Trends in food and the way dining has become more relaxed is driving the way hospitality uniforms are being designed, according to Emma Cohen, marketing manager of Chef Works International.

Speaking at Gulfood in Dubai, where Chef Works International had a stand, Cohen said that diners can now see into the kitchen and it's more theatre-oriented - which leads to the style of clothes that kitchen staff are wearing.

“Outfits have to be presentable,” she said, “but at the same time they have to be fit for purpose and have longevity.”

In terms of what’s trending in uniforms, Cohen said that around the world there is still space for the classics, whites and chef coats, which she said are still very important.

“But we have now also come to a relaxed urban look where you have denims and canvas. Definitely, the whole of the apron [range] with antique fabrics are everywhere, which is big news for us,” she said.

 Cohen went on to say how dining venues are less formal, and instead of table cloths, venue design tends to be woods, steel and rustic looks. “It’s very much part of our uniform range,” she said.

“It’s a trend that seen in some hotel coffee shops and F&B outlets too,” she added.

Cohen revealed that Chef Works International, which outfits Sofitel, The Address Hotels, Four Seasons, Hyatt, Fairmont, JW Marriott Marquis and the Waldorf Astoria kitchens across the GCC, has been in the Middle East market for eight years now.

“It has taken us time to develop,” she says. People want to know that we are staying and that we are going to provide the service levels they expect, by having the stock on the ground so you can supply them [buyers] quickly,” she said.

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