Top 10 uniform manufacturers, workwear suppliers in New York

In the hyper-competitive landscape of New York City, a company’s brand identity is communicated at every touchpoint—and an employee’s uniform is one of the most visible. Choosing a workwear partner is not merely a purchasing decision; it’s a strategic investment in your brand’s image, employee safety, and operational efficiency.

The right supplier does more than just sell garments; they provide a solution tailored to the unique demands of industries ranging from the high-stakes healthcare sector of Manhattan to the bustling kitchens of Brooklyn and the industrial workshops of Queens.

Navigating the multitude of suppliers can be a significant challenge. Some specialize in large-scale, managed rental programs ideal for enterprises, while others offer deep customization and direct purchase options perfect for small businesses and niche markets.

This guide moves beyond generic praise to provide a data-driven analysis of New York’s top uniform manufacturers and workwear suppliers, empowering you to select a partner that aligns with your specific operational needs, budget, and brand vision.

Comparative Overview of Top NY Workwear Suppliers

The National Giants: Managed Rental Services

For many businesses, the logistics of uniform management—cleaning, maintenance, repairs, and inventory control—are a significant operational burden. The following industry leaders specialize in comprehensive rental and managed service programs that handle these complexities.

Cintas Corporation

Cintas is an undisputed titan in the workwear industry, operating on a scale that few can match. With a reported revenue of $9.39 billion in fiscal year 2024, their market dominance is built on a comprehensive, full-service rental model. This isn’t just about providing uniforms; it’s about managing a complete program. For a New York-based hospital system or a multi-location hotel chain, this means Cintas handles weekly professional laundering, garment inspection, repairs, and automatic replacement of worn items.

Their value proposition is rooted in operational seamlessness. The Cintas Ready for the Workday® initiative ensures that employees always have clean, functional, and professional-looking apparel without any administrative overhead for the client. Beyond apparel, Cintas leverages its vast logistics network to bundle services, offering everything from restroom supplies and first aid kits to fire protection services, making them a powerful single-source vendor for facility management. Their deep penetration in the healthcare and high-end hospitality sectors is a testament to their ability to meet stringent hygiene and image standards.

UniFirst Corporation

UniFirst Corporation masterfully blends national scale with a focus on customized program delivery. Reporting over $2.2 billion in annual revenue, they service more than 300,000 customer locations across North America. What sets UniFirst apart is its early and widespread adoption of technology to enhance service accuracy. They are a leader in using UHF RFID chip technology, embedding a chip in every single garment to allow for meticulous tracking through the pickup, laundering, and delivery cycle. This virtually eliminates losses and ensures accurate inventory counts for clients, a crucial feature for businesses managing large and diverse workforces.

Their programs are particularly strong in the automotive, transportation, and energy sectors, where durability and specific safety features are paramount. UniFirst offers both rental and direct purchase options, providing flexibility for businesses that may want to own certain garments (like executive jackets) while renting daily-wear items. Their commitment to service is backed by an ISO 9001:2015 certification, a testament to their standardized, quality-managed processes.

Aramark Uniform Services

While also a major player in the rental market, Aramark Uniform Services distinguishes itself with a deep catalog of specialized and technical workwear. They are a critical supplier for New York industries where employee safety is non-negotiable, such as utilities, manufacturing, and emergency services. Aramark’s expertise shines in its extensive line of flame-resistant (FR) clothing compliant with NFPA 70E standards and high-visibility apparel that meets ANSI/ISEA 107 requirements.

Aramark’s approach is consultative. Their experts work with businesses to perform workplace hazard assessments and recommend the precise personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to ensure compliance and safety. Their supply chain reliability and advanced inventory management systems are crucial for businesses that cannot afford downtime or safety compromises. By offering highly technical garments within a managed rental program, Aramark solves two problems at once: sourcing compliant safety wear and managing its lifecycle.

The Specialists: Manufacturing and Customization

For businesses that prefer to purchase uniforms directly or require a high degree of customization, these suppliers offer unparalleled product quality and design expertise.

Red Kap

Red Kap, a division of VF Corporation (the parent company of brands like The North Face and Timberland), is a workwear manufacturer renowned for its singular focus on durability and functionality. For over 90 years, their brand has been synonymous with the American workforce, particularly in the automotive and industrial trades. Red Kap’s primary innovation is its Touchtex™ fabric technology, engineered to provide superior color retention, stain release, and moisture-wicking properties, ensuring garments look professional and feel comfortable long after countless industrial washes.

Their products, like the iconic Dura-Kap Industrial Pant and Industrial Work Shirt, are scientifically tested for tear resistance, seam strength, and colorfastness. While Red Kap typically sells through a network of distributors rather than directly to end-users, their brand is the benchmark for quality that many businesses specify when working with a uniform provider. When you partner with a supplier offering Red Kap, you are investing in a product engineered for the toughest jobs.

Image Uniforms

Based in New York, Image Uniforms carves out its niche in the market by focusing on truly bespoke uniform design. While larger suppliers offer customization like logos and name tags, Image Uniforms functions more like a fashion design house for corporate apparel. They work intimately with clients, particularly in the boutique hospitality, corporate, and private healthcare sectors, to develop a unique “signature look” from the ground up.

Their process involves:

• Brand consultation: Understanding the client’s brand ethos, interior design, and desired customer perception.
• Custom design and sketching: Creating original garment designs, not just modifying existing catalog items.
• Fabric sourcing and prototyping: Selecting high-quality, modern fabrics and producing samples for client approval.

This high-touch approach is ideal for a luxury hotel on Park Avenue or a cutting-edge medical spa seeking to create a distinctive and sophisticated brand experience through its staff’s appearance. They provide the tools to make the uniform an integral part of the brand’s narrative.

All Uniform Wear

All Uniform Wear operates on a highly accessible direct-purchase model, combining an extensive online presence with physical retail stores, including locations in the New York area. This makes them an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses or organizations needing to quickly outfit new employees without the commitment of a rental contract.

Their strength lies in variety and immediacy. A restaurant owner can walk into a store and purchase chef coats, server aprons, and non-slip footwear from leading brands like Dickies, Chef Works, and Cherokee Uniforms all in one visit. They offer powerful in-house customization services, including embroidery and screen printing, with quick turnaround times. This model is perfect for businesses with fluctuating staff numbers or those who want to maintain direct control over their uniform inventory while still having access to professional branding services.

Henry Pham (Pham Quang Anh), CEO of DONY Garment

This year, we have found that many international buyers are seeking new suppliers based in nations outside of China and Thailand to purchase many goods and products, including uniforms, workwear, reusable cloth face mask, and protective clothing.

At DONY Garment, we are proud to welcome international customers, especially those based in the US, Canada, the Middle East, and the EU market to discover the professional production line at our factory in Vietnam.

We guarantee our products are of the highest quality, at an affordable cost, and easy to transport across the world.