Over the one hundred years Roscoe Uniform Company has provided employee uniform services to Chicagoland workers, manufacturing has changed quite a bit. Still, one thing remains the same – the heart of the manufacturing process is the workers. With Labor Day right around the corner, let’s celebrate the hard-working men and women who produce the goods we use daily.
Labor Day
Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of the American workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.” Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894.
Today, Americans celebrate Labor Day with picnics, family outings, or last vacations before the school year gets underway. For the American workers of the late-1800s, Labor Day recognized the importance of the working class and their contribution to society. Many workers put in over 60-hour work weeks in conditions, by today’s standards, that would be incredibly unsafe and unsanitary.
Early Manufacturing Employee Uniforms
When Roscoe was founded in Chicago in 1921, manufacturing workers wore sturdy denim overalls, heavy-duty wool or cotton twill long sleeve shirts, jeans, or corduroy pants. A khaki or denim jacket was added if they needed extra pockets, protection, or warmth. One-piece coveralls made from denim, khaki, or duck cloth, were the choice of factory workers, mechanics, and aviators that needed to keep clean and free from straps, pockets, or cuffs that could get caught in machines.
Today’s Manufacturing Employee Uniforms
Today’s manufacturing employee uniforms are much more versatile, comfortable, and protective. With the development of the Occupational, Health and Safety Act and the foundation of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association, ANSI (American National Standards Institute), and other employee protection agencies and associations brought about many regulations and requirements for worker safety, including protective employee uniforms.
Roscoe offers a wide selection of manufacturing employee uniforms and rental programs to ensure your employee uniforms are correctly laundered and in good working order. Our selection of manufacturing employee uniforms for men and women includes:
- High and Enhanced visibility uniforms
- Flame-resistant uniforms
- HACCP-compliant uniforms for food processing
- Coveralls lab coats, and protective clothing
- Traditional durable workwear
National Manufacturing Day
National Manufacturing Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute and is recognized annually on the first Friday of October, with events being held throughout the month. This year National Manufacturing Day is October 7, 2022.
National Manufacturing Day was established to promote manufacturing to students, parents, and educators. According to The National Manufacturing Institute, “MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders.”
Manufacturers in all industries are encouraged to get involved by hosting an event, participating in a local event, or sponsoring the initiative.
Serving Chicago’s Manufacturing Employees
Chicago’s manufacturing sector is strong, with over 420,000 manufacturing workers producing over $74 billion in products. The Chicago metro area has the second-highest manufacturing business establishments in the US, with 11,968 companies. *
Roscoe takes pride in serving Chicago’s manufacturing employees for over 100 years, and we look forward to being your locally owned and operated Chicago uniform supplier for the next 100 years. We provide hard-working uniforms for our hard-working employees in Chicago.
Like the manufacturing industry has utilized advanced technology, Roscoe uses state-of-the-art laundering, sorting, and finishing systems to ensure accuracy and on-time garment delivery. We also hold several industry certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, Hygienically Clean Certified, and HACCP Food Safety certification. Our focus is on providing premier employee uniform rental services backed by unrivaled customer service.
Learn more about how working with a locally owned and operated uniform provider can positively impact your manufacturing workplace. Contact us today!
