After more than a year of T-shirts and joggers (or maybe the dress shirt-with-sweatpants combo), demand for professional wear and uniforms is rising. Employees are headed back to the office (some to their chagrin), and hospitality and entertainment venues are ramping up staff to prepare to welcome more patrons. It’s a growing opportunity that also bodes well for the promotional apparel industry.

Just before New York City’s official reopening this month, an employee at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan told the New York Post that sales of corporate attire had surged. “Dress shoes, blazers, slacks — it’s all going,” he said. “Some of the men I’ve been fitting for suits grumble about it, sort of jokingly: ‘I don’t want to go back to the office, I’ve gotten so comfortable in a button-down and boxers.’”

Another worker at J.Crew in nearby Rockefeller Center told the Post that this is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that business clothes in the most popular sizes are selling out. “We’re definitely seeing an increase in customers wanting to look at blazers and dress shirts, which is consistent with the rise in people going back to work,” he said.

Meanwhile, tickets for events – like live music – are selling out within minutes, and hotel and airline bookings are approaching 2019 levels. The Transportation Security Administration reported this week that daily air traveler numbers are now over 2 million across the U.S. for the first time since March 2020. The upward trends across service industries, in addition to office reopenings, bode well for imagewear and uniforms.

The promo industry is seeing a related sales uptick in professional garments, including versatile styles with built-in comfort features. Gina Barreca, director of marketing at Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390), says they’re finally fielding larger reorders on uniform programs that include polos and layering pieces.

“Our Vansport Zen Quarter-Zip Pullover has been a top-seller,” she says. “It’s versatile, comfortable and easily transitions from the office to more casual situations.”

Vantage Apparel’s Vansport Zen Quarter-Zip Pullover (3450/3451) is made of wicking poly/spandex and comes in 11 colors.

People have certainly gotten used to comfort this past year, and trend experts say we’re not likely to give it up entirely. “I don’t think that we will completely, or at least immediately, forget about how great it felt to be comfortable sitting at a desk for a large portion of the day,” Robin Givhan, senior critic-at-large for The Washington Post, told NPR’s Noel King. “But I do think that there will be a sense of polish.”

Top 40 supplier Edwards Garment (asi/51752) has also seen a noteworthy increase in sales as capacity limits are lifted at stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels and amusement parks.

The wicking Batiste dress shirt (1398/5398) from Edwards Garment has a Scotchgard finish for stain release, ideal for restaurant and hotel staff. Choose from 14 colors.

“As businesses hire staff, they’re requiring uniforms,” says Taraynn Lloyd, vice president of marketing. “We’ve also seen an increase in security businesses requiring image apparel. Every day, we see sales growing, and we believe demand will remain strong.”

As people transition back to corporate attire, consider comfortable options. A jersey knit cardigan (119) is an ideal alternative to the traditional blazer.

Andrew Spurling, vice president of sales at A+ Career Apparel & Image-Wear (asi/84835), which has both school and corporate uniform divisions, says his company is seeing a revival in uniforms for industries like hospitality, transit and security as people begin traveling again. Most popular right now: bottoms with four-way stretch, which are favored by active employees like transit and healthcare workers.

These flat-front pants (7894M) from A+ Career Apparel & Image-Wear are made of MVP flex twill that provides movement, stretch and comfort for active employees.

“There’s been a resurgence of existing uniform programs,” says Spurling. “Actually, some people may have gained or lost weight during COVID, so even if it’s an off-year for a program refresh, they may need to be fitted again. We’re on the cusp of these industries turning on the faucet. Everything looks positive, and we’re expecting a very strong Q3 and Q4.”

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