Buying guide, Uniforms
Restaurant Winterwear: Hoodies, Zippers, Cardigans and Rider Raincoats
From November, half of India's restaurant teams start layering whatever they own over the uniform, and by January the floor looks like a bus queue. Winterwear is not a luxury add-on; it is the piece that keeps your uniform system intact for four months of the year.
Pick the layer by the role
- Hooded zipper for kitchen prep, back of house, delivery and anyone moving between indoors and out. Zips open when it gets warm, stays on.
- Crew sweatshirt for service floors where a hood reads too casual. Cleanest surface for a chest crest.
- Hoodie for cafes, dessert brands and younger teams. Also the single best-selling piece if you sell merchandise.
- Cardigan or knitted V-neck for fine-dine and hotels, worn over a shirt with the collar out. Warmer than it looks, and formal.
- Windcheater or fleece jacket for valet, gate, outdoor seating and riders.
- Raincoat or poncho for delivery riders through monsoon; add reflective piping.
Fabric weights that make sense in India
Most of India does not need Arctic gear, and over-specifying is a common and expensive mistake. For Delhi NCR, Punjab and the plains, a 300 to 340 GSM cotton-fleece or French terry is the sweet spot: warm enough for a December night on an open terrace, not so heavy that it becomes unwearable indoors. For the hills, Srinagar, Shimla, Manali, we go to 400 GSM brushed fleece or a poly-fill quilted jacket.
Branding: embroider, do not print
Winterwear is washed less often but worn constantly, and printed logos on fleece crack and peel faster than on woven cotton. Embroidery on the left chest, a small embroidered sleeve mark and a woven label at the hem give a retail-grade finish that survives the season. If you want a large graphic, put it on the back and use a high-density DTF print rather than plastisol.
The winter layer is the piece staff take home and wear on their day off. That is free advertising, and it is worth making the garment good enough that they want to.
Make it merchandise too
A hoodie designed for staff is one small step away from a hoodie you can sell. Order a slightly different colourway without the role-specific details, put it on the counter, and let regulars buy into the brand. Several of our cafe clients now run a small winter merch drop each year alongside their staff order, which effectively subsidises the uniform.
Quantities and timing
One winter layer per person, plus 10 to 15 percent spares in common sizes. Place the order by September. Winter fabrics have longer mill lead times, embroidery queues are full in October, and if you order in November you will be wearing your winterwear in February.
See winterwear we have delivered on our work gallery, or send your headcount to +91 98213 34906 on WhatsApp for options and pricing.
