If you go inside of almost any corrections or detention facility in America, you're likely to see the same uniform in every location: a 65/35 poly/cotton Tri-Stitch® uniform. You'll see a variety of colors for different classifications, and the uniform will either be a two-piece or a jumpsuit, but the base is still the same. Over and over in the majority of facilities, you'll see raglan sleeves, V-neck collars, a single breast pocket and elastic waists. All these details are for very specific purposes, but it’s easy to overlook the uniqueness of the design.
Like most innovations at Bob Barker Company, our institutional uniform design started with a customer problem. Looking back 35+ years ago, there were a lot more variations in prison and jail uniforms. Most incarcerated individuals wore jeans and a T-shirt or button-down shirt. For example, check out prison movies set in the mid-20th century, like “The Shawshank Redemption” or “The Green Mile,” and see the lack of consistency of uniforms even among those in the same prison. But in the 1990s, one of the world's largest private prison operators sought to standardize what their residents wore. They also wanted to have a uniform that had safety and security in mind.
| Did you know? Many people ask why our uniforms have a single breast pocket and no pants pockets. In the 1980s and before, smoking was widely accepted within correctional facilities, so the pocket is just big enough to fit a facility ID and a pack of cigarettes. Today, we offer uniforms both with and without pockets. |
The organization requested a uniform that eliminated (most of) the pockets, utilized a more value-conscious material, and added color variants to provide flexibility for classifications. It turns out that this uniform design solved problems across hundreds of facilities, not just private facilities. With this customer's help, our Tri-Stitch uniform set the standard that spread across the entire industry.
It’s fair to ask if anything new has come to the uniform market over the last three decades, but the answer isn’t so straightforward. Bob Barker Company as well as our competitors have developed slight variations including color additions, adding/removing pockets, adding big and tall sizing, or offering a few different closure styles. However, there hasn't been any significant change in uniforms for over 30 years, until now. Bob Barker Company recently released the Value Fit uniform, which is even more value conscious than the Tri-Stitch. We realized that clothing was a major expense for our customers, so we developed an option that would fit a broader range of budgets and help each facility's dollars go further.
| Tri-Stitch | Value Fit | |
| Color | 13 available colors | 3 available colors |
| Fabric Weight | 7.5-oz poly/cotton twill for a more durable material | 6-oz poly/cotton twill for a softer feel |
| With or without pockets | No pockets | |
| Sizes | Small - 14XL | Small - 6XL |
| Availability | In stock | In stock |
| Price | Very competitive with current uniform market | Below the current uniform market |
The uniform you choose must meet your facility’s specific needs. If you have a lot of variation in your classification colors or you need a wide size range, then the Tri-Stitch is still the best option for you. On the other hand. if you need a low-frills, cost-effective product, then Value Fit could be the best thing for your facility. We have a team of dedicated Account Managers who are ready to answer your questions about our uniform offering and would be happy to provide samples for your evaluation.
Visit bobbarker.com for more information or to place your order today!