One Unifying Look With a Focus on Diversity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability

Coventry Building Society: A New Standard in Inclusive, Sustainable Uniforms

When Coventry Building Society approached Jermyn Street Design (JSD) to develop their new staff wardrobe, their goals were clear: design a collection that would unify the team visually, feel inclusive to wear, and align with their strong environmental values. 

As a business recognised for its people-first culture and progressive ESG agenda, they needed more than just a smart new look, they needed a partner who could help them deliver sustainable corporate uniforms with a strong ethical backbone.

Our design brief focused on a complete refresh: garments that felt modern and comfortable, were inclusive in style and sizing, and met clear sustainability benchmarks. The result was a standout example of how staff uniform design can reinforce brand identity while reflecting the diversity of the workforce. This project has since set a new standard for how major organisations approach uniform strategy, and it continues to influence how we design for clients across the UK.

Why Uniforms Need to Do More Today

Uniforms have always played an important role in brand consistency, but expectations have changed. Employees now expect clothing that fits well, functions intuitively, and reflects their values. Customers expect to see staff dressed in sustainable work uniforms that align with the brand’s environmental claims. And leadership teams are under pressure to prove progress against ESG goals, including how they support diversity and reduce environmental impact.

As one of the UK’s most experienced ethical uniform suppliers, JSD helps brands meet these needs by designing uniforms that unify without creating uniformity. We believe in giving employees choices that suit their roles, bodies, and identities without compromising on cohesion or quality.

Diversity, Fit and Flexibility in Staff Uniform Design

In our work with Coventry Building Society, inclusivity was a core priority. Like many progressive employers, they understood that true representation is about acknowledging the lived experience of all staff and making sure everyone feels seen.

We replaced binary gendered categories with ‘masculine fit’ and ‘feminine fit’, giving employees the freedom to select the style that best suited them. We also focused on offering layering options, adjustable tailoring, and relaxed silhouettes, allowing people of all shapes and sizes to feel confident in their clothing.

This type of staff uniform design doesn’t just feel good. It performs better. People work more effectively when they are physically comfortable and psychologically supported by what they wear. And when uniforms are designed with thought and empathy, they become a daily reinforcement of your company culture.

Sustainability as a Non-Negotiable

As a business deeply committed to sustainability, Coventry Building Society wanted their uniforms to reflect the same high standards they apply across their operations. That’s why the entire collection was built around sustainable corporate uniform principles, from the materials to the aftercare.

We used recycled polyester made from post-consumer waste, blended with responsibly sourced fibres to ensure durability and comfort. Garments were designed with longevity in mind, allowing for multiple washes without losing shape or colour. Importantly, the uniforms were also designed for end-of-life recyclability, helping close the loop and reduce landfill waste.

Being an ethical uniform supplier means delivering sustainability across the full lifecycle. At JSD, we audit every step of the production chain to make sure our staff uniforms are as low-impact as possible, from the mill to the wearer.

Why One Look Doesn’t Mean One Fit

The phrase “a unifying look” often conjures images of rigid conformity. But at JSD, we interpret it differently. To us, it means a consistent brand identity expressed through a range of adaptable options with everyone looking their best, and feeling like they belong.

In the case of Coventry Building Society, we achieved this by designing a versatile collection that could be styled differently while remaining recognisably on-brand. The colours, trims, and fabrics were consistent, but employees had flexibility in how they wore the pieces. That’s the real strength of modern staff uniform design: cohesion without constraint.

Leading the Way as an Ethical Uniform Supplier

Today’s businesses are judged by their actions, not their mission statements. Consumers and employees alike are asking harder questions about who makes their products, how they’re made, and what happens when they’re no longer needed.

As a certified B Corp and long-standing ethical uniform supplier, JSD takes those questions seriously. We offer full supply chain transparency, ethical sourcing, and sustainable innovation across every project. Whether we’re developing sustainable corporate uniforms for a global bank or eco-conscious staff uniforms for a start-up, our standards never shift.

That commitment made us the ideal partner for Coventry Building Society. Together, we created a programme that delivered on style, functionality, inclusivity and environmental performance, all backed by our decades of experience as one of the UK’s most trusted uniform suppliers.

What a Modern Uniform Should Be

The uniform is more than a practical requirement, it’s a visual extension of your brand and your values. It reflects how much you invest in your people and how seriously you take your sustainability commitments.

At Jermyn Street Design, we create sustainable corporate uniforms that go beyond fabric and function. 

Our staff uniform design process is rooted in empathy, driven by data, and tailored for today’s world. As an ethical uniform supplier, we strive to help you exceed your expectations..

If you’re ready to build a smarter, more sustainable uniform strategy, just like Coventry Building Society, we’re ready to help.