2024 WINNERS

Winner: Lodging

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: Hilton Hotels and Resorts

Hilton Hotel and Resorts new apparel program reinforces the hotel's latest rebranding initiative. Design Collective by Cintas leveraged industry textile innovation that allowed them to create the lighter, more comfortable performance-based fashions desired. This new program will reach 25,000 wearers; job types include door/bell, front desk, housekeeping, engineering, and banquet. The housekeeping uniforms feature Design Collective’s Xcellerate line which was developed to meet the similar demands of current retails of an athleisure-dominated marketplace.

Winner: Restaurants & Food Service

Member: J.A. Uniforms
Program: Prime Steak Concepts

Prime Steak Concepts restaurants total eight across 6 cities, all sharing warm, contemporary, and luxurious atmospheres and offering diners a top-class, elegant dining experience.  The establishment’s high standards extend to its apparel program. Created by J.A. Uniforms, the program first and foremost conveys professionalism. The collection's base color is navy blue paired with accents of light blue and lavender. Color is strategically used to modernize the classic tailored garments and lapel vests for a luxurious contemporary look.  All garment designs meet the highest OEKO-TEX® certifications. All the core tailored items, as well as the domestically made cocktail dresses, are certified apparel (STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®).

Winner: Casino

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: Durango Casino and Resort

Durango is a local Las Vegas casino that is a true oasis in the desert. Durango’s goal was to have a uniform program that looked straight off the runway and into the local Las Vegas neighborhood. Design Collective provided the uniforms for the entire property - 2,200 wearers. The vast majority - 95% - of this program is custom.  All fabrics were specifically curated to fit the property. Standout pieces include a chiffon-layered cocktail dress embellished with custom amber Austrian crystals, a high-stakes lounge dress emblazoned with gold sequins and beads, and euro fit tuxedo worn by banquet managers.

Winner: Postal

Member: Logistik Unicorp
Program: Canada Post

This uniform program was designed for a group of more than 4000 employees of Canada Post. The group works in different units: Delivery Support, Fleet, Outdoor and Indoor. Logistik designed a collection featuring a variety of pieces that work easily together; there are two striped shirts with blue and white lines, in long and short sleeves; and optional shirts, long or short sleeved, which have been fashioned with a shirt collar to give a more polished look while remaining casual. Additionally, users have a choice of pull-up trousers, cargo pants or shorts or a skort. There is also a knitted jacket and a sleeveless vest to suit everyone's comfort.

Winner: Retail Department Stores

Member: Unisync Group Limited
Program: Rexall

Rexall made a conscious decision to pivot its brand image towards health and wellness with its “Be Well” branding. Unisync undertook a strategic redesign that infused elements of athleticism with professionalism to align with Rexall’s new focus. Drawing inspiration from athletic wear, they introduced elements such as zip necks, reminiscent of activewear commonly seen in sports like cycling, into the core polo. To elevate the look, Unisync incorporated the addition of a faux welt pocket, lending a touch of sophistication and polish to the uniform. This helped strike a balance between functionality and professionalism, ensuring that employees not only felt comfortable but also projected an image of competence and reliability.

Winner: Restaurants & Food Service

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: Citrus Club Lounge

The Citrus Club Lounge is an exclusive, adults-only lounge at the Arizona Biltmore. Built on a location where the original citrus groves once were being cultivated Citrus Club was interested in a high-end fashion look that is stylish yet practical. Design Collective created a complementary color palette that juxtaposed the warm tones of creams and yellows with cooler tones of pearl grays and greens. A more relaxed silhouette for the top provides ease of movement and comfort, as does the incorporation of stretch into blazers. To maintain a streamlined look, wrinkle-resistance technology was built into the fabric. The wardrobe collection created for this 15-member staff offers alternatives for the employees based on their preferences. 

Winner: Restaurants & Food Service

Member: Unisync Group Limited
Program: Montana’s BBQ & Bar

Montana's BBQ & Bar is a renowned Canadian restaurant chain headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, that operates as a subsidiary of Recipe Unlimited. The chain boasts 105 restaurants spread across Canada. The uniform program by Unisync encompasses three distinct categories: Bartenders, Servers, and the Kitchen staff, each tailored to reflect the unique ambiance and theme of the restaurant. Bartenders are outfitted with vibrant t-shirts featuring the playful slogan "Drink Beer – Eat BBQ – Repeat," encapsulating the spirited essence of the establishment. Servers sport custom-designed plaid red shirts, evoking a rustic, western BBQ aesthetic. Finally, the kitchen staff don custom pillbox hats, black V-neck cook shirts for line cooks, and elegant white chef coats with black-accented cuffs and buttons, reflecting professionalism and culinary expertise. 

Winner: Lodging

Member: Emile Rassam
Program: Fairmount Tazi Palace

Perched atop the hills overlooking the Medina in Tangier, the Fairmont Tazi Palace stands as a beacon of luxury, ranking among Morocco's premier five-star hotels. The bespoke wardrobe crafted for this esteemed establishment draws its inspiration from the property's rich heritage and serene surroundings. It was of paramount importance to create garments that seamlessly harmonize with the essence of the hotel, its idyllic locale, and, above all, encapsulate a genuine sense of place. Meticulous attention was given to handpicking fabrics tailored to the climate, with a keen eye on colors and textures to elevate the overall allure.

Winner: Entertainment

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: De Palm Tours Aruba

With more than 400 workers, The Palms Tour is a tour and transfer firm. They needed a program that was simple to administer for a rapid turnover and superior materials that were appropriate for the Caribbean because of these numerous job functions and divisions. Moreover, it had been a while since they had updated their wardrobe program, so they were looking for something that would bring the wearers together as a cohesive unit but showcase the uniqueness of each department. Design Collective’s modified ready-to-wear collection provided the necessary solution by matching the color scheme of each area. The program also supports comfort, optimal functionality, team identification, and morale.

Winner: Property Construction and Management

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: SRM Concrete

SRM Concrete is a family-owned, ready-mix provider that is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing concrete producer in the United States. The goal was to outfit their two main divisions, Concrete and Materials, with a custom look, to elevate their brand in the marketplace, while also providing the wearers with comfortable, durable garments. Their new program offers a complete system of SRM branded apparel that includes exclusive design, enhanced visibility and short sleeve polos, performance 1⁄4 zip layering, and an enhanced visibility hooded duck jacket. Custom, long sleeve polos, and a hooded layering piece have also been recently added.

Winner: Transportation

Member: Unisync Group Limited
Program: PAL Airlines

PAL Airlines, headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a regional airline operating across Eastern Canada and beyond. PAL consists of 1007 uniformed employees broken into 6 divisions. PAL collaborated with Unisync to create a bespoke dress-wear scarf reflecting their distinct brand identity. The design team also crafted unique neckwear solutions, including PAL's signature ties and a winter scarf – a pashmina in a textured 80% viscose 20% polyester, featuring the iconic PAL bird logo, embodying the airline's bold and distinctive aesthetic. Comfort and functionality were prioritized in the below-the-wing workwear by switching to a softer hand cargo pant. 

Winner: Retail Specialty Stores

Member: Design Collective by Cintas
Program: Frontier Communications Technician Program

Frontier has 7,000 wearers that provide and install telecommunication wiring services. These job functions include primarily technicians and supervisors. The original vision was for a navy polo with pops of aqua through stitching, buttons, and trim. After review, Frontier expressed concern regarding how “hot” a navy polo would be for workers climbing poles with the sun on their backs. In response, Design Collective designed a new knit top with navy on the front and gray on the back with aqua accents. Other items used include tee shirts, hats, and hi-vis garments. Ready-to-wear stocked items are also utilized by Frontier.  

Winner: Restaurants & Food Service

Member: Universal Orlando Resort
Program: Illumination’s Minion Land

Illumination’s Minion Land at Universal Studios Florida officially opened August 11, 2023, and includes attractions, entertainment, and themed eateries visitors to Universal have come to expect. At the Minion Cafe, guests can expect an immersive new eatery that offers something for everyone.  How would Minions dress their human counterparts to represent their restaurant? Well, like a Minion of course. Minion yellow button-down shirts made of stretch polyester with moisture management and back armhole venting provide comfort. A poly apron that was sublimated to look like denim overalls was emblazoned with the infamous Gru “G”. Bottom pieces were kept to a simple black moisture-wicking microfiber so as not to detract from the theme.

Winner: Energy Services & Mining

Member: Vestis
Program: Nutrien Mining Group

Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services. A portion of its staff is involved in the mining process — a hard, demanding, dirty, and sometimes dangerous job in a very hot environment. Safety, comfort, inclusivity, and sustainability are paramount. Vestis addressed each of these concerns by developing a collection of CAT 2, inherently flame-resistant, enhanced visibility uniforms with reflective trim. Additionally, Vestis incorporated the use of Westex® DH Air, a lightweight, CAT 2 fabric from Milliken, a fabric that is lightweight, breathable, and extremely durable. Solid brass zippers, double-needle stitching at key stress areas, and reinforced knees and tool pockets increase the outfit’s longevity. Women’s styles were added to the line to help ensure inclusivity at all times.

Winner: Health & Fitness

Member: HPI Powered by Bamko, Division of Superior Group of Companies
Program: LA Fitness

LA Fitness is a health and fitness staple spanning more than 700 clubs with over 13,000 employees. Wearers in this program are categorized into two primary functional work groups, managers, and staff members. Staff members include everyone you’re likely to see when you enter a location, from front desk greeters to trainers and even the maintenance staff. HPI worked with its counterparts at LA Fitness to capture the essence of the athleisure look and feel that drove the aesthetic the organization was looking for in a simple yet functional two-garment offering of performance tees and performance polos, with active staff members wearing the tee and the polo being reserved to represent management level staff.