Uniforms & Apparel: Why What Your Team Wears Matters

Let’s be honest, uniforms don’t always get the credit they deserve. They're often seen as a box to tick — something you sort out once, pop in a catalogue order as needed, and move on from. But here’s the thing: uniforms are so much more than matching outfits.

Done well, uniforms:

• Create consistency
• Build culture
• Demonstrate brand values
• And — when circular thinking is applied — can massively reduce environmental impact. And we’re here for it.

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Let's talk numbers

In Australia, around six tonnes of clothing and textiles go to landfill every 10 minutes.* Unfortunately, that’s not a typo. Six. Tonnes. Ten. Minutes. And we haven’t even got to lunch.

A lot of that waste? Uniforms and corporate apparel. Branded polos, jackets and shirts that are thrown away because of staff turnover, brand refreshes and every day wear and tear. But ultimately because no one thought about what happens to it when it’s no longer needed.

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Enter: Circular uniform solutions

At IVE, we believe uniforms are a high-impact, high-visibility extension of a brand. And we believe circularity should be considered from the beginning.

That means:

• Choosing materials that are recycled or are easier to be recycled, repurposed or reused at end-of-life e.g. recycled polyester, organic cotton
• Designing for longevity e.g. choosing fabrications that wash and wear well and withstand the environment that they are worn in
• Designing for purpose and choosing recycled fabrications e.g. recycled polyester over virgin materials
• Managing the entire lifecycle — including what happens after the last wear e.g. building in take-back or recycling programs prior to the start of supply – to do what we can to keep materials at the end of life, out of landfill . 

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Recycled over five tonnes — and counting.

Circularity isn’t just theory. It’s action. ‍IVE has successfully diverted from landfill and recycled over five tonnes of uniforms over the past 2 years — that’s five tonnes of branded apparel that didn’t end up in landfill.  We know it’s just the start and we want to go much, much further – and we can’t do that alone. 

As the first Australian uniform supplier to become a member of Seamless, Australia's national clothing stewardship scheme, we’re committed to helping Australian businesses reduce their textile waste at scale — while making their teams look sharp doing it. 

Seamless CEO Ainsley Simpson said, “It’s exciting to see the responsible leadership from IVE in the Australian uniform sector, as they take innovative and practical action to keep clothing out of landfill. Through their commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement they're proving that positive change is possible.”

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So… why does all this matter?

Because uniforms aren’t just what your team wears — they’re one of your most visible brand touchpoints. Seen in-store, onsite, and online, every day.

They’re often the first thing people notice — and sometimes, the one brand element they remember. Done right, they’re a talking point. A chance to reflect your brand’s values, spark conversation, and show what you stand for.

And when you design with sustainability front of mind, uniforms become a statement — a statement about reducing waste, thinking long-term, and doing better by the planet. They become something your team is proud to wear.

It’s time to rethink what uniforms can be. Let’s design for that future together.

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_{* Source: Report for Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), Transitioning to a Circular Economy in Australia}

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