In a hotel, uniforms are as important as furnishings or interiors. Nowadays, providing a coordinated image is a widespread need.
Next to plays of shapes, materials, employment of lights and interiors studied in all details, the planning of a hotel must include a further item, strongly connected with its image: the uniform.
Uniform, in fact, has always played an essential role to immediately recognize the staff of a sector: that’s why it’s important that the whole staff – both men and women – wear a coordinated uniform with the same model and colour.
We asked Mr. Ciro Corbara - director of the company Corbara Professional Wear seated in Salerno - how the hotel uniform is usually born. “The paper or on-line catalogues often propose coordinated lines helping to make an organic choice for each department. However, hotels usually get in touch with companies skilled of the sector to design the whole dressing line (including receptionists, waiters, chambermaids and people in charge of accessory services, such as maintenance men or gardeners): everything must be even and in line with the style and philosophy of the hotel”. This concerns above all the new hotels – both independent and chains – with a more knowing management, eager to comply with the new trends.
« It’s a choice”, the expert continues, “that provides image and, for a relatively cheap price, allows the uniform to be representative of the total quality and of the hospitality of the structure. That’s why we are always looking for garments in line with the hotel philosophy, and we often cooperate with the architect that supervised the building of the interiors. So, for example, in a design hotel with an oriental-style setting, receptionists will probably wear mandarin collar garments. The same style will be used by chambermaids too.».
A common thread between colours and environments
What are the elements that create a common thread between uniforms in different environments? “The customization through the reproduction of the hotel logo on the whole garment line that often is present also on the linen is very important”, Mr. Corbara adds, “but it’s not enough.
The evenness of colours is very important too, allowing to recognize immediately the line. First of all we study a maximum of 2/3/4 colours, chosen according to even and nice chromatic combinations, that are proposed for different tasks and vary depending on models and tissues. Depending on the personality of the hotel, the colours can be the same for one or two seasons; then a new colour will be chosen and the whole garments line will be replaced in a coordinated way, maybe with a little readjustment of the models, that need to be lengthened, shortened or made more close-fitting or more comfortable, depending on the trend of the moment.”
Corbara is producing uniforms for hotels, restaurants and coffee bars for three generation. Mr. Ciro - together with Riccardo, Cesare and Rosaria Corbara - leads the family company, ensuring impeccable and quick deliveries, a wide range of garments ready to be sold and the maximum flexibility in realizing products on demand.
Article by Nadia Rossi, published on PIANETA HOTEL on July 2011.
