Case Study – Thistle Hotels

Thistle were in the process of a re-branding. They were looking for a ‘state of the art’ new image that would compliment their new brand image and would sit well against the new interiors they are creating for their hotels across the country.

The A&D design team lead by Claire Conley, against stiff competition, came up with an award winning range of contemporary and innovative styles for both front and back of house, which Thistle believes has embodied the new ethos of their re-branding.

Starting with a brief outlining Thistle Hotels exciting new branding the A&D design team developed a range of garments that not only met the brief but also highlighted the team’s ability to design a range of garments that is extremely innovative in its use of fabric, texture, colour and detail while being able to stand up to the rigours of everyday wear within a hotel environment.

Development

The initial presentation of designs was met with enthusiasm from the team at Thistle and with a few minor changes to the garments the range was signed off.

At this point the whole Product Development team became involved, specifications were written, patterns graded and issued, lab dips requested, toiles produced, embroidery disks instructed and sample garments manufactured.

It was agreed that the range would be wearer trialled at 3 sites in the UK which included a full issue at Thistle Liverpool.

The A&D measuring team were deployed to the 3 sites to measure all staff and collate the orders. Fabric and garments were ordered.

Delivery

On receipt into A&D goods were picked and packed and loaded onto one of our unique issuing vehicles.

Wearer trial uniforms were personally distributed to each member of staff with guidelines of how the garments should be worn and cared for.

Over the next 6 weeks members of the team from A&D visited each site to discuss the wearer trial, gain feedback on all aspects of the uniform from fit, colour, style, comfort, ease of care and practicality.

All feedback was collated and presented to the team at Thistle and approval to take the range into production and start the roll out process was given.