Incorporatewear expands into Virgin territory
THE acquisition of Northern Rock by Virgin Money has provided a major boost to a West Midlands clothing firm.
Incorporatewear, based in Coleshill, supplies corporate clothing to a range of businesses, including many in the financial services sector.
Building on an existing relationship with the Virgin Group, the firm will be supplying Sir Richard Branson’s 480 customer-facing employees with tailored black suits, white shirts and ties augmented by subtle piping and accessories in the brand’s iconic red.
Incorporatewear said the contract highlighted two of the latest trends in corporate clothing, nanotechnology with its spill-resistant fabrics, and ‘de-off-shoring’, the move away from sourcing in the Far East towards using more flexible and reliable European manufacturers.
Kelly Bromley, Incorporatewear’s account manager for Virgin Money, said: “Our brief was to give a sleek, smart, business-like image but allow staff to feel comfortable. The black tailoring is flattering, and employees can choose from a selection of garments to suit their shape and preferences.”
The corporate wardrobe has been rolled out to staff at the 75 former Northern Rock branches converted to the Virgin Money brand.
Incorporatewear sourced the tailoring and shirting in Portugal with scarves and ties made in China.
Nanotechnology fabrics, such as the polywool/elastane combination used in the Virgin Money suiting, have nano-engineered finishing treatments applied to the high quality base textiles. The technology creates an end garment that resists spills, repels liquids and stains, wicks away moisture, and is anti-static without sacrificing comfort. The ability of the garments to stand up to spills combined increased durability have made them popular with Incorporatewear’s portfolio of airline clients, which includes Virgin Atlantic.
“These contracts are important for us as we continue to respond successfully to the challenging economic times. Adding Virgin Money to our portfolio of clients is a huge lift for our team, and further strengthens our presence in the financial sector,” added Mr Bromley.
