Case StudiesCustom UniformsAnonymous hospitality customer
Practical case study · Product first

When aprons wear out fast, reordering more of the same is not the answer.

A multi-site hospitality customer was going through aprons faster than the rest of the uniform range. NewGen partnered with them to create a better answer: an exclusive Teflon-coated reversible apron designed to suit the brand, the work environment and the daily wear the team put it through.

Under $20 per unitA commercially strong outcome for a custom-developed product.
Custom-manufactured fabricDeveloped exclusively to match the customer’s brand and daily needs.
Reversible + multi-wearStriped face, black reverse side and bib-wear flexibility.
Designed as a real uniform piece

The final product combines a striped denim-look face, black trim, brass-style eyelets and a bib-wear format to create an apron that looks considered, wears well and feels right in hospitality.

What the apron problem proved

The problem
Aprons wear out fast

In a busy food service environment, aprons were taking more punishment than other uniform items. The real issue was not just price — it was product performance.

What changed
NewGen proposed a better product

Instead of simply supplying a cheaper version of the same item, NewGen proposed a custom fabric with a Teflon coating, made exclusively for the customer’s brand and daily use.

Why it mattered
Better product, better value

The customer paid slightly more for a much better product: reversible, multi-wear, brand-aligned and still under $20 per unit.

The customer problem

The customer needed to control the cost of a high-use uniform item. NewGen could see that simply making the apron cheaper would not solve the underlying problem. The apron needed to be better matched to one of the toughest parts of the uniform program.

  • Aprons were being replaced more often than the rest of the range, creating pressure around cost and replenishment.
  • The work environment involved spills, food contact, movement and frequent washing.
  • A cheaper standard apron may have reduced the unit price, but it would not have solved the bigger product issue.
  • The customer also needed the item to feel aligned to the brand, not like a generic add-on.

What NewGen delivered

NewGen partnered with the customer to improve the product itself, not just replenish stock or cut quality. The apron was developed as a practical hospitality product that could better handle heavy daily use while still matching the customer’s look, operational needs and commercial reality.

  • Custom-manufactured fabric created exclusively for the customer.
  • Teflon coating introduced to better suit hospitality use.
  • Reversible construction with a striped denim-look face and black reverse side.
  • Multi-wear format including a bib apron option for different roles and wearer preferences.
  • Refined detailing including black binding, brass-style eyelets and a practical pocket layout.

One product, more flexibility

The striped face creates a textured hospitality look, while the black reverse side provides a cleaner alternative. The result is more use from one item without complicating the range.

Why it mattered

The apron might be a small part of the range, but in hospitality it is one of the hardest-working and most visible pieces of the uniform.

Better matched to the job

High-wear items need to be designed around the reality of the work. A better product fit matters in practice.

More use from one item

Reversible construction and multi-wear functionality created flexibility without adding unnecessary complexity.

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Commercially sensible

This was not custom for custom’s sake. It was a product-led answer that gave the customer better value than simply buying a cheaper version of the same problem.

Image-led proof

These visuals show the product more clearly than a written description ever could.

How the product presents on the body

A clean, practical apron that feels like part of the uniform rather than an afterthought.

Caption: A bib-wear format with a structured look, black trim and a practical front pocket layout.

Fabric and construction detail

Close-up product proof highlights the fine stripe texture, neat black binding and brass-style eyelets.

Caption: Small details matter when an item is worn through every shift and seen in customer-facing environments.

Reverse side and alternate look

The black reverse side adds flexibility and gives the customer another clean look from the same item.

Caption: Reversible construction helped the customer get more utility from one hospitality item.

The outcome

The customer moved from trying to manage the cost of a fast-wearing item to using an apron developed around their environment, their brand and the way the team worked day to day.

Instead of a cheaper generic replacement, they received a smarter product: custom fabric, Teflon coating, reversible wear, practical detailing and multiple ways to use the same item — all while keeping the result commercially sharp.

Custom fabric Teflon-coated Reversible Bib-wear option Under $20 per unit

What this case study says about NewGen

  • We help customers look beyond standard catalogue thinking.
  • We improve the product when the original item is not doing the job properly.
  • We balance performance, brand fit and commercial clarity.
  • We make practical product decisions easier to act on.

Have a uniform item that keeps wearing out, costing more or no longer fitting the job?

Talk to NewGen about custom uniforms, stock support and practical product improvements built around how your organisation works. We help make sure the uniforms look right, costs are clear, stock is controlled, and it gets to the right people.