Uniforms

For other uses, see Uniform (disambiguation).

A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organisation whilst participating in that organisation's activity.

People performing religious activities have often worn standard costumes since the dawn of recorded history. Other early examples of uniforms include the clothing of the armies of the Roman Empire and other civilizations.

Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organisations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates in prisons. In some countries, some other officials also wear uniforms in some of their duties; such is the case of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the French prefects.

Service and work uniforms

Main article: work uniform

Workers sometimes wear uniforms or corporate clothing of one nature or another, including but not limited to shop workers, bank and post office workers, airline employees and holiday operators, and bar, restaurant and hotel employees. The use of uniforms by these organisations is often an effort in branding and developing a standard corporate image. The first service uniform registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office was the Playboy Bunny outfit (U.S. patent number 762,884).

Schools

Main article: school uniform

In some countries, such as Korea, or some particular schools, students have to wear a uniform.

Sports

Most, if not all, professional sports teams also wear uniforms, comprised of the team's distinctive colours, often in different variations for "home" and "away" games. In the United Kingdom, especially in football, the term "strip" (as in "football strip") is more common.

Security and armed forces

Main article: military uniform

In the case of uniforms worn by military personnel or civilian officials, there are generally several kinds of uniforms:

• battledress, khakis;
• everyday work uniform, where earned medals are typically replaced by ribbons;
• dress uniform: worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; medals are typically worn.

Prison

Prison uniforms often consist of a distinctive orange or yellow jumpsuit or a white and horizontal black zebra-striped uniform to make escape more difficult, as it is exceedingly hard for an escaped inmate to avoid recapture and/or recognition in a such a distinctive attire.

Servants

Main article: Servant uniform

• Domestic workers are often required by their employers to wear a uniform.

See also

• political uniform
• dress code