The Insider’s Guide to Decorating and Selling Aprons

Foodies, amateur chefs and grill masters, unite! The popularity of cooking shows like “The Great British Bake Off,” as well as Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Top Chef” have encouraged people to head into their kitchens to show off their culinary sides. There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to aprons. If you want to learn more about decorating and selling aprons, we’re going to share a primer on everything you need to know.

We mentioned the top cooking and baking shows reigniting new interest in the practical apron. The pandemic added to this by keeping people at home more, watching these shows, and trying out new recipes in their own homes. This, coupled with nostalgia for more retro fashions, has brought back the apron. 

Aprons are popular in many other industries for multiple purposes and, as such, have evolved to use a variety of different materials. In fact, aprons are projected to become a huge seller as sales are expected to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between by 2028. With the increasing popularity and profitability of aprons, it’s a good idea to look at this great niche item that you could add to your decorated-apparel shop.

Businesses, restaurants, schools, individuals and more use aprons in a variety of ways, depending on the specific industry and purpose. Check out these examples of you can sell to: 

Restaurants and cafes: In the foodservice industry, aprons are a common uniform piece for chefs, cooks, servers and front-of-house employees. Aprons help protect clothing from spills and stains, help prevent food cross-contamination, and create a cohesive look among staffers.

Hair salons and barbershops: Stylists and barbers wear aprons to protect their clothing, store their tools and create a professional appearance.

Landscaping businesses: For workers who need easy access to hand tools, logoed aprons are a great way to keep them close and advertise the business.

Retail and hardware stores: Branded aprons help employees stay organized and in uniform on the job.

Woodworking shops: Carpenters need to protect their clothing from sawdust, splinters and other debris. Aprons made from heavy-duty materials like leather offer extra protection from sharp tools.

Chemistry labs: Chemists wear aprons to protect clothing from spills of hazardous chemicals. They may be made of materials that can resist chemical damage.

Educational institutions and culinary schools: Aprons are a perfect item for educational settings, such as art classes, science labs and cooking classes.

Trade show uniforms: Adding a logoed apron to an event uniform for staffers creates a branded look and helps them stay organized.

Individuals: Personalized or customized aprons make great gifts for the chef in someone’s life, or for giveaways at potluck parties or other food-centered events.

Overall, aprons are a versatile and useful piece of clothing that can help to protect clothing and promote a professional or clean appearance in a variety of settings.

If you’re using the apron for cooking or home crafts, then a cotton or polyester blend apron will work well. But if you’re working as a machinist or selling to them and need an apron to protect clothes, then you’ll need something much tougher.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common materials used for aprons:

Cotton: Most aprons you’ll find on the market, and at Threadsy, are made from cotton as these will easily protect your clothes when doing cooking projects such as baking. However, cotton isn’t waterproof. Because of this, it’s probably not a great choice if you might get dirty or wet. However, it’s a very good choice for personalization since it can be made in a variety of colors and is easy to print.

Polyester: Aprons made from poly are great for people working in the kitchen, in a restaurant, a lab or in a workshop. Polyester is durable, but lightweight, and can withstand lots of washes and wears, perfect for hospitality or industrial settings. This easy-clean fabric is also naturally stain resistant, so it’s less likely to discolor or fade over time. Finally, poly aprons are moisture resistant, so they don’t absorb water easily, so they’re good for working in steamy or humid environments like a kitchen.

Rubber or Nylon: Rubber and nylon are more popular choices if you need an apron that’s tougher and more resistant to wear and tear. Since these are water resistant, you can get dirty or wet while wearing them. Similarly, they’re often good choices for people who work in labs with liquid chemicals or those who work with paints. 

Leather: If you want an apron that can really stand up to heavy use, then leather is the way to go. This is a durable material that can handle water and dirt as well as chemicals, heat and even sparks from blowtorches and welding. While other aprons are meant to keep your clothes from being stained or ruined, leather is meant to protect you physically from hazards in the workplace.

If you’re looking to sell personalized aprons online for your shop, there’s many ways you can decorate your aprons:

• Embroidery: You can stitch your apron with a person’s or company’s name, a logo, a design or a pattern. Stitching creates a durable, professional design that withstands frequent washes and wears.
• Iron-on decals: You can buy iron-on decals or patches and apply them to your apron. This is an easy and affordable way to add some personality to your apron.
  Appliques: You can stitch on appliques, which are small pieces of fabric with designs or patterns, onto your apron.
• Screen printing: You can print a design onto your apron using a stencil or screen. This is a good option if you want a clean and professional-looking design, especially one that’s larger with fewer colors.
• Heat transfers: This imprint method involves printing the design onto transfer paper and then applying it to the apron with heat. It's a versatile method that can accommodate complex designs and vibrant colors.
• Sublimation printing: This durable technique involves printing the design onto transfer paper using special sublimation inks and then applying heat to transfer the ink onto the fabric of the apron. It's a method that can produce high-quality, full-color designs.
• Fabric paint: For a craftier look, you can use fabric paint to create designs or patterns on your apron. You can use stencils or freehand your design.

Overall, the type of logo and decoration graphics you choose depend on the design, complexity, and color requirements of the apron design.

We discussed how aprons have really come into their own in recent years. Projections have decorated aprons pulling in high margins for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, after determining the styles of apron you plan to carry and who you want to serve, it’s a matter of establishing your online marketplace. Get in front of your ideal audience so they know where to buy your imprinted aprons! Use these five tips to jump-start your success.

In the “pre-internet era,” people loved shopping craft fairs and boutiques for unique and handmade items. If you're interested in catering to those who appreciate aprons as a functional and decorative item for their homes, you could explore attending home shows. Craft fairs are a hub for DIY enthusiasts who would appreciate aprons that not only protect their clothes, but also feature amusing quotes and fun designs. 

Additionally, food demonstrations and workshops are a great way to attract enthusiastic bakers and cooks. By targeting your local market, you can build a loyal customer base who’ll not only return but also recommend your products to their friends and family. Even if you don't want to sell your aprons at events, you can drive traffic to your online store by targeting online ads to those interested in such events.

Building a social media presence without spending money definitely requires patience to attract potential customers. However, it's an effective method for establishing your brand and creating a portfolio to showcase your decorated products or people wearing them in the kitchen or on the job. Many t-shirt shop owners leverage social media to float product and design ideas to their customer base, to learn which aprons or designs they’ll buy the most. 

Similarly, negative feedback helps eliminate options that may have otherwise impacted the overall sales margin. By investing in social media ads, you can accelerate the generation of interest and traffic to your store. Additionally, answering functional questions about how your aprons function and how you decorate them can create meaningful content that resonates with your potential customers.

Aprons are a highly effective promotional item, especially for restaurants and retail businesses. If you're interested in promoting your aprons, start by reaching out to local proprietors. It's a good idea to initially work with smaller businesses unless you have the capacity to produce aprons in larger quantities. This approach also lets you test the waters and gauge the demand for your product before expanding your reach.

To reach a wider buying audience, consider collecting email addresses from people who express interest in your aprons or other apparel designs. That way, you can stay in touch with them and keep your brand top of mind. Encourage signups by offering incentives like a 5% discount for birthdays or exclusive discounts that aren’t available on social media. By building a list of engaged subscribers, you’ll increase the likelihood of gaining new customers when they’re searching for a unique gift for someone special or for branded aprons. An effective email strategy can help you stay connected and ultimately grow your business.

To maximize your apron sales on popular platforms like Etsy or Amazon, it’s key to understand how to effectively market your products to potential buyers. Writing descriptive captions with comprehensive details about your aprons is one way to do that. Your decorated aprons are more likely to appear higher in search results, increasing your visibility to customers actively seeking your products.

It’s worth mentioning that each marketplace has its own algorithm determining product visibility, much like social media platforms. Check out some tutorials to learn best practices and how to capture buyers’ attention on specific marketplaces. That way, you can consistently reach a larger audience and drive more sales.

With people’s renewed interest in cooking and baking, now is the perfect time to add aprons to your shop's lineup. By customizing and personalizing aprons, you can provide your clients with a unique and useful product that aligns with their individual style and needs. Plus, lots of businesses and schools can use aprons as well. Don't miss out on the opportunity to stay on-trend and offer customers across the board this “must-have item.” 

If you’re looking for plain aprons for your business or craft project, Threadsy has you covered. Our wide selection of wholesale bulk aprons for men, women and children is stylish and affordable. We also have a deep inventory to fill large orders in a single, convenient shipment. Some of our customers' favorite aprons for bulk ordering include:

• Trendy denim aprons, perfect for professional use or home cooks seeking a premium look.
  100% cotton twill for a crisp look and easy wear.
• Heavy cotton canvas aprons in a variety of colors for style and durability.
• Affordable poly-cotton blend aprons to custom print for cookouts, party gifts, culinary events and more.