HEAR the word "uniform" and the first thing that comes to mind is conformity. The need to have staff look a certain way is an approach some organisations stress on.
The Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, however, took a completely different direction when it came to deciding on work attire for its employees.
Designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma from Japan, the hotel has a vibrant environment that beautifully incorporates elements of nature. It also plays host to a treasure trove of unique artworks and sculptures by local artisans.
Given such a setting, it is only to be expected that the standard hotel uniform of suits and blazers would hardly be the right fit for its employees.
In fact, something fun and fashion forward was expected, and to pull this off, the hotel roped in well-known designer Melinda Looi to work on the apparel.
"The hotel has a very vibrant, energetic feel to it, with a focus on music and art, and staff are also selected based on their bubbly personalities, and we wanted the uniforms to reflect that," says Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu general manager Ruben Schrijver.
The goal was to have staff don attire that wouldn't instantly be recognised as uniforms, but rather flattering, stylish and creative garments that draw from the vibrancy of the hotel's overall design.
FASHION-FORWARD DESIGNS
Looi, on her part, enjoyed working on the project which resulted in a collection of 36 different looks, some coming in two colours.
"They were very flexible with the designs. Usually, hotels will always revert to the classic or typical uniform look, even with a designer touch, but they wanted it to be fashionable and stylish so staff would feel good going to work. They wanted it to be fun and not restrictive."
The end result is certainly fashion forward while also being timeless, with a high emphasis on comfort or ease of wear.
Gorgeous palazzo-style pleated pants, trendy tops, eye-catching jumpers in stunning signature prints and even reversible looks are all part of the collection.
One of the prints features images of nasi lemak bungkus and traditional biscuit tins and is designed to be worn by the hotel's restaurant staff.
The diversity of the collection means one employee may actually have two or even three looks from which they can choose for daily use.
"Within the collection they can choose different colours or looks. It's not like one employee takes three sets of the same thing," explains Looi.
The meticulously crafted garments are so trendy that employees could probably go straight from work to a social event without even changing.
And who would think of dressing housekeeping staff in a way that makes them stand out instead of blending into the background?
Looi designed stylish jumpers in a bold, eye-catching print for housekeeping staff, so far removed from the traditional monochrome uniforms they normally wear.
The natural elements of Borneo and a very casual, relaxed vibe has also been captured in the designs which show that the right touch can elevate uniforms to a whole new level.
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