New uniforms are more Postman Posh than catwalk, says Brendan Courtney
Stephen McCarthy, GPO, Public Office, Enda McGarry, St. Andrew Street Post Office , Emma McNally, Phibsborough Post Office and Niamh Horan, Blanchardstown Post Office at the launch of the An Post 2015 workwear collection at the GPO today
Emma McNally, Phibsborough Post Office and Niamh Horan, Blanchardstown Post Office
Brendan Courtney
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AN POST's new clothing line for staff is more 'Postman Posh' than catwalk couture, says one of Ireland's top fashion experts.
TV presenter and fashion stylist Brendan Courtney told the Herald that although the Tailored Image design was a better effort than the previous uniform at the postal service, they would have got something a lot better if they had come to him.
Industry experts and An Post staff were part of the design team for the new workwear that the postal service believes will enhance its brand.
Female staff will now wear a patterned blouse, with a skirt or trousers and a cardigan, while their male colleagues are now equipped with a shirt, tie and an An Post pullover.
"I'd call it Postman Posh, because it's not exactly catwalk to the counter, is it?" said Courtney.
"It's a post office uniform, but God loves a trier and fair play to them because it's a hell of a lot better than their previous effort.
"Of course if they came to us (Lennon Courtney) they'd get something a lot better.
Nylon
"The print is really nice and the blouse. I hope it's machine washable, and if it's nylon you'll be sweating like a mad person," he said.
The former co-host of Off the Rails said he's wary of being too harsh on the line because there's a lot of work involved in producing comfortable clothing for an eight-hour shift.
"To ensure that the clothing is nice and practical is more difficult than you think. It's more like an engineering feat to get it over the line," Courtney told the Herald.
Stylist Holly White of Holly.ie was also impressed with the new design.
"I have to say I'd find wearing a uniform really tough every day, but the new An Post ones aren't bad," she said.
"I like the way they've got the signature green in there, but in a low-key way."
Retail operations director at the company, John Daly, said it's a much needed change.
"We are a leading national company and the new range of workwear matches and enhances our brand," he said.
He said that staff were widely consulted about what designs were wearable, comfortable and practical throughout the entire process.
"The involvement of staff in the design process was very important and I am certain that they will wear their new work-wear with pride, representing An Post as a modern and progressive organisation," said Mr Daly.
Mr Daly said that a key feature of the rollout of the new work-wear has been a major national logistics operation which involved the distribution of the new apparel and the collection of the old work-wear for recycling and safe disposal.
An Post's outdoor delivery staff took delivery of a new range of work-wear in 2011.