It all started back in August last year when we began discussing workwear for 2025 for our blue collar workforce. I was the one responsible for sourcing the stuff, and it was for our rather large construction team. I wasn’t new to the job but I was well aware that picking the right gear for work doesn’t start and end with a few checkboxes. The American workwear market is packed with options, but finding quality gear that actually delivers felt to me like searching for a needle in a haystack.
But it all ended well. And now we are waiting for the shipment to arrive.
How I Began
I spent a few months getting samples from different brands, from a few different suppliers. My crew got a look at what they could be wearing next year. Though they mean well, they had something negative to say about everything I got. But still some of them stood out. Some of those samples are falling apart as I am writing this. Some of them just didn’t fit well.
This continued till I found that cornerstone jackets had been sparking more conversations within my team. That’s when my focus mostly shifted to this brand and its workwear offerings. We already had Carhartt in our discussions. But if you are familiar with the brand, you know their workwear can get a little pricey. We didn’t have that kind of budget this year, so we had to settle for something that’s almost as good yet still budget-friendly for us.
CornerStone kind of met all the criteria.
Why I Went For It Specifically
The decision was made after I got my team supervisors to vet cornerstone shirts and jackets. They seemed to agree that the workwear is durable if anything. The best feedback came from Ed, our veteran construction supervisor. He just summed it all up saying this is workwear that doesn’t feel like one. I think he meant that positively. Additionally, they also had really good ANSI Class hi-vis jackets. The fabric had that high quality feel, and some of the styles offered just the right kind of breathability we needed for summer. Impressive snag resistance too. The sizes mostly stayed true for the shirts we got on the sample batch. But we had to be a little attentive on the jacket sizes. I could see how these uniforms will last longer than the ones we use.
But one of the main reasons why I decided to go for CornerStone next year was because of how the brand appealed to our office staff. In my sample batch, the supplier also sent us a few polo shirts from the brand. They were amazing to wear and looked very crisp. The brand got a lot of us talking about it a lot. The price wasn’t very unreasonable either.
While CornerStone isn’t the cheapest option upfront, I could figure that we won’t be spending much on uniforms next year like we did this year. Fewer replacements is a factor when the budget is shorter. Less time for my department to deal with uniform issues.
Quick Tips for Other Buyers
If you’re considering CornerStone for your team, start small. Order samples, let your workers test them in real conditions, and gather feedback. Focus on the features that matter most for your industry, like chemical resistance and stain-resistance for manufacturing or moisture-wicking for outdoor work.
All of this worked out well for me because I found a really friendly wholesale supplier. They got me the best deal for my order. Customization is underway and I am hoping to get my shipment by the first week of January. What gets me really excited is that I saved enough to get a few polo shirts too for our front office staff. They are in for a surprise.