Top 10 uniform manufacturers, workwear suppliers in Texas

In the diverse and demanding economic landscape of Texas—from the sprawling oil fields of the Permian Basin to the bustling healthcare corridors of Houston and the high-tech construction sites in Austin—choosing the right workwear supplier is a critical business decision. It’s an investment in safety, professionalism, and brand identity. A dependable supplier doesn’t just sell apparel; they provide a solution that enhances employee morale, ensures regulatory compliance, and withstands the rigors of the job.

This guide moves beyond generic descriptions to provide a data-driven look at the foremost uniform manufacturers and workwear suppliers serving Texas. We’ll explore their specific strengths, key product technologies, and the distinct value they offer to various industries, empowering you to make an informed choice for your crew.

Carhartt: The Gold Standard for Uncompromising Durability

For generations of workers, Carhartt has been less of a brand and more of a piece of essential equipment. Established in 1889, its reputation is built on a foundation of sheer toughness.

• Core Expertise: Carhartt excels in producing workwear from its signature heavyweight 12-ounce, 100% ring-spun cotton duck canvas. This material is legendary for its resistance to snags, tears, and abrasion.
• Technological Edge: Beyond the classic duck canvas, Carhartt innovates with technologies crucial for Texas weather. Their Force® line offers sweat-wicking and fast-drying properties ideal for humid summers, while Full Swing® technology incorporates strategically placed stretch panels, providing unparalleled freedom of movement for physically demanding jobs like framing or ranching.
• Texas Relevance: Walk onto any major construction project in Dallas-Fort Worth or a farm in the Panhandle, and you’ll see a sea of Carhartt brown. Their line of flame-resistant (FR) clothing is also a staple in the oil and gas industry, meeting critical safety standards like NFPA 2112.

Dickies: The Authentic Texas-Born Value Leader

Founded in Bryan, Texas, in 1922 and later headquartered in Fort Worth, Dickies is a true Texas original. Its legacy is providing reliable, no-nonsense workwear at an accessible price point, making it a favorite for outfitting large teams.

• Iconic Products: The Dickies 874® Work Pant is an industry icon. Made from a durable poly-cotton twill, it’s known for its crisp, professional look, wrinkle resistance, and stain-release finish, making it a go-to for automotive technicians, maintenance crews, and manufacturing workers.
• Value Proposition: Dickies has mastered the balance between cost and performance. For businesses needing to equip a large workforce without compromising on a clean, uniform appearance, Dickies offers an unbeatable return on investment.
• Industry Application: Their extensive range of work shirts, pants, and coveralls is a ubiquitous sight in Texas’s vast network of automotive repair shops, logistics centers, and light industrial facilities.

Cintas: The Full-Service Corporate Image Consultant

Cintas is a titan in the uniform industry, operating on a massive scale. They position themselves not just as a supplier, but as a partner in managing your company’s total image.

• Service Model: Cintas offers everything from direct purchase to full-service rental and leasing programs. Their rental service is particularly comprehensive, including professional laundering, garment inspection, repairs, and automatic replacement of worn-out items, ensuring every employee looks their best every day.
• Customization and Breadth: With an enormous catalog, they can source or create a unique look for any industry. They offer high-end embroidery and branding services to turn a simple uniform into a powerful marketing tool. Their service extends beyond apparel to include facility services like floor mats, restroom supplies, and first aid and safety products.
• Texas Footprint: Cintas has a significant presence across Texas, with facilities servicing major metropolitan areas. They are a dominant provider for the hospitality industry in cities like San Antonio and the healthcare sector in the Texas Medical Center.

UniFirst: The Customizable Program Expert

UniFirst competes directly with Cintas but often distinguishes itself with a focus on highly customizable uniform programs and a dedicated customer service model.

• Tailored Solutions: UniFirst works closely with businesses to develop programs that meet very specific needs. This includes specialized garments for industries like food processing (HACCP-compliant) or cleanroom environments common in Texas’s tech sector. Their Core Launderable Garments are engineered for industrial laundering, ensuring longevity and color retention.
• Safety Focus: They offer a robust portfolio of safety wear, including high-visibility (Hi-Vis) apparel compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107 standards, essential for road crews and airport ground staff, and a full line of FR protective clothing.
• Value-Added Services: UniFirst’s programs are designed to be an all-in-one solution. They handle the measurements, inventory management, cleaning, and replacements, freeing up business owners to focus on their core operations.

Aramark: The Integrated Facility and Apparel Solution

Aramark is unique in its dual expertise in both uniform services and broad-scale facility management. This makes them an ideal partner for large institutions.

• Integrated Services: A business like a large hospital, university, or manufacturing plant in Texas can contract with Aramark for not only their employee uniforms but also their food services, janitorial services, and overall facility maintenance. This consolidation simplifies vendor management and can lead to significant efficiencies.
• Rental and Supply: Their uniform rental service is robust, offering a wide selection of industrial workwear, healthcare scrubs, and hospitality apparel. They leverage their vast supply chain to ensure consistent quality and availability.
• Target Market: Aramark shines when servicing large, complex organizations. Think of the needs of a major Texas university or a large-scale manufacturing facility in the Houston Ship Channel—Aramark is equipped to handle the multifaceted demands of such clients.

Red Kap: The Undisputed Automotive Workwear Authority

For over 90 years, Red Kap has been obsessed with one thing: making better workwear for the automotive industry.

• Purpose-Built Design: Red Kap understands a mechanic’s job. Their shirts and pants feature Touchtex™ technology, providing superior color retention and stain-release properties to combat grease and oil. Many of their garments feature “zero-scratch” designs with concealed buttons and zippers to protect a vehicle’s paint job.
• Performance and Durability: They test their garments extensively, simulating the stretching, reaching, and crawling that technicians do all day. This focus on functional design has made them the official workwear provider for many top auto manufacturers and racing teams.
• Texas Automotive Scene: With a massive number of dealerships, independent garages, and collision centers across Texas, Red Kap is the go-to brand for a professional, durable, and purpose-built automotive uniform.

Barco Uniforms: The Innovator in Healthcare Apparel

Barco has been revolutionizing medical apparel since 1929, focusing on the unique needs of healthcare professionals. They are known for style, comfort, and performance fabrics.

• Fabric Innovation: Barco is famous for its proprietary fabric blends. Their “arc-tech” fabrics feature properties like 4-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and anti-static technology. Their popular Grey’s Anatomy™ by Barco line is renowned for its exceptionally soft feel and professional drape.
• Healthcare-Centric Design: Their scrubs and lab coats are designed with ample pocket space, instrument loops, and comfortable fits that allow for the 12-hour shifts common in the medical field. They understand that for a nurse or doctor, a uniform is a piece of functional gear.
• Relevance to Texas Healthcare: As a hub for world-class medical facilities, Texas has a massive population of healthcare workers who demand comfort and professionalism. Barco provides a premium, retail-quality option for hospital systems and private practices looking to elevate their team’s apparel.

Walls Industries: The Expert in Cold Weather and Outdoor Workwear

Acquired by Dickies but maintaining its distinct identity, Walls has a long history of outfitting workers in rugged outdoor environments, particularly in the energy and agricultural sectors.

• Core Strength: Walls is synonymous with insulated outerwear. Their coveralls, bibs, and jackets are designed to provide maximum warmth and protection without sacrificing mobility. They are a cornerstone for ranchers, field service technicians, and energy workers who face unpredictable Texas weather.
• Industry Focus: Walls has deep roots in the oil and gas and farm & ranch communities. They offer extensive lines of durable duck and FR clothing specifically designed for the hazards and conditions of these demanding fields.
• Product Example: The classic Walls insulated bib overall is a staple piece of gear for anyone working outdoors in a Texas winter, offering legendary durability and warmth.

WearGuard: The Direct-to-Business Workhorse

Part of the Aramark family, WearGuard operates as a direct-to-business supplier, known for its tough, no-frills workwear and easy ordering process for businesses.

• Business Model: WearGuard simplifies procurement. They offer a catalog of rugged workwear essentials—from classic work shirts and pants to outerwear—that can be easily customized with company logos through their in-house embroidery and printing services.
• Known For: Their reputation is built on long-lasting, durable basics. Their Iron-Tuff® outerwear, for example, is well-regarded for its performance in cold and demanding conditions.
• Best Fit: WearGuard is an excellent choice for small to mid-sized businesses in construction, trades, and logistics that need a straightforward way to purchase durable, branded uniforms directly without the complexity of a full rental program.

G&K Services: A Legacy of Reliable Uniform Rental (Now part of Cintas)

Note: In 2017, G&K Services was acquired by Cintas. While the G&K brand name is no longer prominent, its legacy, operational facilities, and customer base have been integrated into Cintas’s massive network.

• Historical Significance: For over a century, G&K Services was a major force in the uniform rental industry, building a strong reputation for customer service and reliability, particularly in the industrial and manufacturing sectors of Texas.
• Integration into Cintas: Today, former G&K customers are served by Cintas, which has integrated G&K’s infrastructure to expand its own reach and service capacity. This acquisition solidified Cintas’s position as the market leader in Texas and across North America. The expertise and regional knowledge of the G&K teams now contribute to the broader Cintas operation.

The best uniform supplier in Texas is the one that aligns perfectly with your industry’s demands, your company’s budget, and your brand’s image. For the individual tradesperson, the proven durability of Carhartt is unmatched. For a growing business needing to outfit a team affordably, the Texas-born value of Dickies is a smart investment.

For companies seeking a complete, hands-off solution, the comprehensive rental programs from Cintas and UniFirst offer peace of mind and a consistently professional appearance. And for those in specialized fields, turning to experts like Red Kap for automotive or Barco for healthcare ensures you are getting apparel that is not just worn, but is engineered to perform. By evaluating your specific needs against the unique strengths of these top suppliers, you can confidently equip your team for success.

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.