NEW YORK— When the Mandarin Oriental, New York opened here in November, it did so with employees attired in custom-designed apparel to complement the luxury image of the 251-room property. “A great deal of thought went into the designs and styles,” said Sharmila Tandon, director of housekeeping. “There is a use of the color black, the true New York touch, and a hint of red for our Oriental heritage. The uniforms were designed not to look like uniforms, but to bring out the ease and flair of the wearer,” she said. The uniforms were supplied by the Sally Fourmy & Associates division of Cintas Corp., which specializes in custom apparel. Along with capturing the edgy New York style, the apparel worn by the Mandarin Oriental’s staff has a unique Asian flair. There was no excessive use of trims or embroidery to keep with the sleek look of the black uniforms, and specialized fabrics were used for each job function. For example, apparel worn by front-of-the-house staff is made of high-end look wools and wool blends while housekeeping uniforms are made of a poly/cotton poplin fabric for comfort and washability. The fabric for the spa therapists’ uniforms is a polyester textured knit made with a wickable yarn for ease of movement and moisture management. Unlike traditional spa apparel, the Mandarin Oriental spa therapists wear black similar to the other employees at the hotel. Upon arrival, the guest at the new Mandarin Oriental, New York encounters a stylish staff. The doorman wears a black frock coat with a mandarin collar and red vest, while the bellmen wear red-trimmed caps along with their long-line black tailored jackets. At the front desk, male associates wear black suits with white Thomas Pink ties, while female associates are clad in black suits with red shells and have the option of skirts or pants. Both male and female uniforms feature jackets with a mandarin collar. Male servers in the hotel’s food and beverage outlets wear jackets with mandarin collars and female servers wear blouses made of traditional oriental pattern silks. The Lobby Lounge server fabric is an exclusive brocade in a Queen Anne’s lace design resembling a fan— the Mandarin Oriental logo— done in black and antique gold. The blouse has a traditional Chinese besom-winged collar. The long black skirt has a slit trimmed in the same brocade with three decorative Chinese frogs. The hostesses in the Asiate restaurant are clad in satin blouses with the classic cheongsam neckline and asymmetrical, seamed A-line skirts. The staff in the hotel’s kitchen wear the typical chef whites with all embroidery in red and baseball caps instead of the usual chef’s hats. As with the other uniforms at the Mandarin Oriental, the apparel worn by housekeepers is a departure from the norm. Their uniforms are in ochre and black with women wearing dresses and men in slacks and shirts with mandarin collars. “These uniforms are designed to complement the guestroom environment and colors,” Tandon said. Not surprisingly, the cost per uniform for the hotel’s staff “is at the high end of the industry spectrum,” Tandon said, with costs ranging from $500 to $1,500 per outfit. Depending upon the department, each Mandarin Oriental employee is issued three to five uniforms. Replacement will vary according to department, but Tandon indicated that the uniforms will likely last a year. The exceptions will be the engineering and culinary uniforms, which will need to be replaced more often. The uniforms are maintained by the hotel, Tandon said. “Uniforms are bar-coded with each individual’s employee number and sent to the laundry and valet on a daily or as-needed basis. We offer a shoe shine station as well,” she said. While the uniforms were made specifically for the Mandarin Oriental, New York, new properties are expected to incorporate the designs into their staff apparel. Cintas Corp. has relationships with several other Mandarin properties and is currently devising a un
