant for industries such as cleaning, care and hospitality, where uniforms can be washed very frequently.
Frequent washing can affect:
- Colour
- Shape
- Fabric
- Shrinkage
- Branding
- Overall appearance
If employees are customer-facing, there's another consideration too. A garment may technically still be wearable, but if it's faded, misshapen or looking tired, you might want to replace it anyway.
In these situations, spending a little more on the right garment can make sense.
Different jobs need different workwear
There's no single T-shirt, polo, trouser or jacket that's right for every business.
A construction worker needs clothing that can withstand physical work, movement and potentially harsh conditions.
A cleaner may need something lightweight, comfortable and capable of handling very regular washing.
Care staff could be wearing their uniform throughout long shifts, making comfort, practicality and easy care particularly important.
In hospitality, appearance may carry more weight — particularly for customer-facing employees.
And even within the same company, different teams can have completely different requirements.
That's why we don't think choosing workwear should simply mean picking a product from a catalogue and putting your logo on it.
Don't forget the cost of branding
There's another reason buying purely on garment price can be a false economy.
You're not necessarily just replacing the garment. You're replacing the branding too.
If you've paid to embroider or print your company logo onto a polo and the polo needs replacing prematurely, you'll need to pay for another garment and have it branded again.
The quality of the branding itself matters too.
Embroidery, print and other branding methods all have their place, and the best choice depends on the garment, logo and how the clothing will be used.
For example, embroidery can look fantastic on polos, fleeces and jackets, but that doesn't automatically make it the right choice for every garment.
Choosing the garment and branding method together can help you get better value over the life of the workwear.
Where can you save money without buying cheap workwear?
Buying better doesn't necessarily mean increasing your overall workwear budget.
There are other ways businesses can control costs.
Standardise your core garments. Having a consistent range of polos, trousers, fleeces and jackets can make repeat ordering simpler and help avoid unnecessary variations.
Spend more where it matters. An employee wearing a garment five days a week may justify a higher specification than someone wearing theirs occasionally.
Think about quantities. Planning requirements in advance can be more efficient than repeatedly placing very small orders.
Choose the right branding method. The most expensive branding option isn't automatically the best one.
Consider the whole team. Different roles may require different specifications rather than giving everyone the most expensive option.
The objective shouldn't necessarily be to find the cheapest garment.
It should be to get the best value from the overall workwear budget.
So, should you buy cheap or quality workwear?
The answer is:
It depends on what you need it to do.
If a garment is only going to be worn occasionally, a good budget option could be exactly what you need.
If it's going to be worn five days a week, washed constantly and expected to represent your business for months, spending a little more could save money in the long run.
We think the important questions are:
- Who is wearing it?
- What are they doing in it?
- How often will they wear it?
- How often will it be washed?
- How long do you expect it to last?
Answer those first, and choosing the right workwear becomes much easier.
Not sure which option is right for your team?
At Monkey Business Workwear, we have access to a wide range of workwear brands and products at different price points.
Rather than automatically recommending the cheapest or most expensive option, we'll help you find something that suits your team, the job and your budget.
If you already know what you're currently buying, you can send us the details and we'll happily suggest some alternatives or put together some prices.