MISIA JOURNAL · HOTEL GUIDE
When choosing a hotel uniform supplier, compare four aspects: the garments and combinations available, how each look suits the different departments, the supply terms and the scope of the creative work. The proposal should help you understand what you can buy, which styling services you can commission and when developing your own collection makes sense.
A hotel uniform should not be chosen solely for its appearance or the price of the first delivery. It also needs to meet the demands of daily work, team size, schedules and each department’s needs.
A supplier who listens and understands what you need
Before proposing garments, a good supplier should get to know your hotel: its identity, how the different teams work, what you need to improve, and your budget and schedule. The right choice is someone who listens, identifies specific needs and adapts the creative possibilities to the realities of the project.
Look for clear explanations of the options: when existing garments can meet your uniform needs, when styling is useful and when developing an exclusive collection makes sense. The proposal should fit your goals, timeline and budget.
Before, during and after the purchase
Personal attention is also part of the service. Look for a direct, approachable relationship: guidance when choosing, support with sizing and ordering, updates during production, and help with questions, issues or future replenishment.
Three options for dressing a hotel team
The choice depends on how distinctive you want the result to be, your budget and the time available. Buying in-stock garments, producing existing designs and creating a collection from scratch involve different processes.
| Option | What it offers | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Buying in-stock garments | The quickest option for dressing a team in available styles. It lets you work with existing garments and focus on sizes, colours and combinations. | Actual availability, quantities, sizes, colours and delivery time. Customisation may require additional time. |
| Producing an existing collection | Choose styles from an existing collection and adapt the proposal to different budgets. Production is required, but the process is usually shorter than creating a collection from scratch because patterns and prototypes have already been developed. | Price, minimum quantities, fabrics, sizes, colours, customisation and schedule. Confirm whether any adaptation requires additional technical development. |
| Designing a collection from scratch | The highest level of differentiation: a designer collection created around the hotel’s identity and each team’s roles. It requires a longer schedule to develop and approve the proposal before production. | Budget and scope for each phase: design, pattern cutting, samples and production. Also materials, fittings, adjustments, quantities, schedule and replenishment planning. |
Styling can accompany any of these options: it helps select and combine garments to create looks by department, with a defined scope and budget. Not every project needs the same level of development.
Plan for replenishment
A new starter, a change of size or a worn garment can create new requirements. For a collection made for the hotel, replenishment takes time: materials, cutting, sewing and finishing must be coordinated. As a guide, allow around two months, subject to confirmation according to the style, quantities and fabric availability.
Before choosing a supplier, compare these three ways of organising replenishment:
01 / A garment reserve at the hotel.
The hotel buys reserve stock to cover new starters and size changes. As it uses this stock, it orders new units in advance, allowing for production time. Plan the reserve by style and size so the garments actually needed are available.
02 / Supplier-managed stock.
If the supplier offers this service, they can hold an agreed reserve, store it and manage its replenishment. This allows new requirements to be met without waiting for production, provided the garments and sizes are available in that reserve; shipping still requires its normal delivery time. The service may include an annual management and storage fee and a commitment to purchase within an agreed period. Define who funds and owns the stock, which quantities are held and when new production is triggered.
03 / Production when a need arises.
Replenishment is ordered as required, without holding reserve stock beforehand. In this case, the hotel must wait for each order’s production lead time, approximately two months as a guide. Consider how the team’s needs will be covered during that wait.
Whichever approach you choose, confirm minimum quantities by style and size, prices, lead times and alternatives if a fabric or colour becomes unavailable. Reserve stock, storage and replenishment terms should be documented in the proposal or agreement with the supplier.
For hotel groups, this planning also needs to coordinate different teams and properties. In our Petit Palace case study, covering 33 hotels, you can explore the collection and how MISIA supports order and replenishment management. Reserved stock is agreed when the project requires it.
Compare like-for-like terms
A clear proposal separates garments, styling, creative development and production. It also specifies quantities, sizes, colours, customisation, included samples or prototypes, indicative pricing or a budget for each phase, and estimated lead times. This allows you to compare offers with the same scope.
At MISIA, we understand how important it is to make everything clear and well planned from the start. That is why we define the scope, quantities and lead times of each order. These are our indicative terms:
In stock: from 6 units per style, combining sizes and colours. Estimated delivery in 2–12 days, subject to availability. Please ask about customisation lead times.
Made-to-order collection: from 16 units per style, with 4 units per size. Indicative lead time of 4–8 weeks, subject to confirmation.
Exclusive collection: quantities, scope and schedule as set out in the proposal.
CoolRooms: one palette, different combinations
For CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha, MISIA developed a collection for reception, doormen, events, dining and housekeeping, using a shared palette of navy and ecru. Combinations change according to each role while maintaining a coherent identity across the hotel’s spaces. You can explore the full CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha project.
The final check
Before deciding, use the same checklist for each proposal:
- Do I know which garments, combinations and quantities are proposed?
- Is it clear whether I am commissioning supply, styling or the development of an exclusive collection?
- Do I know the sizes, colours, availability, customisation options and lead times?
- Do I know which samples, prototypes or fittings are included, where relevant?
- Can I compare the scope and price with an equivalent proposal?
- Have I confirmed minimum quantities, lead times and alternatives for future new starters?
- Do I know whether I can buy online or request advice on creating the looks?
Buy online or commission a bespoke project
To buy garments from our collection, visit the MISIA online shop. Register, view prices, choose your sizes and place your order online. You can also explore in-stock garments and combine them to create a team look.
Place your order online ↗If you need help choosing combinations for each department, contact MISIA and tell us which team you need to dress. If you are looking for personalised creative direction or an exclusive collection, explore our hotel uniform design service to discuss scope, phases and schedule.
