It’s all about the humble chef’s uniform!
Chief wear has a long tradition dating back hundreds of years in the monasteries of medieval Europe. The original chefs did not wear a uniform, as we know it today. When aristocracies were being overthrown, artisans, including those we now call “bosses,” sought refuge in Catholic and Greek Orthodox monasteries run by monks. The kind monks accepted these artists, sculptors, and cooks and dressed them in the same robes they wore, but instead of the pious dark-colored robes worn by monks, they gave the artisans undyed robes. In this way, cooks and other craftsmen looked like novice or apprentice monks and could easily be disguised as part of the traditional order. Over time, the robes were modified into a white apron and full coat. As fashion trends took over the Napoleonic style wrap front, scarves and top hats became part of the chef’s attire. Around 1700 the basic chef we see today was born.
Something happened in 1986 when a chef cooked something trendy in the kitchen and it changed the world of chef clothing forever.
Gone are the days of outdated fashions and kitchen attire that didn’t look good with little to no options. For chefs cooking in modern commercial kitchen environments, chef presentation and appearance became increasingly important as a new trend towards open-style kitchens was born. The humble chef was now on display, like actors on a stage, costumes became important. Not long ago, the heads were hidden in the back and rarely seen. This shift in thinking has made chefs TV celebrities. Chef now they were proud to be chefs and they wanted to look like chefs. This meant that the humble chef’s uniform was now an important visual tool to promote as part of the overall restaurant design. Colors, cleanliness, and a modern, professional look have become not only an important, but also a necessary factor in modern commercial kitchen design.
The trend to revive the humble chef uniform began in Australia in 1986 when, as the story goes, a young chef bought an old Singer sewing machine and started making and selling some chef uniforms with an overseas label. Since then, the world of uniform manufacturers has become divided and specialized, and today you can find companies specializing in chef uniforms all over the world. Chef uniform brands are found online, in hospitality equipment stores, or through door-to-door mobile vendors. Chefs generally aim to choose a uniform that makes them look and feel good. Brands vary in quality and price, so looking for a brand that has a good reputation makes a big difference in longevity. Restaurants sometimes purchase uniforms for their kitchen crew to ensure a uniform look that reflects the image of the restaurant.
Next time you’re out to dinner take a look at what kitchen artisans are wearing and tell your friends a little about the history of the humble chef’s uniform.