The NAUMD is pleased to present the winners of the 2006 Image of the Year Awards competition

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Clothing may make the man, but according to the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD), clothing can also make or break a companys image.

In March, the venerable trade association named 12 winners in its annual Image of the Year Awards, a program designed to honor the best in corporate identity apparel and the industry suppliers who created them. Winners were announced at the NAUMD convention, this year held in Las Vegas.

Superior Uniform Group, Cintas and Disney each walked away with two awards; the remaining six were given to other manufacturers and dealers.

While industry trend watchers use the awards as a barometer of what is hot, this years Image Awards may be remembered more for the variety of entrants and suppliers. Ilene Rosen, chair of the Career Apparel Institute, the NAUMD division that administers the program, says, Whats more interesting to me is the level of diversity in the programs and suppliers. You have the larger manufacturers who, as always, produce quality programs, but you also have, at long last, the participation of dealers. A clear message was sent with this years awards: dealers are getting involved and are succeeding.

What makes a corporate apparel program stand out? She says, Each of these winning programs captures the essence of what the company is and does. That is what makes them winners.

NAUMD is proud to present the 2006 Image of the Year winners.


 

Winner
AlliedBarton
Security Services

Uniform Supplier:
Superior Uniform Group

Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., AlliedBarton is the largest American-owned contract security company in the United States. The company has provided security services and highly trained personnel since 1957 to clients in a number of industry sectors, including commercial real estate, higher education, healthcare, residential communities, manufacturing and industrial, financial institutions, shopping centers and other commercial facilities.

With such a client mix, the career apparel program designer, Superior Uniform Group, faced a dilemma. Clearly, several different looks were necessary. But how do you create this while still providing a distinctive appearance that commands respect and authority for officers and gives much-needed comfort and practicality to the end user?

Superiors answer was to devise three separate looks. The first, appropriately named military, features pants, crisp shirts, ties, belts and hats and offers the wearer a traditional, authoritative appearance in fabrics designed for todays work environments. For a more upscale appearance, a tailored program was also created. Items in this collection include a navy blue suit, jacket, slacks and smart burgundy ties. Finally, a casual outfit was created for those clients who demand a more relaxed approach to their apparel needs. Blue polos and pleated pants are the hallmark of this collection.

 

Winner
Disneys Magical Express
Uniform Supplier:
Walt Disney Company

If you are the parents of small children, then you have undoubtedly visited Floridas Walt Disney World. On your next trip through Orlandos International Airport, take a look at the employees of Disneys Magical Express. Their garments are in the top 12 of this years Image awards.

The official welcoming arm for Disney cruises and its 15 resorts, the Disney Magical Express team sport easily identifiable outfits designed to make your first impression a memorable one. Cast members, as they are called, are charged with whisking people away to their final destination, all while regaling travelers with vintage Disney lore.

The simple, clean and functional garments have a nautical feel and are colored navy blue and tan in poly/wool blended fabrics. Any doubts that these are Disney employees are quickly erased by the signature Mickey accents that appear throughout the accessories. The warm climate dictates that the ensemble include both a short- and long-sleeve jacket. Both versions include a split back seam that reveals either a mesh back inset or one that is fully lined.

This award-winning program, worn by 240 cast members, was produced by Walt Disney Company.

 

Winner
Dunkin Donuts
Uniform Supplier: CSEPromo

Dunkin Brands Inc. executives plan to rely on multiple formats to rapidly expand to nearly 15,000 U.S. locations by 2020, up from about 5,000 today.

Its plan to reinvent itself calls for a smaller footprint and a warmer color scheme that includes tans and browns, as well as the brands signature pink and orange. The companys redesign also extends to the apparel worn by its 125,000 employees, and for this task, Dunkin enlisted the services of CSEPromo, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer.

Retail-inspired elements abound in the new Dunkin collection. Both crew and manager shirts are designed to be worn tucked in or out and feature woven labels. The labels are positioned to be seen from the front of the counter when the shirt is worn outside the pants, or from the back when an employee turns to the service area.

A new retro-looking trucker-style hat displays the original logo of Dunkin Donuts with the warmer color scheme of tans and browns and the signature pink and orange. There is also a retro T-shirt.

 

Winner
Holiday Inn Hotels
& Resorts

Uniform Supplier:
Superior Uniform Group

No matter where you are traveling, youll find a familiar place to stay at Holiday Inn hotels. With nearly 1,500 Holiday Inn hotels around the world, Holiday Inn remains one of the most popular hotel brands.

The hotels uniform program reflects its rich history and classic approach to identity wear. Created by Superior Uniform Group, it incorporates a visual personality across all job categories. The fabrics and construction can stand up to daily rigorous wear while utilizing a variety of custom prints, colors and accessories to achieve a contemporary and unique collection.

The Holiday Inn signature green and yellow color palette can be seen throughout the new collection. As an example, front desk employees are attired in jackets and trousers in a 65/35 poly/wool blend, leaf green poly/cotton twill dress shirts and bright polyester ties.

Doormen greet visitors in a tan coat with green accents appearing in the epaulettes, collar trim and sleeve stripes. A poly/wool pleated trouser completes this smart look.

 

Winner
Main Street, USA,
Disneyland Resort

Uniform Supplier:
Walt Disney Company

Arguably one of the most famous sites in the United States, Main Street USA captures the spirit of bygone small-town America. The new costume program for this area of the park, created by Disney, captures the essence of the period by using a fun array of colors and mixing solids and striped garments.

The outfits are made of easy care polyester, poly/wools or poly/cottons important fabric choices given the warm climate. By utilizing overlays and mixing and matching ensemble pieces, the 308 cast members can adapt their apparel easily in response to guest flow, providing a better level of guest service.

Visitors might notice cast members in a striped vest over a short-sleeve shirt, paired with trousers, a bowtie and an apron. Female members can be seen in a coordinating bustled skirt. And if you remember the days of the neighborhood soda fountain or ice cream shop, then wax nostalgic at the Coke Corner. Here employees sport skirts, blouses, bowties and brightly color aprons all reminiscent of times gone by.

 

Winner
Mary Kay Inc.
Uniform Supplier: Brookhurst

Mary Kay Inc. was created from one womans desire to enrich womens lives. More than 40 years later, Mary Kay Inc. is one of the largest direct sellers of quality skin care and color cosmetics in the world. The company has an independent sales force that exceeds 1.6 million independent beauty consultants in more than 30 markets worldwide. And in 2005, sales of Mary Kay products exceeded $2.2 billion in wholesale sales.

Brookhurst designed the companys classic wardrobe. May Kay sales directors, as they are known, can achieve five different positions within the company. Items from the apparel collection, as well as color and accessories, are used to identify the level of accomplishment of each director.

The Mary Kay independent director wears a black and white caviar tweed jacket in 100 percent worsted wool. The piece features an eye-catching bumble bee gold button on a black background surrounded by silver.

For those who have reached the pinnacle of success at Mary Kay, the reward is the right to wear the companys distinctive red jacket. This program consists of a poly/wool jacket, available in two lengths. The Mary Kay signature is added through the application of five logoed buttons, which combine red enamel with gold and silver tones. To complete the look, the jacket is paired with a black skirt and either a white blouse or shirt.

 

Winner
Qwest Communications
Uniform Supplier: VF Imagewear

Headquartered in Denver, this telecommunications giant boasts 784,000 wireless customers, 1.7 million DSL clients and 4.8 million long-distance telephone customers. Its workforce totals 40,000 individuals.

Using the regions natural color palette as inspiration, VF Imagewear was given the task of producing a program that would instill pride in while boosting consumer confidence. The result is a corporate causal program brimming with professionalism, comfort and style.

The collection includes a navy three-in-one multi-season systems jacket with vest and a lightly quilted shell designed to repel moisture. To strengthen its brand in the mind of the customer, the company logo is embroidered on this piece.

The jacket is worn with a button-down shirt available in two different fabric blends and navy pleated trousers.

Other offerings available to employees include a 100 percent cotton steel blue denim shirt, fleece-lined zip-out vest with patch pocket and khaki pants.

 

Winner
Sheraton Hotels
Uniform Supplier: Cintas

This unique look, designed by Cintas for Sheraton Associates, reinforces the brands personality, warmth and comfort. Retail inspired, the garments look and feel more like items purchased at high-end clothing stores. Three of the Sheraton lifestyles are featured below.

The Metropolitan Lifestyle speaks to Sheratons distinguished legacy of urban, upscale hotels. Its crisp, polished look features smart navy suiting offset with exclusive blue patterned shirting fabrics and an array of custom, classic ties.

The Lakeshore Lifestyle sets the tone with a casual and welcoming environment. Signature pieces include navy blazers as well as check, striped or solid shirts and blouses. In keeping with its laid-back theme, neckwear is optional on the weekends.

Sheratons Coastal Lifestyle can be either formal or casual depending on the location. The collection consists of navy blazers teamed with signature striped shirts with white or khaki cotton blend pants and slacks. Camel dress pants slacks and skirts offer a more upscale look.

 

Winner
Smith Tower
Uniform Supplier:
Blumenthal Uniforms

The Smith Tower in Seattle, Wash., opened on July 4, 1914. At the time, it was the fourth-tallest building in the world and weighed 48,650 tons. At 42 floors, it remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi River for almost 50 years. Built for $1 million, the tower was the brainchild of Lyman Cornelius Smith and was originally configured as 540 offices, six retail stores, two telegraph offices, a public telephone station, one Chinese Room and an Observation Deck.

Such a building deserves uniforms that rival its storied past. Seattles own Blumenthal Uniforms won the right to design a program that would suit todays modern needs while recalling the historic nature of this renown site.

Classic elements are evident throughout this simple, straightforward program for elevator operators. If you can recall a time when all elevators were personally staffed, then these smart navy outfits are sure to delight. Operators wear a navy suit encircled in gold trim at the arms and accented with gold buttons, providing the look and feel of professionalism sadly missing from todays modern skyscrapers. White shirts, navy vests and gray ties complete the look.

 

Winner
Valley Services
Uniform Supplier: ID Landau

A contract food service management company with 2,800 employees, Valley Services provides 300,000 meals daily for its 200 clients in the education, recreation, health services, business and senior services.

Although desired, cost constraints prohibited the company from undergoing a complete apparel makeover. So how do you get the look you want while staying in budget? Winning supplier ID Landau solved this dilemma by introducing new, updated pieces into the existing Valley Services collection.

Some of the new items include a 65/35 poly/cotton chefs coat that is worn with cotton unisex black and white houndstooth pants. Managers wear a black skirt, red cotton twill Oxford button-down shirt and tie.

 

Winner
Wynn Resort
Uniform Supplier: Cintas

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but the new apparel program from Wynn Resort is too good to be kept secret. Steve Wynn is world renowned for creating entertainment experiences that are unlike any other. His latest project, the Wynn Resort, is no exception. In fact, this first-rate property, too luxurious to adequately describe here, is the only hotel that hes ever put his name on.

The designers at Cintas worked to bring Steves vision to life. Any thoughts of old Vegas are quickly erased when greeted by employees at the front desk, who don Chanel-inspired suits constructed of custom woven fabric and colored in the palette seen throughout the hotel papyrus, melon, crimson, ginger and celadon. Trimmed in Spanish braid, the overall presentation is chic and elegant.

That touch of class extends throughout all job categories. As an example, the caf hostess wears a camel wool crepe suit with contrasting ivory collar, French cuffs and side tie.

 

Winner
Zaxbys Franchising Inc.
Uniform Supplier: Blade Uniforms

The idea of childhood friends Zach McLeory and Tony Townley, Zaxbys is a national fast food restaurant with the goal of providing great chicken in a place with personality.

Hip and unabashedly youth-oriented, the companys new uniform program is designed by Blade Uniforms. Over 15,000 Zaxby employees don the apparel to work each day. Managers shirts, available in long or short sleeves, are wrinkle and stain resistant and feature a tone-on-tone embroidered Zaxbys logo. Trousers are permanent press, offering functionality as well as style.

A more relaxed outfit is worn by crew members. These employees sport a black logoed cotton T-shirt and khaki pants. A baseball cap emblazed with the companys tag line fits in perfectly with a look that underscores the fun times to be had at this eatery.

 

Oustanding Achievement Awards

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.

by Blade Uniforms

FedEX
by VF Imagewear Inc.

Foxwoods Resort & Casino
by Red The Uniform Tailor

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
by Superior Uniform Group

 
Above story first appeared in MADE TO MEASURE Magazine, Fall & Winter 2006 issue. All rights reserved. Photos appear by special permission.
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