Kitchen uniform takes more abuse than almost any other workwear: heat, oil, bleach and a hot wash several times a week. CentralCustom supplies embroidered chef jackets, chef trousers, aprons, caps and front-of-house shirts to pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, schools and contract caterers across the UK. Tell us your covers, your headcount and your logo, and we will put together a kit that survives the laundry cycle and still looks sharp on the pass.
Why kitchens order from CentralCustom
Embroidery that survives the wash. Kitchen whites live in hot industrial washes, often at 60C or above, sometimes with bleach in the mix. We embroider with polyester thread and a stable backing so your logo does not fade to grey or pucker after a month. Print has its place, but on a garment washed this hard, embroidery earns its money.
Garments chosen for the section, not the catalogue. A larder chef and a grill chef do not want the same jacket. We will steer you toward mesh-back or short-sleeve options for hot sections, and heavier long-sleeve jackets where splash protection matters more.
Front of house and back of house from one order. Chef whites, aprons, polos, shirts and caps in one place means one delivery, one invoice, and a look that hangs together from kitchen to counter.
Sensible quantities. No pallet minimums. We will do three jackets for a new bistro and we will do a 200-piece rollout across a hotel group, with size splits and named packing if you want it.
Free digital mock-up before production. Send any logo file. We will set it up, show you exactly how it will sit on the chest or the sleeve, and wait for your approval before a needle goes near a garment.
Who it is for
- Independent restaurants and bistros kitting out a small brigade with a consistent look for the first time.
- Pubs and gastropubs where the same team crosses between kitchen and bar and needs both.
- Cafes, delis and bakeries wanting branded aprons and caps more than full chef whites.
- Hotels and event caterers needing repeatable orders that still match year after year as staff turn over.
- Contract caterers, schools and care settings buying to a budget with clear laundry and replacement cycles.
- Cookery schools and colleges ordering student jackets, often with individual names embroidered.
What we can brand
Chef jackets and chef whites, chef trousers, skull caps and beanies, bib aprons, waist aprons and cross-back aprons, tea towels, front-of-house polos and shirts, and softshells for delivery or market staff. Logos go on the chest, sleeve or apron bib. Names and job titles can be added to individual garments, which is the easiest way to stop kit disappearing into the wrong locker.
Frequently asked questions
Will embroidery survive a commercial laundry?
Yes, when it is done with the right thread and backing. We use polyester thread, which holds colour far better than rayon against high temperatures and bleach. Placement matters too, so we keep embroidery away from high-abrasion points such as the front edge of an apron.
Can I have chef jackets in colours other than white?
Yes. Black is popular for open kitchens and hides oil marks well, though it does show flour. Many kitchens colour-code by section or by role, which also makes it obvious at a glance who is food-handling and who is not.
How many sets does each chef need?
As a rough starting point, three sets per full-time chef if you launder on site weekly, and around five if laundry goes out or turnaround is slower. Hot sections chew through more. We would rather help you get this right than sell you a cupboard full of spares.
Do you supply aprons on their own?
Yes. Branded aprons are the cheapest way to look professional and are often the first thing a new cafe orders. Bib aprons for kitchen work, waist aprons for front of house, and cross-backs where staff wear them all day.
What is the lead time?
Usually around 7 to 10 working days from artwork approval on standard stock lines. Tell us if you have an opening date and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Can you add individual chefs names?
Yes. Names, roles and brigade positions can all be embroidered. It is popular in hotels, cookery schools and anywhere with a large brigade.
Do you handle repeat orders when we take on new staff?
That is the point of keeping your file. Your artwork, thread colours, garment codes and positions stay on record, so a top-up order in December matches the batch you bought in March.
Get a quote for your kitchen
Send us your logo, the garments you need and rough numbers, and we will come back with a costed quote and a free digital mock-up. If you are not sure what to order, tell us how many covers you do and how your laundry works and we will build a sensible list for you. Browse the wider custom workwear range or get in touch to get started.
