The Uniformer

A uniform can do more than identify an employee—it can help express a company’s culture and give its team a sense of belonging. Rick Levine talks with HPI’s Melissa Deatherage Ortiz and Josh Mazzola about turning uniforms into strategic brand assets while managing the everyday demands of a full-service apparel program.

They explore the growing use of lifestyle apparel and limited-time drops, particularly in quick-service restaurants, and explain why those ideas must fit each brand’s identity and workforce. Employee surveys, wear tests, and collaboration with internal creative teams help connect fresh designs with the comfort, consistency, and durability people need on the job. The conversation also examines HPI’s relationship with BAMKO and how uniforms and branded merchandise can work together.

Behind the clothing, Melissa and Josh discuss custom manufacturing, inventory availability, flexible distribution, vendor consolidation, and transparent communication through supply-chain disruptions. They share why visiting employees in their actual work environment can reveal problems that laboratory testing alone misses. For uniform suppliers and program managers, this episode offers a practical look at building programs around both the brand and the people who wear it.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtNuiExgvOI

What does it take to build workwear fabrics that feel better, last longer, and arrive when customers need them? Rick Levine talks with Sean Benninghoff, VP of Sales – Workwear & Technical Textiles at Winnitex USA, about the decisions behind today’s uniform fabrics. Sean explains how the family-owned manufacturer’s vertically integrated operations connect spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing across China, Vietnam, and Nicaragua.

The conversation explores the tradeoffs between Asian sourcing and nearshoring, including lead times, order sizes, inventory costs, and supply-chain flexibility. Sean discusses how producing comparable fabrics in multiple locations can give customers alternatives when disruptions occur. He also shares how Winnitex traces cotton from bale to finished fabric and describes the company’s transition to PFAS-free finishes.

Looking ahead, Rick and Sean examine the push for lighter, cooler fabrics with stretch, including flame-resistant workwear. The challenge is balancing comfort and new features with the durability, color retention, laundering performance, and protective requirements uniform programs depend on. For manufacturers, distributors, and sourcing teams, this episode offers a practical look at how fabric development and sourcing choices shape the finished garment.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mE2JMoweA

Getting uniform sizing wrong creates more than a return shipment—it adds administrative work, delays, and frustration for the people who need the right garments to do their jobs. In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine talks with Mihai Medeșan, VP of Sales at Esenca Sizing, about how digital measurement can improve fit while reducing the effort involved in outfitting a workforce.

Mihai explains how Esenca uses smartphones and tablets to capture body, hand, and foot measurements, then combines that data with calibrated garment size charts to recommend sizes across a uniform collection. They discuss remote sizing for dispersed employees, faster group scanning, the subjectivity of traditional fitting sessions, and applications for gloves, footwear, and other PPE.

The conversation also explores how sizing audits can reveal gaps in women’s fit and help suppliers design more inclusive collections. Mihai addresses employee privacy, Esenca’s approach to processing images without retaining them, offline options, and integration with existing ordering and management systems. It is a practical look at the technology, trust, and operational changes behind better-fitting uniforms.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Rethinking Uniform Sizing with Esenca

From its roots in swimwear to a growing uniform and workwear business serving Mexico and the United States, Lazzar has built its approach around adaptability, long-term relationships, and practical product innovation. Rick Levine talks with Ramón Becerra, Chief Revenue Officer of Lazzar USA, about the family company’s journey and the opportunities ahead.

Ramón discusses the advantages of manufacturing in Mexico, shorter supply chains, flexible custom programs, and a production model that connects a central operation in Guadalajara with specialized sewing partners in smaller communities. He also shares how customer feedback and a cross-functional innovation committee guide new fabrics and designs.

The conversation explores lightweight, breathable workwear for hot climates, moisture management, stretch, sun protection, and the needs of smaller uniform programs. They also discuss sustainability, service, brand building, and why supporting customers and manufacturing partners over the long term remains central to Lazzar’s growth.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Lazzar USA on Workwear & Mexico Manufacturing

Custom apparel is becoming faster, more flexible, and more closely connected to the uniform business. In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine talks with Luis Orellana, Director of Growth and Strategy at Merchfuel, about the design, development, manufacturing, and logistics behind private-label apparel programs.

Luis explains how Merchfuel combines a Los Angeles development and sampling operation with overseas production to help distributors bring custom ideas to market. The conversation explores rapid sampling, smaller production runs, color consistency, performance fabrics, global compliance responsibilities, and the importance of managing delivery from start to finish.

They also discuss Merchfuel’s Next Print decoration process, the convergence of promotional merchandise and employee uniform programs, and Print Works Hub’s approach to decorating blanks with printing, embroidery, and patches. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the capabilities helping distributors offer more distinctive apparel without building a manufacturing operation of their own.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Navigating Global Apparel Production with Merchfuel

What does it take to keep making custom headwear in the United States? In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine talks with Michael Struck, Sales Manager at Graffiti Caps, about the Cleveland manufacturer’s approach to made-to-order caps, personal service, and domestic production.

Michael explains how customers can choose from a wide range of profiles, fabrics, materials, and decoration options—and why physical pre-production samples help turn ideas into successful orders. He shares how Graffiti serves uniform programs, promotional customers, independent brands, and organizations including the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Navy.

The conversation also explores domestically sourced leather patches, detailed heat embossing, winter knit hats, and ongoing work on new mesh options. It is a practical look at how customization, craftsmanship, and close customer relationships create opportunities for American-made headwear.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Graffiti Caps & the Future of Domestic Headwear

How does a textile mill keep innovating after 170 years? Rick Levine talks with Bethany of Draper Knitting, a sixth-generation family business in Canton, Massachusetts, about the craftsmanship, technical expertise, and adaptability behind American-made performance fabrics.

Bethany explains how circular knits, high-pile fabrics, and stitch-bonded nonwovens serve applications ranging from protective apparel and military boot liners to outdoor garments and industrial products. The conversation explores renewed interest in wool, creative fiber blends, stretch through fabric construction, and the value of a domestic supply chain.

They also discuss traceability, restricted substances, textile-to-textile recycling, reclaimed aramid fibers, and the potential for automation to support skilled workers. It is an inside look at a boutique knitter that continues to solve new problems with textiles while building on generations of experience.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Draper Knitting’s 170 Years of Textile Innovation

What does a modern uniform need to deliver? In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine talks with Nicolette Dykstra and Chip Danby of Edwards Garment about the shift toward more comfortable, casual, and versatile career apparel—and the work behind balancing style, durability, performance, and value.

The conversation explores the Essentials by Edwards collection, the importance of reliable inventory and product continuity, and how distributors can build focused programs for specific markets. Nicolette and Chip discuss stretch utility pants, quarter-zips, culinary apparel, and the growing demand for easy-care garments that employees want to wear.

They also explain how stock and custom programs complement each other, how collaboration with EdwardsX informs new products, and why closer connections between sales teams, designers, and end users lead to better uniform solutions.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: Edwards Garment on Uniform Trends & New Essentials

In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine talks with David Price, President and CEO of SoCal Global Trading, about building a more flexible, resilient global supply chain for uniforms, corporate apparel, and related products.

David explains why sourcing decisions increasingly depend on total landed cost, tariff exposure, compliance, speed, and reliable backup production locations. He shares how dedicated customer teams coordinate product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, and brand protection across a global factory network.

The conversation also explores sustainability and CiCLO technology, the growing demand for stretch and comfort in healthcare and workwear, and the practical advantages of consolidated shipping, warehousing, and fulfillment. It is a candid look at how long-term partnerships and careful planning help uniform companies navigate an unpredictable sourcing environment.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: SoCal Global on Smarter Global Sourcing & Supply Chains

In this episode of The Uniformer, Rick Levine sits down with Anil Kariwala, founder and CEO of Kariwala Industries, for a conversation that reaches far beyond manufacturing uniforms. Together they explore how uniforms create psychological safety, why people should never be viewed as "resources," and how purpose-driven businesses can unlock human potential.

Anil shares his philosophy on leadership, work-life balance, self-actualization, sustainability, AI, and the future of workwear while offering a refreshing global perspective shaped by nearly four decades in the industry.

Whether you're a uniform supplier, business leader, or simply interested in building organizations where people thrive, this episode will challenge the way you think about work, purpose, and the role uniforms play in bringing people together.