From Function to Fashion:
How Uniforms Shape What We Wear

Cooking shows, ubiquitous in today’s streaming services, provide choices aplenty for those hungry for culinary TV. This may explain why today’s chefs -- and their uniforms -- are garnering much attention.  

Though not haute couture, today’s kitchen workwear is increasingly regarded as fashionable. It is utilitarian and functional, though self-expressive and creative. Dubbed “chefcore,” the culinary look photographs well, expresses personal style, and is comfortable to wear.

Chefcore poster boy Jeremy Allen White, who portrays Chef Carmy in FX's critically acclaimed “The Bear,” has become something of an unlikely fashion star. His white T-shirt is a product of old-school loop wheel cotton construction. It is paired with work trousers featuring heavy canvas, triple-stitched ripstop and reinforced buttonholes. Stylish high-traction clogs keep him from slipping across the kitchen.  

Kitchen-inspired looks, including his, are increasingly being adopted by fashion and streetwear brands. Think bandana-inspired monogramed scarves by Dior and Louis Vuitton, a pair of striped lounge pants by Urban-Vibe, or a pair of handcrafted Birkenstock clogs. The uniform-meets-fashion look is unmistakably tied to, well, the uniform.

“As it happens, fashion and uniforms have a symbiotic relationship,” explains JA Uniforms Founder and workwear industry veteran Alex Arencibia, noting that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. “They’ve been influencing each other for centuries, and the direction of influence shifts based on the era, the culture, and the garment’s purpose. It’s not a one‑way street, but more like a loop. In this case, the uniforms are influencing today’s fashion trends.”