Top 8 Workwear Brands Compared

Not all workwear brands deliver the same level of performance, durability, or value for your investment. Whether you're outfitting a construction crew that needs gear tough enough for job site abuse, healthcare professionals requiring comfortable scrubs for 12-hour shifts, or a sales team seeking polished uniforms that project competence during client meetings, the brand you choose directly impacts how your team performs and how your business is perceived.

This guide breaks down the eight leading workwear brands across different categories—from premium heritage names to budget-conscious options—so you can identify which brands align with your specific industry demands, customization needs, and budget constraints.

What Makes a Great Workwear Brand?

Durability and Long-Term Wear - Premium workwear brands use reinforced stitching, quality hardware, and proven construction methods that withstand years of demanding use. The best garments maintain their shape, color, and functionality through countless industrial wash cycles.
Fabric Quality and Performance - Superior materials like heavy-duty cotton duck, moisture-wicking synthetics, and flame-resistant fabrics provide the protection and comfort workers need. Quality brands invest in textiles that resist tears, stains, and fading while delivering breathability and flexibility.
Comfort and All-Day Mobility - Great workwear moves with the wearer through ergonomic cuts, strategic stretch panels, and thoughtful design details. Brands that understand worker needs create garments that don't restrict movement or cause discomfort during long shifts.
Variety for Different Environments - Top brands offer comprehensive product lines spanning multiple industries and job types. From lightweight performance polos to insulated outerwear, versatile brands provide solutions for diverse work environments and weather conditions.
Professional Brand Perception - Established workwear names carry credibility that enhances your company's image with clients and customers. When your team wears recognized brands, it projects competence, reliability, and attention to quality.
Customization Compatibility - The best workwear brands design their garments with decoration in mind, providing clean surfaces for embroidery and printing. Quality fabrics hold logos well, while thoughtful construction prevents puckering or distortion during the customization process.
Consistent Sizing and Fit - Reliable brands maintain standardized sizing across their product lines, making bulk orders predictable and reorders simple. Consistent fit also ensures professional appearance when outfitting entire teams.
Industrial Laundering Tolerance - Commercial workwear must survive harsh washing cycles with strong detergents and high temperatures. Superior brands engineer their garments to maintain appearance and functionality through industrial cleaning processes.
Safety Feature Integration - Leading workwear brands incorporate essential safety elements like high-visibility trim, flame-resistant treatments, and reflective materials without compromising comfort or style. These features should be seamlessly integrated, not afterthoughts.

Our Top 8 Featured Workwear Brands

We've selected these eight brands based on those key criteria, plus popularity among working professionals, customer satisfaction, and product ranges that serve diverse industries. Each brand brings distinct strengths to the table, giving you options that match your specific work environment, budget, and branding needs.

1. Carhartt

Carhartt is America's premier workwear heritage brand, established in 1889 and built on a reputation for ultra-durable gear that survives the toughest conditions. The brand enjoys unique crossover appeal, maintaining credibility on construction sites while achieving global recognition in streetwear and fashion circles, making it a premium choice that adds instant brand equity to any custom program.

Popular Products: Carhartt is synonymous with heavyweight jackets, chore coats, bib overalls, hooded sweatshirts, work T-shirts, hats, scrubs, and durable bags. Their signature pieces feature the firm-hand duck canvas and substantial cotton-poly blends that workers have trusted for over a century.
Material Quality: Built around their legendary cotton duck canvas, Carhartt employs triple-stitched seams, reinforced stress points, and proprietary technologies like Rain Defender water-repellent finishes and Wind Fighter breathable barriers. Their fabrics are engineered to resist abrasions, maintain shape through industrial laundering, and deliver flame-resistant and weather-protective options for demanding environments.
Fit & Comfort: Primarily features Loose Fit and Relaxed Fit cuts that provide generous room for layering and unrestricted movement during physical work. The roomier sizing accommodates tool belts, harnesses, and base layers while maintaining a clean silhouette that doesn't look sloppy, though this runs larger than most contemporary workwear brands.
Customization Potential: Heavyweight duck and canvas fabrics excel with embroidery, though the firm materials can challenge some equipment. The substantial construction provides excellent stability for detailed logos that maintain crisp appearance through years of wear. Screen printing works well on lighter-weight tees, while heavier outerwear typically requires embroidery due to fabric thickness.
Price Point: Premium pricing that reflects the advanced materials, construction quality, and brand recognition. While more expensive than competitors like Berne, the cost is justified through longevity and the added perceived value that comes with the iconic Carhartt name.
Best For: Construction, agriculture, utilities, outdoor trades, logistics, and any organization wanting to project premium quality, authenticity, and rugged competence. Ideal when brand recognition matters and budget allows for the highest-tier workwear investment.

2. Berne

A century-old American workwear stalwart founded in 1915, Berne delivers rugged, budget-conscious gear designed for hardworking people who need reliable performance without premium pricing. The brand built its reputation by prioritizing function and comfort alongside durability, making it a go-to choice for organizations seeking dependable workwear that maximizes purchasing power.

Popular Products: Berne specializes in insulated jackets, coveralls, bib overalls, hooded sweatshirts, work T-shirts, hi-vis safety gear, and caps. Their lineup focuses on practical workwear essentials with features like reinforced knees, multiple pockets, and weather-resistant treatments across their most popular styles.
Material Quality: Built around heavy-duty cotton duck, super-duty cotton blends, and pre-washed fabrics that eliminate lengthy break-in periods. Berne employs triple-needle stitching, reinforced stress points, and quilted insulation systems, offering flame-resistant and hi-vis options while maintaining softer hand-feel compared to stiffer competitors like Carhartt.
Fit & Comfort: Features relaxed, classic fits with pre-washed fabrics that provide immediate comfort from first wear. Sizing runs true with generous room for layering and movement, while comfort-focused details like tagless labels and taped seams prevent chafing during long shifts, making the gear more immediately wearable than brands requiring break-in periods.
Customization Potential: Heavy-duty cotton duck and super-duty blends provide solid foundations for both embroidery and screen printing, with slightly softer fabrics that often make decoration processes smoother than stiffer materials. The more pliable construction allows clean stitching without excessive puckering while supporting detailed logos and text effectively.
Price Point: Moderate to premium pricing that consistently undercuts top-tier competitors while maintaining quality construction. Berne positions itself as the smart value choice, delivering comparable durability and functionality at more accessible price points, making it ideal for large team outfitting or budget-conscious buyers.
Best For: Farm and ranch operations, distribution centers, industrial facilities, landscaping crews, and businesses prioritizing practical performance over brand recognition. Excellent choice for promotional giveaways, trade show swag, or any situation where you need substantial quantities of functional branded workwear that recipients will actually use.

3. Wink

Industry-leading healthcare apparel specialist that elevates medical uniforms beyond basic functionality with fashion-forward designs and performance-focused construction. Wink serves modern medical professionals who want scrubs that look as good off-duty as they do during 12-hour hospital shifts, combining contemporary styling with professional-grade durability and comfort features.

Popular Products: Comprehensive scrubs collections including tops, pants, lab coats, scrub caps, and accessories. Their signature collections like Renew and Origins blend athletic-inspired cuts with medical-specific features such as antimicrobial treatments and fluid-resistant fabrics across both traditional and modern silhouettes.
Material Quality: Advanced performance fabrics engineered specifically for healthcare environments, featuring moisture-wicking technology, four-way stretch, antimicrobial treatments, and stain-resistant finishes. Wink prioritizes breathable, easy-care materials that maintain professional appearance through frequent washing while offering comfort during extended wear periods.
Fit & Comfort: Extensive size range spanning traditional through athletic and modern fits designed to accommodate all body types and personal preferences. The brand emphasizes day-long comfort through ergonomic construction, stretch panels in high-movement areas, and thoughtful details like tagless designs that prevent irritation during long shifts.
Customization Potential: Scrub fabrics and lab coats provide excellent foundations for embroidery with stable, smooth surfaces that support detailed logos and professional text placement. The brand's color palette offers numerous options for coordinated branding, while strategic pocket and chest areas create ideal zones for healthcare facility logos and employee identification.
Price Point: Moderate to budget pricing that delivers exceptional value for healthcare teams seeking professional-grade uniforms without premium markup. Wink balances affordability with performance features, making it accessible for large medical facility orders while maintaining the quality standards healthcare professionals require.
Best For: Hospitals, dental offices, clinics, veterinary practices, medical spas, and any healthcare environment where professional appearance matters as much as functional performance. Ideal for organizations wanting to create cohesive, modern medical uniforms that enhance both staff confidence and patient perception of care quality.

4. Dri Duck

Outdoor-inspired workwear brand that merges rugged utility with contemporary design, appealing to workers and outdoor enthusiasts who value functionality with a heritage aesthetic. Dri Duck has built its reputation around the signature Boulder Cloth™ canvas and technical outerwear fabrics that deliver weather protection and durability while maintaining an updated, stylish appearance that works equally well on job sites and off-duty.

Popular Products: Specializes in fleece jackets, outerwear, sweatshirts, vests, caps, and beanies, with their Boulder Cloth™ collection standing as the flagship line. Their product range emphasizes layering-friendly pieces and weather-resistant outerwear designed for variable conditions and active outdoor work environments.
Material Quality: Centers around proprietary Boulder Cloth™ canvas and technical outerwear fabrics featuring weather-resistant coatings, reinforced seams, and durable water-repellent finishes. Dri Duck emphasizes materials that balance protection with breathability, incorporating performance textiles that resist wind and moisture while allowing air circulation during active work.
Fit & Comfort: Features functional and roomy cuts that allow unrestricted movement and easy layering, with styles designed around an outdoorsy, heritage aesthetic that appeals to both traditional and contemporary tastes. The fits accommodate seasonal layering and active work demands while maintaining clean silhouettes that don't appear oversized or sloppy.
Customization Potential: Jackets, fleece, and headwear provide excellent embroidery-friendly surfaces with clean, uninterrupted decoration areas that showcase logos professionally. The substantial construction and smooth fabric finishes support detailed needlework while maintaining durability through repeated wear and washing cycles in outdoor work environments.
Price Point: Moderate to premium pricing that reflects the technical materials and construction quality while remaining competitive with other performance-focused workwear brands. Dri Duck positions itself as offering superior value through innovative fabrics and thoughtful design details that justify the investment in demanding work conditions.
Best For: Landscaping crews, maintenance teams, utility workers, and outdoor-based businesses seeking functional gear with contemporary styling. Ideal for organizations wanting workwear that projects competence and outdoor credibility while providing reliable weather protection and professional appearance in client-facing situations.

5. Helly Hansen

Legendary Norwegian brand established in 1877, globally recognized for high-performance weatherproof workwear and gear where protection from harsh elements is paramount. With over 140 years of maritime and outdoor expertise, Helly Hansen has earned its reputation supplying professionals who face extreme conditions, from North Sea oil rigs to Arctic construction sites, making it the premium choice when weather protection cannot fail.

Popular Products: Weather-resistant jackets and rainwear, insulated vests, puff jackets, quarter-zips, base layers, and technical outerwear designed for extreme conditions. Their product line spans from lightweight shell layers to heavily insulated parkas, all engineered with advanced waterproof and breathable technologies that maintain performance in the harshest environments.
Material Quality: Advanced waterproof and breathable textiles featuring proprietary Helly Tech® technology, LIFA® moisture-wicking base layers, and PrimaLoft® insulation systems. The brand utilizes fully seam-sealed construction, reinforced high-wear areas, and technical fabrics that deliver reliable protection against wind, rain, and cold while maintaining breathability during active work.
Fit & Comfort: Modern, tailored, and ergonomic fits designed specifically for movement and layering compatibility, offering premium comfort without bulk. Their sizing accommodates multiple insulation layers while maintaining clean silhouettes, with articulated sleeves and strategic stretch panels that ensure unrestricted mobility during demanding physical tasks.
Customization Potential: Technical jackets and vests provide excellent platforms for embroidery and logo customization, with smooth synthetic surfaces that support detailed needlework without compromising garment performance. The brand's clean design aesthetic offers prominent decoration areas on chest and back, while the premium construction ensures logos maintain professional appearance through extreme weather exposure.
Price Point: Moderate to premium pricing that reflects the advanced materials, technical construction, and proven performance in extreme conditions. While positioned at higher price points than basic workwear, Helly Hansen delivers exceptional value for organizations requiring reliable weather protection where equipment failure could compromise safety or operations.
Best For: Construction and infrastructure projects in harsh climates, facility management and maintenance crews, maritime and offshore workers, emergency responders, and any team requiring dependable weather protection. Ideal when environmental conditions demand maximum performance and reliability from outerwear, making it worth the premium investment for worker safety and productivity.

6. Dickies

This global workwear institution, established in 1922, is recognized for delivering dependable work clothing that balances durability with approachable style. Dickies has earned its reputation by serving everyone from traditional tradespeople to creative professionals and streetwear enthusiasts, creating versatile workwear that transcends industries while maintaining the rugged construction standards that built the brand's legacy over a century of continuous operation.

Popular Products: Classic work shirts, coveralls, jackets, and increasingly popular scrubs and medical uniforms. Their signature pieces include the heavyweight work shirt with dual chest pockets, reinforced work pants with tool loops, and versatile jackets that handle both office presentations and job site inspections with equal professionalism.
Material Quality: Heavyweight twill, cotton-polyester blends, and easy-care fabrics designed for longevity and simple maintenance. Dickies employs reinforced seams, quality hardware, and construction techniques that prioritize consistent performance through industrial washing cycles, with fabric treatments that resist wrinkles, stains, and fading while maintaining professional appearance.
Fit & Comfort: Classic, relaxed cuts designed primarily for utility and all-day wear, alongside increasingly popular slimmer, modern styles that appeal to younger demographics and fashion-conscious workers. The traditional fits accommodate tool belts and active work demands, while contemporary cuts provide updated silhouettes without sacrificing the functional features that define Dickies workwear.
Customization Potential: Industry favorite for embroidery and screen printing due to consistent fabric quality and proven decoration compatibility across their product line. The stable twill construction and smooth finishes provide excellent foundations for detailed logos and text, while the brand's widespread use in custom uniform programs demonstrates reliable decoration results that maintain professional appearance through extended wear.
Price Point: Moderate to premium pricing that reflects quality construction and brand heritage while remaining accessible for most uniform budgets. Dickies positions itself in the value-conscious segment where dependable performance meets reasonable cost, making it practical for both small businesses outfitting a few employees and large organizations requiring hundreds of uniforms.
Best For: Automotive shops, manufacturing facilities, hospitality businesses, trade schools, maintenance departments, and industries requiring dependable work basics that project competence. Ideal for organizations seeking established brand recognition and proven customization compatibility, particularly when outfitting diverse teams that need versatile workwear suitable for varied tasks and environments.

7. Reprime (Artisan Collection)

Stylish, functional hospitality uniforms with European-inspired design flair, particularly popular with restaurants, hotels, and specialty businesses seeking unified professional appearance that elevates their brand image. Reprime has carved out a distinctive niche by combining fashion-forward aesthetics with practical functionality, creating uniforms that make staff look as polished and sophisticated as the establishments they represent.

Popular Products: Comprehensive hospitality uniform collections including aprons, chef jackets, server tunics, kitchen pants, and bartender vests. Their signature pieces feature clean lines, contemporary cuts, and thoughtful design details like reinforced stress points, functional pocket configurations, and stain-resistant treatments specifically engineered for food service environments.
Material Quality: Durable, easy-care fabrics featuring precision tailoring, advanced stain-resistant finishes, and color-retention treatments that maintain professional appearance through frequent commercial laundering. Reprime emphasizes materials that balance durability with comfort, using fabric blends that resist wrinkles, repel liquids, and maintain their structure through demanding hospitality work environments.
Fit & Comfort: Tailored, professional fits designed for extended shifts in high-energy hospitality environments, with practical design details like articulated sleeves, strategic ventilation, and reinforced high-wear areas. The cuts accommodate the constant movement required in restaurant and hotel work while maintaining the polished silhouette that enhances professional presentation and customer confidence.
Customization Potential: Excellent platform for embroidery, screen printing, and heat transfer decoration with stable fabrics that provide clean surfaces for detailed company logos and employee identification. The brand's neutral color palette and strategic decoration areas create ideal zones for hospitality branding, while the quality construction ensures logos maintain crisp appearance through frequent washing and daily wear.
Price Point: Moderate to premium pricing that reflects the specialized design, quality construction, and hospitality-specific features while remaining competitive within the foodservice uniform market. Reprime positions itself as delivering superior value through longevity, professional appearance, and functional design that reduces replacement costs over time.
Best For: Restaurants, hotels, catering companies, bars, cafes, specialty food retailers, and front-of-house hospitality teams where professional image significantly impacts customer perception and business success. Ideal for establishments seeking to differentiate themselves through coordinated, sophisticated staff appearance that reinforces their commitment to quality service and attention to detail.

8. CornerStone

High-quality, rugged, and affordable workwear specialist designed specifically for demanding industrial environments, with particular strength in safety-focused and high-visibility applications. CornerStone has built its reputation by delivering reliable performance gear that withstands harsh conditions while remaining budget-conscious, making it a go-to choice for organizations that prioritize function and value over fashion trends.

Popular Products: Comprehensive safety workwear line including hi-vis shirts, safety vests, hoodies, jackets, polos, and T-shirts, with standout offerings in ANSI-compliant high-visibility gear across all protection classes. Their safety shirt and vest collections are particularly popular for their consistent quality and broad size ranges that accommodate diverse workforces.
Material Quality: Fabrics engineered specifically for industrial laundering (IL50 rated), featuring reinforced stitching, chemical-resistant treatments, and colorfast dyes that maintain appearance through demanding commercial wash cycles. CornerStone emphasizes construction techniques like triple-needle stitching and reflective tape integration that deliver long-term durability in challenging work environments.
Fit & Comfort: Classic workwear fit philosophy emphasizing reliability and functional comfort over contemporary styling, designed for extensive daily wear without restriction. The sizing runs consistently across their product line, with generous cuts that accommodate safety equipment, tool belts, and layering requirements while maintaining professional appearance throughout demanding work shifts.
Customization Potential: Optimized specifically for customization applications with clean decoration areas, stable fabric construction, and strategic design elements that showcase logos prominently. Safety vests and shirts feature large, unobstructed spaces for company branding, while the consistent fabric quality ensures reliable embroidery and screen printing results across large uniform orders.
Price Point: Budget to moderate pricing that delivers exceptional value for industrial applications, positioning CornerStone as a cost-effective solution without compromising essential performance features. The brand excels at providing the durability and functionality needed for demanding work environments at price points that make large-scale uniform programs financially practical.
Best For: Transportation companies, construction crews, delivery services, warehouse operations, municipal departments, and industries requiring safety compliance and high-visibility gear. Perfect choice for organizations that need ANSI-compliant workwear, large-scale uniform programs, or any situation where reliable performance and budget efficiency are primary concerns over premium brand recognition.

How to Choose the Right Workwear Brand for Your Business

1. Assess Your Work Environment and Hazards

Start by honestly evaluating the conditions your team faces daily. Construction crews working with concrete and rebar need different protection than office-based field service techs. If your workers face chemical exposure, extreme weather, or high-visibility requirements, brands like Helly Hansen for weather protection or CornerStone for safety compliance become essential. Healthcare environments call for Wink's antimicrobial treatments, while outdoor crews benefit from Dri Duck's technical fabrics.

2. Define Your Brand Image Goals

Consider how your team's appearance reflects your company's values and market position. Premium brands like Carhartt project established competence and quality, making them ideal when your crew interacts with clients or works on high-profile projects. Budget-conscious operations might find Berne or CornerStone deliver the functionality they need without the premium markup, especially for large teams or promotional purposes.

3. Calculate Your True Budget Impact

Look beyond initial purchase price to consider longevity, replacement frequency, and employee satisfaction. Carhartt's higher upfront cost often balances out through extended wear life and employee pride, while Berne maximizes purchasing power for teams that need reliable gear without premium pricing. Factor in customization costs—some brands handle embroidery better than others, affecting your decoration budget.

4. Match Brand Strengths to Your Industry Needs

Different brands excel in specific applications. Dickies and CornerStone dominate industrial settings requiring consistent sizing and decoration compatibility. Reprime serves hospitality businesses needing sophisticated appearance. Wink targets healthcare with performance fabrics and professional styling. Choose brands with proven track records in your industry rather than general-purpose options.

5. Consider Your Customization Requirements

Evaluate how prominently you want your branding displayed and what decoration methods work best for your design. Heavyweight brands like Carhartt excel with embroidery but require specific techniques. Lighter-weight options from CornerStone or Dickies handle screen printing beautifully. Complex logos might steer you toward brands with smoother decoration surfaces, while simple designs work across all options.

6. Plan for Practical Implementation

Think through sizing consistency, reorder reliability, and employee preferences. Brands with extensive size ranges and consistent fit help outfit diverse teams successfully. Consider seasonal needs—do you need year-round options or specific weather protection? Factor in laundering requirements if you're using industrial cleaning services that demand IL50-rated fabrics.

7. Test Before Committing to Large Orders

Order samples of your top brand choices to evaluate comfort, durability, and decoration results firsthand. Have key team members try different brands and provide feedback on fit, comfort, and functionality. Test your decoration methods on sample garments to ensure professional results before placing large orders.

8. Align with Long-term Business Goals

Choose brands that support your company's growth trajectory and market positioning. If you're targeting premium clients or expanding into new markets, investing in recognized quality brands like Carhartt or Helly Hansen can enhance credibility. Cost-focused operations benefit from reliable performers like Berne or CornerStone that deliver functionality without premium pricing.

Find Your Perfect Workwear Match

The right custom workwear brand choice comes down to matching your specific needs with each brand's strengths—whether that's Carhartt's premium durability, Wink's healthcare focus, or CornerStone's budget-friendly safety compliance. Each of these eight brands delivers proven performance in their specialty areas, giving you confidence that your investment will serve your team well.

At RushOrderTees, we're experts at customizing workwear across all these brands and more. Our team understands how different fabrics respond to various decoration methods, which brands work best for specific industries, and how to optimize your artwork for maximum durability and professional appearance. From selecting the perfect garments for your work environment to ensuring your logos look sharp through countless wash cycles, we'll guide you through every step of creating custom workwear that works as hard as your people do.