What are the best workwear brands?

In need of new work clothes? We’ve researched the UK’s best workwear brands for those in the trades industry. Easily pick out high-quality, durable work clothes that look great with our top tips.

If you need new work clothes, you’re probably wondering, “What are the best workwear brands in the UK?” Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

It goes without saying that work clothes need to be:

• Comfortable

• Durable

• Practical.

Ideally, they should look professional too.

Then you can travel between jobs in comfort, knowing you’re getting the best from your work clothes long into the future.

What are the best workwear brands in the UK?

There’s a huge range of brands offering work clothes for trades. And they all have their pros and cons.

Some offer high-quality clothing but don’t have much choice available. Others have a huge amount of choice, but their ranges aren’t as durable. Or perhaps you’ve found the perfect workwear brand, but it’s a little too pricey for your liking!

When you’re looking for the best workwear brands, you’ll want to consider:

• Price

• Variety on offer

• Delivery fees (if ordering online)

• Durability

• What the clothes look like

• Who the clothes cater for

• What you’ll be using the clothes for

It’s also worth noting that the best women’s workwear brands differ from the best men’s workwear brands. Many workwear brands that are excellent for men don’t have much (if any) choice for women.

Here, we’ll look at some of the UK’s best workwear brands for trades:

DeWalt Workwear

DeWalt is known primarily as a brand offering construction solutions and power tools. But did you know that DeWalt also offers work clothes?

DeWalt Workwear sells a range of work clothes:

• Trousers

• Shorts

• Jackets and t-shirts

• Safety boots

• Waterproof boots

• Lightweight footwear

There’s a limited choice, but what they do sell is good quality, good-looking, and made to last. There’s a reason their motto is ‘guaranteed tough!’

Scruffs

If you’re looking for comfy workwear that’s designed to make your life easier, you’ll love Scruffs.

It offers a decent range of workwear and safety footwear that’s practical, comfortable, and looks the part.

The company has been supplying proper work gear since 2003. And unlike DeWalt, workwear is their specialism.

• More choice available

• Wider range of items

• Accessories like belts, gloves, laces, and neck warmers

There’s also a range of women’s workwear available. While it’s small, it’s good-quality stuff that looks great too.

Mascot

Mascot is a go-to brand if you’re after lots of choice. They have a large range of workwear and most items come in lots of different colours.

They can even be customised with your branding, which is ideal if you’re looking to increase brand awareness!

Some of their selections include:

• Choice when it comes to hi vis workwear

• Broader options for women’s workwear

• Cold weather clothing like work trousers, winter jackets, and fleeces

Mascot is a Danish company with a Scandinavian mindset. Focused on delivering not the cheapest workwear, but the best quality.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction equipment. In fact, most of us probably dreamed of driving those big yellow Caterpillar diggers and bulldozers as children!

Caterpillar has also been designing quality workwear for almost 20 years.

Workwear by Caterpillar:

• Lives up to its hard-working reputation

• Includes a decent range of durable work clothes

• Options available for every climate and terrain

Plus, it definitely looks the part – who doesn’t love the iconic ‘CAT’ logo?!

Helly Hansen

With its iconic HH logo, Norwegian clothing brand Helly Hansen is often favoured by tradespeople due to its durability and versatility.

Their clothing tends to be seen as stylish as well as practical. They have options that are good for a range of outdoor activities including:

• Hiking

• Skiing

• Sailing

• Practical and hands-on work

If you're a tradesperson working predominantly in the elements, such as a roofer or gardener, you can't go wrong with clothes from an outdoor specialist.

Workwear Giant

Workwear Giant is arguably one of the largest suppliers of smart and affordable customised trade clothing across the UK.

They have workwear available for both men and women, including PPE and workwear trousers with stretch.

Workwear Giant tends to stocks a wide range of excellent trade-friendly brands, including:

• Uneek

• Regatta

• Fruit of the Loom

• Result

• Henbury

• Front Row

And they make sure that it is all fully customisable, whether you’re looking for printed or embroidered workwear to show off your company's branding.

Workwear FAQs

What should a builder wear?

A builder should wear comfortable, functional clothing that helps keep them safe. Builders often wear hi-vis clothing and PPE, as the environments they work in often have low lighting and moving machinery.

Can I claim workwear as a business expense?

Yes. You can claim for clothing that you use at work. For example, uniforms or overalls. To find out more, read our guide on business expense claims.

What should I wear as a plumber?

With every trade type, there are different clothes required. With a profession such as plumbing, there are waterproof clothes and PPE that you may want to invest in.