Nothing tops the list of essential chef clothes or kitchen uniforms like an apron. Many different styles and fabrics exist, however. The best fabric for aprons is not really about fashion or style, however. It is a matter of safety and hygiene. Cooking clothes must protect from splatters and spills and even offer some safety from the heat of a commercial kitchen. Choosing the right fabric aprons is a crucial decision that can impact both comfort and functionality.
Different materials offer varying degrees of durability, resistance to stains, comfort, and style. Besides standard chef uniform options and simple cooking apparel, you might also want to consider protective, flame-resistant fabrics for those working with open flames. Seasoned professionals and brand-new chefs alike should know their options when it comes to the best fabric for an apron.
What Type of Fabric is Best for Aprons?
When choosing from the options at a quality chef clothing store, take the specific needs and environment of the wearer into consideration. For heavy-duty use in commercial kitchens, you may want a sturdier fabric. These will stand up to frequent use and regular washing very well. Of course, you should take appearance and style into consideration when it comes to buying uniform pieces for employees who interact with the hungry public.
Cotton Aprons in Multiple Fabric Types
Choosing cotton offers many advantages. It is more breathable and will thus help kitchen staff stay cooler and more comfortable. Since it is quite popular in the kitchen uniform world, you should be able to find quite a few colors and styles to choose from.
Cotton chambray is one of the lightest choices that provides a stylish look and minimal protection. This unique fabric has a distinctive heathered appearance in many cases that can contribute to a more down-home or relaxed ambience in your restaurant.
Cotton canvas, twill, or denim offer different degrees of comfort, coolness, and protection. In general, the thicker the fabric, the more protection it offers against spills and fire. Canvas and denim are popular as they offer a sturdy, tightly woven surface that more easily resists stains from splatters and similar common kitchen events. They also stand up well in the laundry and may even become softer and more comfortable over time.
One advantage of heavier fabrics is that the aprons made from them often come with more robust hardware as well. Instead of simple stitching, you can expect reinforced threads, metal grommets, stronger buckles, and more. This not only helps these pieces last a very long time, but they also add a distinctive style to your dining establishment. Denim and canvas are reliable and fashionable choices for seasoned chefs and busy kitchen workers. They even look great on servers and other members of the FOH team.
Do not mistake any of these chef clothing options for safety gear, however. In order to take advantage of these things, you will need to choose a specialty apron that is treated with certain chemical solutions or has an extremely sturdy layer that resists damage. They are highly functional, important parts of the overall outfit work by kitchen staff at all levels.
Cotton-Polyester Blends Offer Options
Many other options exist. Cotton-polyester blends are popular with those who do not work with open flames. They generally come at a lower price point than some of the more specialty fabrics. Find more information about polyester aprons below.
Are there other fabric options for commercial kitchen aprons? Yes. You might ask if linen is a good material for uniforms and aprons. It is a stylish choice, although it may require more careful laundering and ironing or pressing to look best for front-of-house employees. Some restaurants may choose other fabrics for sheer style. Unfortunately, most of these fail to last long because they are not durable or easy to wash.
Are Cotton or Polyester Aprons Better?
This is a question that is difficult to answer. There is no definitive winner in the debate about the best materials for aprons. It all depends on the wearer, the setting, and other factors. Off-the-rack and custom aprons should suit the particular needs of the person who will use them every day. Take things like durability, sustainability, washability, longevity, style, comfort, and more into account before making a mass purchase for your business.
Cotton aprons offer a high degree of breathability to help keep employees cooler and more comfortable in the heat of a busy kitchen. They launder quite well and will stand up to a lot of wear and tear over time. For those interested in sustainability or natural materials, cotton also ticks all the right boxes there. As mentioned above, cotton also offers multiple weights and thicknesses to choose from. All of them work for a variety of reasons.
Pure polyester aprons are less common, but cotton-polyester blends are frequently seen in restaurants and other commercial eateries. These have some of the durability of cotton with a lightweight, comfortable feel. They also tend to be more stain resistant than some other fabrics. You never have to worry about pressing wrinkles out of them to look your best either. They are truly a wash and go option when it comes to quality cooking apparel. One of the other major benefits of this type of cooking apparel is cost. They tend to be the least expensive option, which can make sense for large establishments.
What Makes a Good-Quality Apron?
Many factors besides material or fabric choice go into making a chef uniform or restaurant staff apron great. Look for these essential qualities when you are ready to purchase them for your new location or upgrade older, worn-out ones.
Durable Fabric – Choose materials that will last a long time, resist stains, and stand up well to frequent washing. Nothing goes to the laundry more often than a commercial kitchen apron or other uniform pieces. You want them to look and feel just as good after the hundredth time they are washed.
Stain and Water Resistance – This matters a lot for people in the kitchen and wait staff who have customer-facing positions. Nothing makes your eatery look worse than employees with dirty aprons. Choose the right fabrics and consider treatments to make them less likely to soak in stains.
Full Coverage – The more an apron covers, the more the clothes beneath are protected. Full-size aprons with sufficient chest coverage are best, although half aprons work well in some situations.
Comfortable, Adjustable Fit – People of many different sizes and shapes will need to wear the aprons every day. It makes sense, therefore, to choose styles that work for all of them. Adjustable neck straps and long waist ties make this easier.
Breathability – You might think this would not matter very much since aprons do not provide full coverage front to back. However, those that cover the chest and thigh areas still get in the way of ventilation. Add in the super-hot environment of a busy kitchen, and you have a recipe for overheating. Breathable fabric for aprons makes a lot of sense. It can help keep your staff cooler and more energetic.
Secure Fastenings – Although many kitchen aprons have simple ties to close them at the neck and back, you might want to consider buckles, metal snaps, or hook-and-loop closures in some cases. These make it easier to adjust the apron, keep everything securely in place, and might also look neater in some cases.
Professional Appearance – Looks matter for front-of-house workers, but chefs need an air of professionalism about them, too. Well-designed aprons contribute to a more polished appearance. Choose those with neat lines, colors that match your brand, and quality materials.
Fabric Aprons Offer Protection in the Kitchen
Commercial kitchens are very busy places, and protective aprons are essential parts of a chef’s uniform or cooking apparel for other staff members. These simple pieces of clothing serve as a first line of defense against hazards that frequently occur in these settings. An apron protects against hot oil splatters, burns from steamy pans, errant utensils pokes or cuts, and more. While fire-resistant and extreme padded aprons exist, they are not usually required in a restaurant or dining hall kitchen. The fabric options listed here will do a good job.
Specialty Fabrics for Fire and Cut-Resistant Aprons
True protective aprons have additional fire-retardant treatments and anti-cut fabric options. They may also have features like reinforced straps, shorter ties with buckles instead of loose ends, and specialty coatings that help with preventing stains and oil accumulation that may cause additional hazards. These types of custom chef apron options are specialty purchases that are usually not needed for regular use. Skilled staff and a well-organized, clean kitchen help keep things safe.
Choosing the Best Material Chefs Aprons from the Best Source
The best fabric for chef aprons comes down to taste in the end. Material affects the quality, style, durability, washability, and protective qualities of the apron. Of course, it also makes a difference when it comes to style. Choosing different colors, strap and tie designs, and addons like embroidering or printed names or logos can make a difference to the overall appearance. Whether you choose pure cotton, a cotton-polyester blend, denim, linen, or chambray, you will make the right choice for your kitchen.
Apron fabrics, why we wear aprons and more
We immediately associate an apron with working in the kitchen… but that’s not the whole story.
People in various industries use aprons: welders, woodcutters, florists, gardeners, barbers, butchers, cleaners, chefs, catering staff and the rest of us all need an apron at some time or another. These handy garments keep one protected – from food, heavy metals, and everything else... we're sure you get the message!
Here we give you the lowdown on everything related to aprons – from the history of the apron to the different types of aprons available, and fabrics that work for each type of apron. Check it out…
The history of aprons
The word ‘apron’ comes from a 17th century French word – ‘naperon’. It translates to ‘small tablecloth’. People used to mistakenly pronounce the word as ‘apron’ in Medieval times, and that’s how the ‘apron’ meaning came about.
There have been many iterations of the apron over the years – we used it as part of certain uniforms, and we even used it as decorative wear in the time of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. We also used them as kitchen wear for centuries, and sometimes even consider them as a fashion garment.
But this garment's main purpose is to protect your jackets, shirts, trousers, dresses or other clothing, whether it’s in a work environment, hospital, schoolroom or regular kitchen aprons.
Domestic bliss
In the 1940s, we often used to show aprons in adverts, worn by a housewife in a cosy kitchen delighting her family with delicious home meals. After that, American housewives donned these items for screen and on TV, wearing them whilst baking cookies, removing steaming meals from the oven and calling the family to come and enjoy dinner.
Then, in the 1960s, emancipation of women put a stop to the idyllic housewife role, and aprons became taboo. These days, they’re back with a vengeance, not just an apron for women, or mens apron, but unisex ones instead – functional, no-nonsense items. Also, the popularity of home-made food and accessories has given this fabric item a chance to make a comeback.
The apron through history
1. The Bib:
This is what people call a full apron, which we have worn for various purposes since the late 19th century.
This apron covers the body either to mid-thigh, or longer and has a number of pockets. It has a bib and one puts it on by slipping the adjustable bib part over one’s neck and tying the apron at the waist.
Initially it was a black and white apron, but now it comes in various colours, styles and materials. It’s still a very popular choice to this day, particularly in the hospitality industry.
2. Cross-back:
Similar to one with a bib, cross-back aprons cross over your back from the shoulders, which eases strain on the neck. These straps are available in either leather or fabric and on some aprons, they are removable.
3. Waist:
These don’t feature a bib, only the bottom part of the apron. They’re not as long as s either, and usually end above the knee. They usually have pockets to keep tools handy. Commonly used by barbers, hairdressers, florists and waiters.
4. Bistro:
This is a type of waist apron, but they’re usually a little longer. Often used by butchers and a restaurant chef, and in café’s.
5. Chef:
Regularly used in restaurant kitchens by the chef and kitchen staff, they protect one’s clothing and also protect the worker from hot surfaces and spilling. Chef apron kitchen wear is usually black, white or have black and white stripes, and can be either a bib apron or a waist apron.
You’ll usually find a 100% canvas weave cotton apron, or ones in linen, denim or leather – see fabric details below for more info.
6. Pinafore:
Classic pinafores or ‘smock aprons’ have been part of fashion as well as kids wear for ages. If it’s a kid’s apron, it could include decorate ruffles. Initially of Japanese origin, they are easy to slip over the head and offer excellent coverage.
7. Tabard:
This type of apron, which people wore from the Middle Ages onwards, covers both your front and back. We fasten it with ties at the side or around the waist . Monks and shoe cobblers often wore these garments. Today, bakers, food retailers and nurses still wear them.
8. Bungalow Apron
This apron style was very popular in the early 20th century, the quintessential apron for housewives. People actually designed it to wear on its own as ‘workwear’; it was a cross between a housecoat and a nightie.
Colors
Interestingly enough, the colour of the apron also signified different things over time. For example, bishops donned purple aprons, white aprons were the uniform for stonemasons, cobblers worked in black aprons, barbers chose checked aprons and butchers preferred blue and white stripes.
The benefits of using an apron
This depends on what work you’ll be doing when you wear it. But let’s check out some of its benefits…
to protect your clothes from different materials
for added protection from specific materials and chemicals when doing artwork or art projects, gardening, printing on fabric, working with food, etc
to offer handy storage in pockets for various tools and items like pens, notebooks, tablets and phones
to give the wearer a professional look in a business, eg for cooking baking kitchen wear and front of house staff.
Apron fabric choices
Buy the fabric depending on what you intend using the apron for. If you are doing heavy duty work, you’ll need a more hard-wearing fabric than if you’re cooking dinner in the kitchen. Decide what the function of the apron is and what protection you need when wearing it.
When choosing the fabric, take the style of apron into account. Think about your movements when you’re wearing the apron and what you need it for. If you’re running around, you want something lightweight, perhaps one with a short bib that won’t restrict your movements. If you need accessories or tools on hand, then pockets are vital.
· Cotton is the most common material used to make aprons. The fabric is lightweight, easy to clean and comfortable to wear.
· Denim is another popular choice because of its durability. However, because people use them so often, their colour would fade over time. They’re popular because they’re modern and comfortable.
· Linen is another lightweight material; it also fades after many washes, although it is reasonably hard wearing.
· Polyester, viscose and cotton and blends are also very hard wearing, and they’re also don’t wash out or fade as easily.
· Linens are lightweight and naturally soft but also fade over time.
· Leather aprons are usually made for those doing industrial tasks, who need to be protected against harmful substances.
· PVC and nylon are ideal for more hard wearing protection. These materials are also waterproof and thus resistant to spills, which makes them ideal for restaurant staff working in the kitchen. They are easy to clean – just wipe off with a damp cloth.
Caring for your apron
* You can wash most apron fabrics in the washing machine.
* Handwash linen aprons.
* For waterproof nylon and PVC, just wipe with a sponge you've soaked in warm soapy water.
* If there are any stains on the apron, remove them with a special stain remover.
* Wash dark fabrics separately to stop them running.
Sizing Charts
If you’re ordering an apron online, you’ll receive a set of measurements showing the size of the apron.
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