National Accounts
Letter from the Editor
My whole life, I’ve believed in magic. But not the dramatic sort you see in the movies — no spells, no clouds of smoke. It’s the extraordinary that lives in the everyday; I see it in the experiences we share at Design Collective, the care we have for our customers and families — and especially in the plans we make for the future as we enter an exciting chapter in our history.
We’ve reimagined Design Collective and reinvigorated our offerings with our unparalleled experience and creativity. It’s of utmost importance to us that every client’s individuality is celebrated, with their unique needs and vision addressed and expressed.
I see magic in the smaller details too — and this belief is reflected in Design Collective’s work. We put passion and inspiration in every single stitch, and focus on perfecting each part of our process. From creating meaningful partnerships with our clients, to providing all our teams with the exact tools they need, to utilizing the latest tech to help bring collections to life, it’s the details that help make what we offer truly remarkable.
There is no other team, company or group I’d rather be a part of, and there are no clients I’d rather partner with. Let’s make something magical, together.
President & COO
A Reintroduction
Discover a whole new approach to working with style, tailoring solutions to your business and turning your apparel program into a competitive advantage.
Exclusive Programs
Explore our consultative process, designed to deliver a program that performs for your employees and drives results for your brand.
Partner Collaboration
A look into our collaborative partnership with SRM Concrete, showcasing how we help solve complex logistical challenges and unify brand image across roles, properties and functions.
Sustainability Program
Find opportunities to align your apparel program with corporate values and ESG mandates, giving you a competitive edge with strategic, sustainable solutions.
Ultimate Relay
Explore a line of high-performance workwear designed to deliver a lower total cost of ownership through superior durability, innovative materials and modern styles with staying power.
A Reintroduction
Every second of every day, work changes. Trends change. Business needs shift. And expectations always get higher.
At Design Collective, we’re constantly evolving to better tailor our processes and capabilities to our partners’ needs. With a refined, solutions-oriented approach, we deliver impactful apparel programs that are purpose-built for your business, your people and your priorities — designed to work on every level.
What we wear is personal. It provides comfort. Confidence. Expression. When it comes to work, the right apparel can make a world of difference. Which is why when designing that apparel, it’s all about a perfect fit: A flexible, collaborative partner. A vision that captures the heart and soul of the brand. And a final design that makes the wearer feel invincible. At Design Collective®, we are the perfect fit apparel partner. Fashionled, on-trend and never satisfied, we work with leaders across a spectrum of industries to create apparel solutions that foster a sense of pride in their people. So when those people prepare for the day and look in the mirror, they don’t just see a job. They see a connection to something bigger than themselves.
This is the power of Working with Style. ™
A journey to find our expression
Creating an impactful, meaningful experience is paramount. Providing superior service, style and solutions is what drives our vision. We champion collaboration, creativity and style, marrying our expertise with yours to create a perfect expression of your brand vision.
What we wear is personal
How we deliver value with style
We combine the creative, retail-inspired approach of a design studio with the operational strength and scale of a Fortune 500 company. For you, this means best-in-class design and innovation, bolstered by a world-class supply chain that mitigates risk and ensures delivery. 02 Bespoke design at enterprise scale Apparel that boosts brand pride and retention
Workwear is more than functional. The right apparel inspires your employees to bring their best selves to work. Whether creating a performance-driven or fashion-led wardrobe, we thoughtfully design the details that make wearers feel comfortable, safe and proud to represent your brand.
We are a flexible, solutions-focused partner. We begin every engagement by listening, seeking to understand your unique operational demands, brand goals and business challenges. From there, we work in close collaboration to build the ideal apparel solution that works for every level of your organization.
Why Design Collective® is the perfect fit for you.
Design Collective® is more than just an apparel provider. We are a strategic partner for business leaders who require a full suite of sophisticated, reliable and cost-effective solutions that are tailored to brand and business objectives.
With us, your apparel program isn’t about what your employees wear. It’s about turning apparel into a competitive advantage with every touchpoint, at national scale.
Design contributors
Caroline Bartek Director of Design
Caroline’s belief that design must be both creative and client-focused is fundamental to the innovative work she does leading our design team. She has a rare ability to collaborate on multiple organizational levels, capturing the many perspectives of the end users to guide our clients into successful programs.
Michelle Dortch Senior Designer — Training
As a brand visionary, Michelle constantly looks to the future of apparel trends and technology. She bridges creative and strategic worlds, collaborating with design, technical, fabric and operational teams to ensure the continuous evolution of our offerings.
Janet Schoenborn
Apparel Designer
Janet approaches every design opportunity with the goal of translating a client’s vision and brand message into product that is not only suitable for the job function, but also product that employees are excited to wear. With extensive experience in trend analysis and product innovation, she is also a champion for our clients’ sustainability efforts. Her collaborations with clients continue to be a source of inspiration and strategic creativity.
Exclusive Programs
Design with a personal touch and lasting impact
The most successful apparel programs are born from a deep understanding of your business. Our Exclusive Programs are built on a consultative, solutionsfocused process designed to deliver apparel that performs for your employees and drives results for your brand.
It all begins with listening. We deploy a hands-on approach to creating a scalable apparel program that is tailored to the needs of your brand, business and people at every level. With deep knowledge of your industry, we leverage trend insights, innovative textiles and advanced technology to design a program that is uniquely yours.
It’s all in the Details: Our “Day in the Life” discovery process
To build the perfect solution, we must first understand the challenge. Our “Day in the Life” program provides an in-depth look at your employees’ daily activities through their own eyes. By immersing ourselves in their work, we see firsthand how they move, the environments they face and the functional demands of their roles.
This diligence is a form of risk mitigation and insight gathering. It allows us to identify specific needs and develop client metrics to
create apparel that is perfectly on-brand and fit-for-purpose. We can then curate a collection, starting with our proven Ready-to-Wear garments and building from there with unique, custom pieces. From fabric sourcing to trim details, every element is selected to meet your business needs and speak to your brand’s vision, giving your employees the confidence to excel while giving you the peace of mind that they’re showing up on-brand and perfectly outfitted for the job at hand.
Feel Good
SRM Concrete is one of the largest and fastest-growing, ready-mix providers in the United States, employing over 8,000 people across 19 states.
The Challenge
As a result of rapid growth through acquisition, SRM needed a unified apparel program that reflected its new stature as an industry leader. They required a single, reliable vendor who could not only service their current vast footprint but also scale to support aggressive future growth.
The Solution
Our expert design team was challenged to create a program that supported SRM’s brand image while incorporating critical safety and durability features. The design focus was placed on SRM’s drivers. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we developed high-performance prototypes with brand-forward details like custom logo embroidery, contrast color piping and reflective safety elements.
The Result
Our extensive resources and trusted global supply chain were key to success. We managed an aggressive rollout, delivering 3,000 units per week for 12 weeks. By leveraging our scale and integrated capabilities, SRM was able to consolidate from multiple vendors to a single, trusted partner and successfully rollout a total of 36,000 units across all SRM locations.
Sustainable Program
Style meets substance: Weaving sustainability into your wardrobe
Styles that sustain your performance and our planet
In today’s evolving landscape, we recognize that many organizations are seeking ways to align their apparel programs with their values. Whether sustainability is a core priority or one of many considerations, we’re here to help you tell your story. Together, we’ll design a program that reflects what matters most to your brand—and to the people who wear it.
Sustainability is reflected in our offering of more than 200 apparel styles made with sustainable materials, with over 600,000 of these garments already proudly worn by employees across the country. We make it easy to make a positive impact, whether it’s through our own collections or by leveraging our partnerships with trusted brands like Carhartt® and Under Armour® to deliver the perfect fit for your company’s needs, vision and values.
Working with you in mind
We believe you should never have to compromise on quality or style to make a conscious choice. That’s why our most popular suiting collections, Momentum and Regeneration, are made with recycled plastic bottles, offering a premium look and feel that your employees will love to wear and your business can be proud to stand behind.
The Ultimate Relay Collection
Performance with ultimate style
A smart apparel program requires smart solutions. The Ultimate Relay Collection is a versatile, high-performance line engineered for the rigors of the modern workforce.
Built to last, this collection offers a seamless balance of style and function, featuring our top-performing Ultimate Cargo Pant, the Ultimate Short, Ultimate Skort and Ultimate Pant. Its versatility makes it a trusted solution across a wide variety of industries and job functions.
More than style. It’s business strategy.
The garments are crafted from a durable, lightweight 100% polyester twill that lowers the total cost of ownership by extending replacement cycles. Key performance features like moisture cooling technology, functional pocketing and mechanical stretch lead to higher employee satisfaction and performance.
Explore the Ultimate Relay Collection for a proven, high-performance apparel solution that unlocks a breadth of benefits for your people, brand and business.
Our Solutions
World-class workplace fashion design is just the beginning. In partnering with Design Collective, you entrust your brand to a team that offers unmatched resources and a truly collaborative process, from first sketch to final delivery and beyond.
Curated collection
A boutique collection built for every client, delivering on your unique brand vision using our full suite of solutions and proven capabilities.
Ready To Wear
Made for multitasking. Designed for mixing and matching. This timeless, on-trend line from the Design Collective makes transitioning from professional apparel to more casual attire seamless — ensuring you’re always Ready™ to take on whatever your workday may bring.
Studio
Let our tailored approach capture your brand’s unique, ownable elements. Our Design Collective designers work closely with you to help bring your vision to life. With dynamic design studios in Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami and Toronto, our customized offering puts you right at the center of a collaborative creative process.
Partner Brands
Aspirational apparel collections aren’t achieved by going it alone. By partnering with preeminent retail brands, we take our Ready-to-Wear collection to the next level. Seasonal, complimentary styles from Carhartt®, Chef Works®, Shoes For Crews® and Under Armour® keep employees ahead of the fashion curve and proud to represent your brand.
For more information on our solutions and to start building your program, visit Cintas.com/designcollective or call us at 800.864.3676.