Aprons for Hospitality, Work & More
An apron can be as simple as a practical layer between you and whatever the day is about to throw at you or an important part of a professional uniform.
House of Uniforms stocks aprons in a wide variety of styles, lengths and materials, from traditional chef and kitchen aprons through to modern cross back designs, denim and canvas aprons, short waist styles, pop overs and waterproof PVC options.
They're used across restaurants, cafés, bars, catering, floristry, retail, events, product demos and other workplaces. Most styles can be professionally customised with your logo or name.
Not looking for branding? Most of our aprons can also be purchased plain.
How to Choose the Right Apron
The right apron depends on what you're doing, how much coverage you need and how you'll wear and wash it.
Start with the apron style. A bib apron provides coverage from the chest down, while shorter apron styles cover from the waist. Cross back aprons use straps that cross over the back rather than hanging from the neck and pop over aprons slip over your clothing to provide easy to wear coverage across more of the body.
Then consider the material. Cotton, denim, canvas, linen and polyester blends all have different looks, weights and characteristics, while specialist PVC styles are designed for jobs where waterproof protection is more important.
Pockets can also be useful for anyone who needs to keep pens, order pads, tools or other small essentials close at hand.
Finally, if you're adding a logo, consider how the apron will be used and laundered. For aprons that will be washed frequently, particularly in hospitality environments, we generally recommend embroidery rather than printing.
Use our filters to narrow the collection by apron style, material, colour and branding options.
Bib Aprons
A bib apron is the classic apron style most people picture: it covers the front of the body from the chest down and generally secures around the neck and waist.
Bib aprons are widely used by chefs, cooks, baristas, café and restaurant staff, florists and other workers who want good coverage across the front of their clothing.
Our range includes bib aprons in different lengths, fabrics, colours and designs, from straightforward basic styles to contemporary denim and canvas options.
Cross Back Aprons
A cross back apron uses shoulder straps that cross over the back rather than a traditional strap around the neck.
They're particularly popular in modern cafés, restaurants, bars, retail and floristry, where the apron forms part of the overall uniform as well as providing practical coverage.
Cross back aprons are available in a variety of materials and designs, including denim and canvas styles and most can be professionally embroidered or printed with your logo.
Denim Aprons
Denim aprons combine practical coverage with a more casual, contemporary look, making them particularly popular with cafés, baristas, restaurants, bars, florists and retailers.
Our denim apron range includes different washes, colours and constructions, including bib and cross back styles. The texture and character of denim also pairs particularly well with embroidered branding.
When choosing a denim apron, check the individual product specifications for fabric composition, weight, pockets, strap design and washing instructions.
Waterproof & PVC Aprons
Sometimes the job calls for protection rather than fashion.
Our range includes specialist waterproof and PVC aprons for environments where spills, splashes and moisture are part of the job. These are quite different from traditional cotton, denim or canvas aprons and should be selected according to the type of protection you need.
Our waterproof PVC apron styles cannot be custom branded, so if you require a logo as part of your uniform, choose one of our suitable fabric apron styles instead.
Chef, Kitchen & Cooking Aprons
Whether you call it a chef apron, kitchen apron or cooking apron, you're often looking at variations of the same basic garment.
For professional kitchens and hospitality, the important considerations are coverage, comfort, fabric, pockets where required and how well the apron suits your laundering routine.
Bib aprons are a traditional choice for chefs and kitchen staff because they provide coverage across both the upper and lower body, while short and waist style aprons are commonly used for front of house roles where less coverage is required.
For a coordinated hospitality uniform, aprons can also be paired with chef jackets, shirts, polos or other garments depending on the role and workplace.
Aprons for Baristas, Florists, Retail & More
Aprons aren't only for kitchens.
Baristas often choose bib, denim or cross back aprons that combine practical coverage with a distinctive café look.
Florists can benefit from aprons with useful pockets and good front coverage while working with flowers, water, soil and tools, while retailers, makers, event staff and other workplaces may use aprons as both a protective layer and part of their uniform.
How the apron will be used also influences the best branding method. An apron worn in a commercial kitchen and laundered constantly has very different demands from one worn in a florist, retail store or occasional event environment.
Personalised & Custom Aprons
Want to add a business, café, restaurant, club or event logo? Most of our aprons can be turned into personalised or custom aprons with professional embroidery or printing.
You can add a business logo, organisation branding or, on suitable products, personal names to create aprons for staff uniforms, hospitality teams, events, promotions and gifts.
The best decoration method depends on the apron material, your artwork and importantly, how the apron will actually be used and washed.
Embroidered Aprons
For chefs, kitchens, cafés, restaurants and other hospitality environments where aprons are likely to be washed frequently, we generally recommend embroidery.
Embroidery stitches the design directly into the apron and creates a durable, professional finish. It's particularly well suited to business logos and names and is available on most of the fabric aprons in our range.
The exact embroidery area depends on the construction of the apron, so check the branding options on your chosen product or ask us for advice if you're unsure.
Printed Aprons
Printing can also be an excellent choice for suitable aprons, particularly for detailed or colourful artwork.
We generally consider printing more suitable when an apron won't be subjected to the intensive and frequent laundering common in commercial hospitality, for example, aprons used in floristry, retail, events, promotions or lighter duty environments.
The apron fabric, artwork and intended use all matter, so we'll recommend a branding method that makes sense for the product rather than simply applying the same process to everything.
Apron FAQs
What is a bib apron?
A bib apron covers the front of the body from the chest down and generally fastens around the neck and waist. It's one of the most common apron styles and is widely used by chefs, cooks, baristas, hospitality workers, florists and other workplaces where good front coverage is useful.
What is a cross back apron?
A cross back apron has straps that pass over the shoulders and cross at the back rather than using a traditional neck strap. Cross back designs are popular in cafés, restaurants, bars, floristry and retail and are available in materials including denim and canvas.
What's the difference between a chef apron and a kitchen apron?
There isn't necessarily a structural difference. Chef apron, kitchen apron and cooking apron often describe how an apron is being used rather than a completely different type of product. A bib apron, for example, may be suitable for professional chefs, home cooking or other kitchen work.
What is a pop over apron?
A pop over apron slips on over your clothing rather than fastening like a traditional bib or waist apron. It provides practical coverage on the front and back and can be useful for canteens, tuckshops, food service, cleaning and other workplaces where an easy to wear protective layer is useful.
Do you sell denim aprons?
Yes. House of Uniforms stocks denim aprons in a range of styles, including bib and cross back designs. Denim is popular in cafés, restaurants, bars, floristry and retail because it combines practical coverage with a more casual uniform look.
Do you sell waterproof aprons?
Yes. We stock specialist waterproof and PVC apron styles for environments where protection from spills, splashes or moisture is important. Check the individual product specifications to make sure the apron is suitable for your intended use.
Can waterproof or PVC aprons be branded?
Our waterproof PVC apron styles are not suitable for custom branding. If you need an apron with your logo, choose from our range of brandable fabric aprons instead.
Can aprons be personalised with a logo?
Yes. Most of our fabric aprons can be personalised with a business, café, restaurant, club, school or event logo and even a personal name, with embroidery or printing available depending on the product.
Is embroidery or printing better for aprons?
It depends on how the apron will be used. For hospitality aprons that will be washed frequently, we generally recommend embroidery because of its durability and suitability for regular laundering. Printing can be a great option for suitable aprons used in environments such as retail, floristry, events and promotions where laundering may be less intensive.
Can I have a name embroidered on an apron?
Yes. Personal names can be embroidered onto suitable aprons, making it possible to add individual staff names as well as a business or organisation logo.
Can I buy aprons without adding a logo?
Yes. Most aprons at House of Uniforms can be purchased plain without custom branding. Some individual products or brands may have specific branding requirements, so check the product page when ordering.
Can I order custom aprons for a café or restaurant?
Yes. We supply custom aprons for cafés, restaurants, bars, catering businesses and other hospitality workplaces, with professional logo embroidery and printing available. For frequently laundered hospitality aprons, embroidery is generally our recommended branding method.
Where can I buy aprons in Australia?
House of Uniforms supplies aprons Australia wide, with a large online range available plain or professionally customised. Melbourne customers can also visit our Moorabbin showroom by appointment.
