Industries
Custom hospitality uniform polos and tees for hotel and café teams
For hotel, restaurant and café staff, a piqué polo of 200–260 GSM with an embroidered chest logo is the standard front-of-house uniform, backed by 180–220 GSM cotton tees for kitchen and back-of-house teams. Pick colours that hide marks, have the collars knitted in your brand colours, and plan a size ratio that covers every shift.
Key takeaways
- Piqué polos are made from 200–260 GSM 4-way or 6-way piqué, with flat-knit collars knitted to order.
- Interfaced plackets and a spare button on every polo keep front-of-house staff looking sharp.
- Cotton jersey tees run from 180 to 260 GSM, with TPU-taped shoulders so necklines hold after washing.
- Collar stays are packed into every polo so collars arrive uncrushed.
- Logos are embroidered or printed on cut panels before sewing for accurate placement.
What a hospitality team needs from a uniform
Hotel, restaurant and café staff are on their feet, moving between hot kitchens, air-conditioned dining rooms and outdoor terraces, and their uniforms are washed after almost every shift. Three things follow from that.
The uniform has to stay presentable. Guests judge the brand by the collar, the placket and the logo, and a polo whose collar curls or a tee whose neckline drops looks tired within weeks. It has to breathe, because front-of-house work is active and a breathable knit keeps staff comfortable through a long service. And it has to survive frequent washing, since shrinkage, fading and seam failure are the main reasons uniforms get replaced early.
Knit garments cut and sewn to a proper specification handle all three. Read why knit garments shrink to see what to ask for.
Recommended garments and fabrics
| Garment | Fabric & weight | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Front-of-house polo | Piqué, 200–260 GSM, flat-knit collar | Breathable texture, smart structured look, collar matched to brand colours |
| Back-of-house tee | 100% cotton single jersey, 180–220 GSM | Light and comfortable in hot kitchens; taped shoulders hold the neckline |
| Premium staff tee | 100% cotton single jersey, 240–260 GSM | Heavier, more structured look for café and bar teams |
| Cold-weather layer | French terry or brushed fleece, 320–400 GSM (up to 480) | Crewnecks or zip hoodies for outdoor, delivery and terrace staff |
Not sure which weight suits your climate? Our knit fabric GSM guide explains the trade-offs.
Decoration and branding
On polo shirts, an embroidered left-chest logo is the hospitality standard. It reads as premium, and we stitch it over a backing so the knit doesn’t pucker. Tipped or jacquard collars in your brand colours are knitted to order rather than dyed to approximate. Sleeve or back prints carry venue names or event teams, and heat-transfer names suit staff who deal closely with guests.
On T-shirts, screen printing suits bold logos and DTG handles full-colour artwork. Compare the options in print vs embroidery. Whichever you choose, decoration goes on the cut panels before sewing, so placement is consistent across the whole order.
Sizing, distribution and reorders
Hospitality teams change often, so plan for reorders from the start. Agree a size chart with graded measurements before sampling and keep it as the reference for every repeat order. Plan a size ratio for each style from your staff list, with a buffer for new starters. Pack by size with clear size stickers and carton ratios so each venue gets what it needs. A complete tech pack (fabric, GSM, collar colours, logo positions) makes reorders match the original.
A spare button is sewn onto every polo at the care label, and collar stays keep collars uncrushed in transit.
How ordering works with us
Tell us your venues, roles, quantities per style and branding; the tech pack builder helps structure the brief. We confirm fabric, GSM, collar design, decoration method and size chart. You approve fit, colour and logo placement on a physical sample. Bulk then follows our 8-stage process, with fabric relaxation before cutting, inline checks, final inspection and 100% metal needle detection.
Minimums, pricing and lead times depend on your specification and are confirmed with your quote. Learn more about OEM and ODM with Jehotex.
If your group also runs retail outlets or fitness facilities, see our pages for retail staff uniforms and gym staff apparel.
Final thoughts
A good hospitality uniform is a breathable piqué polo with a collar that holds its shape, backed by comfortable cotton tees and a warm layer for outdoor roles. Specify fabric weight, collar colours and logo placement clearly, approve a sample, and keep your spec on file so every reorder matches. Send us your brief and we will recommend fabrics and decoration for each role.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fabric for restaurant staff polo shirts?
Piqué is the usual choice. Its textured knit breathes well on busy shifts and keeps a smart, structured look. We make piqué polos from 200 to 260 GSM. Lighter weights suit hot kitchens and terraces, and heavier weights look more premium front-of-house.
Can the polo collar match our hotel's brand colours?
Yes. Flat-knit collars and cuffs are knitted for each order, so plain, tipped or jacquard collars can be matched to your colour standards.
Should hospitality uniforms be embroidered or printed?
Embroidery is the most common choice for polo chest logos because it looks premium and stands up to frequent washing. Printing suits T-shirts and larger artwork, such as event or back-of-house tees.
What is the minimum order for custom hospitality uniforms?
Minimums depend on the garment, fabric and decoration, so we confirm them with your quote. Send us your brief and quantities per style and we will advise.
RFQ · Tech pack or brief welcome