The secrets of the perfect apron

Natural fabrics versus synthetic fabrics versus leather.

This is the first step in choosing your work uniform. And for good reason, the fabric used for your apron will determine its durability, feel, and visual quality. When it comes to aprons, cotton, polycotton, and leather are the most popular materials.

• Cotton: Known for its comfort, lightness, and softness, cotton is a safe bet for weaving your apron. Its natural fibers guarantee flexibility of movement and air permeability for better skin breathability . These qualities make it a more comfortable and noble alternative to polycotton.
  Our Tango , Java , and Carioca aprons are all made from 100% natural cotton. The added bonus? They're water-repellent , so you can work safely without the hassle of damp.
• Polycotton: Polycotton is a blend of cotton and polyester. By combining these two materials, you get an easy-care apron that's not prone to wrinkling, but much less durable than a 100% cotton apron.
• Leather: Appreciated for its nobility and resistance to wear, leather will give character to your apron. Its firm and warm appearance contributes to its comfort. But beyond appearance, the leather apron also appeals for its ease of maintenance. Avoid the washing machine (leather is very sensitive to water temperature) and simply wipe it with a damp sponge to clean it. The little Atelier TB bonus? The leather we use on our aprons is stain-resistant to minimize maintenance.

Another essential criterion regarding the choice of fabric: thickness, and therefore weight.

If you wear your apron daily, it is best to find a compromise between a fabric that is too thin, which risks losing its appearance over time, and a fabric that is too thick, which can be stiff and uncomfortable to wear.

The weight of a fabric is generally expressed in grams/m² and is influenced by the choice of material, the thickness of the threads, and the weaving density.

Short aprons versus bib aprons.

Although the apron comes in several cuts and shapes, there are two main models that are universally accepted in the language of the apron.

• The bib apron: this apron covers the body from knees to chest. Widely used in all food trades, it offers the advantage of full protection and a large area for customization for the image of your establishment. Also, it remains visible to your customers even behind a counter, when you are busy behind the coffee machine. In the collective imagination , the bib apron also refers to artisanal and authentic values ​​​​highly appreciated by the general public.
  Discover our range of bib aprons made in France and customizable here .
• The short apron: A favorite among wait staff in bistros and brasseries, the short apron is appealing for its lightness, contrasting with its bib counterpart. It will be the natural choice for people who are required to move frequently in the course of their duties. However, its small surface area does not make it the best promotional vehicle (the logo or commercial message will be less visible than on a bib apron), unless it is paired with a polo shirt or a logoed shirt.

Bib apron	Short apron

Which neck braids should you choose?

A timeless and traditional garment, the apron has enjoyed centuries of success thanks in part to its ease of use. The braiding system effectively allows one to wear and remove an apron effortlessly and easily. This design feature makes the apron the preferred casual wear for manual tradespeople. While the basics of the apron have remained largely unchanged, the braiding style and fastening method vary.

Closing systems:

• The strap: The apron is adjusted at the neck using a strap. Adjusting the length is not always easy, as it requires removing the apron to make adjustments, but this system offers the freedom to define the neck length to the nearest centimeter. The strap therefore gains in precision what it loses in practicality. If the apron will be traveling on different body shapes, it will be better to opt for snap fasteners.
• Snap fasteners: a classic in the world of sewing, snap fasteners, whether plastic or steel, are widely used for their ease of installation and use. Operating on the principle of a clip, they guarantee foolproof buttoning/unbuttoning simplicity. The distance between each snap fastener determines the total length of the braid.
  Atelier TB aprons use snap fasteners to ensure greater durability and flexibility of the braids.

The styles:

• Crossed braids: the straps cross in the back to form an X. This configuration not only aims for aesthetic differentiation, it is also a way to relieve the neck by concentrating the weight of the apron on the shoulders.
• Single braid: A more ordinary design, the strap here fits around the neck. You'll have no trouble putting on your apron in no time. Definitely more practical than the crisscross braid version.

Embroidery versus printing.

Originally assigned a simple protective role, the apron has long suffered from a lack of originality in terms of image. Today, it is possible to sign your favorite uniform with your name, a maxim, or even a logo. Two industrial techniques allow for textile personalization: printing and embroidery.

• Screen printing: the image is replicated on a stencil: the area to be printed remains clear and the rest of the surface is covered. The ink "embeds" itself into the textile fibers through the stencil. More durable than transfer printing, which does not fuse the image to the fibers of the garment, this technique is quite precise but does not give your apron any relief.
• Embroidery: An ancestral technique of personalization in textiles, embroidery has a noble character and unrivaled expertise. While machines have gradually replaced hands, the meticulousness of the process remains. The needles dance to the rhythm of the machine for a raised result of extraordinary precision.