1. Upfront Costs: Predictability vs. Precision
Custom Import Going fully custom means you get exactly what you want — fabrics, trims, colours, silhouettes — all built from the ground up. But that level of control comes with higher minimum order quantities (MOQs) and longer lead times. You’re buying precision, but you’re also have a financial commitment to that stock.
Customising from Stock Stock customisation offers flexibility without the big commitment. By leveraging existing, proven garments, you cut prototype costs, avoid MOQs that can strain your budget. Embroidery, branding, badging and colour matched accents let you achieve a cohesive, professional look without paying for a full development cycle. That’s quality and value working hard for you — day in, day out.
2. Lead Times: How Fast Do You Need Change?
Custom Import If you’re planning a major rebrand or outfitting a large national team with bespoke garments, custom import can deliver an elevated, signature look — but not quickly. With fabric sourcing, sampling, testing and factory scheduling, build in months, not weeks. Great if you’ve got time. Risky if you don’t.
Customising from Stock Need something fast, with zero fuss? This is your lane. Stock garments are sitting in our local warehouse, ready for branding. That means shorter timelines you can trust and far less operational disruption. And because our supply chain is tight, tested and transparent, you get the confidence that everything will land right first time.
3. Risk & Reliability: The Hidden Commercial Costs
Custom Import Full custom comes with more variables — international logistics, raw material availability, production slotting, quality testing, and shipping unpredictability. Each step adds potential cost or delay. With the wrong supplier, these risks multiply.
Customising from Stock Choosing stock customisation dramatically reduces uncertainty. You’re working with garments that have already been checked by Deane; five stages of quality assurance from mill to warehouse. That means fewer surprises, fewer headaches, and fewer emails you’d rather not write. Reliability isn’t just operationally easier, it’s commercially smarter.
4. Fit & Performance: Real-World Needs, Real-World Testing
Custom Import Bespoke garments can be engineered precisely for your industry environment. Great for highly technical roles but they require extensive field testing to ensure they’re genuinely fit for purpose. More refinement = more time = more cost.
Customising from Stock Every garment in the Deane range is designed for real conditions — movement, heat, durability, safety and comfort. Stock customisation means you start with garments already proven across thousands of wearers, then layer your identity on top. Quick to deploy, easy to wear, long-lasting enough to keep replacement cycles (and costs) low.
5. Long Term Value: Total Cost of Ownership
A uniform programme isn’t just a one off spend. It’s an ongoing investment in quality, worker comfort, brand consistency and operational ease.
- Custom import may deliver a distinct, ownable design — worthwhile for large-scale, multi-year rollouts.
- Stock customisation reduces the total cost of ownership with lower ongoing spend, fewer redesign cycles, and easier management via platforms like Silk — real-time stock, smart approvals, staff allocations, zero chaos.
So, What’s the Smartest Choice?
If you want something highly specific and you have the time, budget and scale to justify it, custom import is a powerful option.
But for most organisations — especially those balancing time, cost, brand consistency and operational ease — customising from stock delivers the strongest commercial value. It’s faster, more predictable, easier to manage, and still gives your team a uniform they’ll be proud to wear.
Because at the end of the day, uniforms shouldn’t be a drama. With Deane, they aren’t.