Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing

In your experience, does business ever get easier or less competitive? No, we agree, it tends to do the opposite. Especially in an area like the hospitality sector which has seen some tough times in recent years. So, you need to look for every edge you can find. One of those edges is how your company is perceived by its customers. Are you seen as ethical and responsible in the choices you make. For example, how your staff are dressed. This piece on sustainably sourced staff uniforms for hospitality is about some of the options available if you’re interested in putting your company logo on responsibly sourced apparel. The items shown are all blank products that are designed to be decorated. And, as we move into a more environmentally conscious era, choosing to put your logo on eco-friendly hospitality clothing brands makes a lot of sense.

1. Aprons – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

Let’s start with an obvious one. Yes, we mean the humble apron. They’re absolutely everywhere in the hospitality industry. Aprons pop up in all areas, from busy kitchen to equally busy front of house. Adding your brand is an opportunity not to be missed if they’re used in your workplace. It’s worth noting that there’s a decent range of blank aprons on the market but sustainable aprons are more limited. For now, we’ve taken examples from three different suppliers of plain clothing for print and embroidery.

Premier Utility.

First up, one from Premier. The latter now offer an excellent selection of sustainable aprons. We’ve chosen the Premier Utility 2.0 Vest Apron (code P PR024). This is made from cotton and recycled polyester and currently available in black and khaki. It has some lovely features such as a side fastening with seatbelt style straps and clip fastening buckle. Plus, blends style and functionality with clean lines and that modern aesthetic.

Neutral Kitchen.

Second, an item from Neutral® Certified Responsibility™, a supplier who have impeccable eco-enviro credentials. Add your company name and the Neutral Kitchen Apron (code O92021) will get your brand cooking with sustainable style. This is a twill weave and made from 80% organic Fairtrade cotton and 20% recycled polyester. Again, there are some nice practical touches like an inside chest pocket and two pencil pockets on the side of the apron.

AS Colour Linen.

Thirdly, we have an apron from AS Colour. Their Linen Apron (code 1086) is mid weight and crafted from 100% linen. Obviously, a unisex style, it’s available in black and the natural cream colour shown above. There are versatile features like an adjustable shoulder strap, YKK metal strap adjuster and front patch pocket. Plus self fabric waist and neck ties. And better still, it offers a host of customisation possibilities being suitable for screen printing, DTG and embroidery.

Neutral Waiter.

Finally, for aprons, there is another hardwearing and practical option. This Neutral Waiters Apron(O92020) should get your logo weaving between the tables with a sustainable flourish. It’s a twill weave manufactured from organic Fairtrade cotton and recycled polyester. It weighs in 210 gsm is and dyed exclusively with EU Ecolabel-approved colours. An excellent choice if you want eco-friendly hospitality clothing with its host of eco-conscious accreditations.

2. Shirts – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

Traditional button shirts are ideal for hospitality businesses that want a slightly more formal feel to their uniforms. And there are a number of eco-conscious plain shirts designed to be customised. That said, the current choice isn’t vast and the styles tend toward the semi-formal as opposed to the recognised ‘dress’ shirt concept. However, there are still numerous areas of the hospitality industry where these shirts will deliver an eco-friendly alternative.

Stanley Stella.

We’ve started with a giant in sustainable blank apparel. This Stella Styler Shirt (code STWW973) is just an example of their impressive catalogue. Described by the supplier as the women’s relaxed poplin shirt, there’s also a men’s version. Both are crafted from certified organic cotton and come in a very solid six colour options. The classic but contemporary styling includes a point collar and dropped shoulders. A relaxed fit shirt fairly crying out for your logo.

Premier.

A respected brand in blank workwear, Premier have a strong offering in shirts. We’ve chosen their Supreme Oxford Short Sleeve Shirt (code PR286) as a good option if you want your staff uniform to include shirts with short sleeves. It’s made from mercerised cotton that includes organic. There’s also elastane in the mix which provides a good look, feel and performance. The button down collar, double buttons to the cuff and back darts with yoke are nice touches.

Neutral.

Next we have another shirt with potential for either casual or smart environments. And, of course, the Neutral Twill Shirt (code O67001) is also a solid ethical option. It’s manufactured from 80% organic Fairtrade cotton and 20% recycled polyester. The styling has a nicely understated feel. One thing to point out, only being available in black, navy or bottle green might not be suitable for all companies.

AS Colour.

AS Colour are a supplier who believe in ethical methods of production and they are part of the Better Cotton Initiative. Their Oxford Shirt (code 5401) is our last example in the shirts section and it’s got some good features. For instance, a smart button down collar, chest pocket, and adjustable cuffs. As with most AS Colour plain merchandise, it’s pre-shrunk.

Need help finding plain eco-friendly products for print or embroidery? Get in touch, we can help.

3. Polos – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

In many ways, the polo shirt is a perfect piece of apparel for staff uniform in hospitality. It strikes that delicate balance between smart and casual which is important to many companies. Appearing to be business-like without falling into the trap of coming over as stuffy or old-fashioned. There’s good news if that description fits your requirements. That’s to say, there are some excellent eco-friendly polos currently on the market.

Stanley Stella.

Our first is a cracker, a real pace-setter for plain polos. The Stanley Stella Prepster 2.0 (code STPU222) is a recently unveiled blank garment and it has a host of desirable attributes. The latter include an excellent weight at 240gsm. Plus, sizes and colourways are comprehensive. Beyond that, it’s organic cotton pique and retail quality. Incidentally, there is also long sleeved version.

Earth Positive.

For number two, we have the Earth Positive Pique Polo (code EP40). This shirt is a relatively new addition to their collection. We’re talking honeycomb pique, GOTS organic cotton with 240g weight. It currently only comes in black. By the way, this is categorised as a men’s style but we think that nowadays there is usually some flexibility with these classifications.

Neutral.

Next, we’ve shown the ladies Neutral Classic Polo (code O22980). Another high quality polo which has stood the test of time. We’ve been printing and embroidering this one for a number of years now. It’s worth mentioning that it’s available in lots of lovely colours – great when you’ve got something specific in mind with regard to matching your brand. Incidentally, there is also a men’s version.

AS Colour.

Heavyweight and high quality are always a winning combination with polo shirts. The AS Colour Pique Polo (code 5411) has both features. Along with being short sleeved and having a two button placket, tonal buttons and split detail at the sides. As with most clothing from this supplier, it’s also pre-shrunk to minimise shrinkage. Four colours at time of writing.

4. T Shirts – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

There aren’t many walks of life where a t shirt doesn’t come in useful and that includes hospitality. We’ve printed millions of tees and the reason is that they have mass appeal. The latter stretches from fashion branding to working gear and includes everything in between. Admittedly, odds are you might not be wearing one if working on the reception of a country house hotel. However, there an awful lot of hospitality jobs where a bespoke printed t shirt could form an essential part of the uniform. And the production of organic and recycled tees is beginning to take hold with more and more suppliers.

Stanley Stella.

We start with a tee that has become iconic in the screen printing industry. The Stanley Stella Creator 2.0 T Shirt (code STTU169) shares many of the attributes of the previously mentioned Prepster polo. In other words, an excellent variety of style variations and a truly astonishing range of colourways. It’s definitely one to consider if tees are in your plan.

Anthem.

How about a tee that already has a proven track record in blank clothing? Well, this Anthem Organic T-shirt (code AM010) certainly fits the bill. It’s available in an exciting range of on trend colours and comes in a superb and comprehensive range of sizes. Plus, manufactured from sustainable, eco-friendly fabric and a lighter weight at 145gsm. The latter, lightweight, can be perfect for many hospitality environments where hot working conditions are a factor.

Ecologie.

Next, we have another that isn’t unisex but split into men and women. The Ecologie Cascades t shirt (codes EA001 EA01F) is organic cotton and made for print and embroidery. It features a soft feel and comes in a selection of strong colours. Although the base shirts are the same, things like fabric and production, the ladies tee has feminine cut.

B&C Collection.

Let’s round off t shirts for hospitality with one more that’s available in different fittings for men and women. The B&C Collection Inspire tee (codes TM042 and TW043) is described as being ultra-printable. As garment printers, that’s the kind of description we always like to see. Equally important, it’s got lots of attractive characteristics from the customer perspective. We’re talking high quality and on-trend styling, fashion and eco conscious boxes both getting big ticks.

5. Trousers – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

Whilst it’s fair to say that there are quite a few examples of eco-friendly legwear, most tend to be jogging pants or activity-related styles. We’ve included some of those because there are instances in hospitality where such apparel has a place. It’s harder to find more standard formal trousers that are created for customisation and responsibly accredited.

Premier.

Cargo themed trousers are a perfect part of many uniforms and these Premier Stretchchecker work cargo trousers (code PR565) are purpose made for the job. They’re somewhat more understated than many such styles and therefore have a versatile aspect to them. Made from recycled polyester, cotton and elastane, they offer comfort and durability.

AS Colour.

Of course, lots of hospitality environments will happily accommodate something a little more casual. AS Colour offer two garments which fit that bill. As an illustration, we’ve chosen their Standard Pants (code 5901). These are a mid weight, slim fit and suitable for screen printing and embroidery. The also produce a standard trouser which is a regular fitting.

Stanley Stella.

The straight leg jog pant has become somewhat scarce over recent years. So, it’s nice to see some beginning to reappear. And the Stanley Stella Needer (code STBU274) is a top quality, eco-friendly example crafted from organic cotton and recycled polyester. Unisex and relaxed fitting, they are available in three shades which include the navy pictured above along with black and a heathered grey.

Anthem.

As mentioned above, sweat pants are probably the most commonly available trouser when it comes to organic-ethical choices. Several suppliers make them. We’ve shown Anthem joggers (code AM030) which are made from 80% organic cotton and 20% recycled polyester. They’re super soft, stylish and comfortable.

6. Caps – Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

Caps won’t be everyone’s cup of hospitality tea but there’s no denying they work well in some situations. There’s obviously a practical, hygienic aspect to their use. But there’s also an aesthetic element. Branded caps can help create ambience if you’re aiming for an establishment with a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

AS Colour.

So, a quick heads up for eco-friendly headwear. First, we have the AS Colour Contrast Trucker Cap (code 1191). It’s constructed from cotton and recycled polyester. It comes in ten colours. We love the huge choice of caps offered by AS Colour – it’s outstanding.

Result Recycled.

Manufactured entirely from recycled polyester, the Result Recycled Core Printer’s Cap (code) is a low profile adult baseball cap which uses a recycled equivalent fabric to conventional yarns. Available in eight colours. Responsibly sourced headwear from a brand dedicated to reusing materials is all good with us.

Beechfield.

Beechfield are a big name in headwear and they’re increasing their sustainably sourced ranges. Their organic cotton 5-panel cap (code B62N) is an environmentally-conscious take on a timeless design. There’s a tear-away label to make rebranding easier and a reasonable range of colours.

Yupoong.

Our last example of eco-friendly caps comes from another well-known name in blank headwear. This Flexfit by Yupoong Low-Profile organic cotton cap (code 6245OC) is one of their classics crafted in pure organic cotton. It features a reinforced front, curved brim and patented Flexfit technology.

Eco-Friendly Hospitality Clothing.

So, there we have it. Our 2026 update – just a few ideas if you’re into an environmentally sensitive approach or considering a switch to eco-friendly uniform for your business. Hospitality is a vast area that encompasses food and drink, accommodation, travel, tourism, entertainment and recreation. The ease or extent to which you embrace sustainability will obviously depend on where you sit within the industry. But, it’s possible, at least to some degree, and even a small change makes a difference.

 Fifth Column, printing t-shirts with love in London since 1977. We offer a comprehensive range of garment decoration services – contact us for more information.