Frontline Design: Celebrating 60 years of NNT

In 2022, NNT marks 60 years of delivering game-changing uniform solutions, right across the globe. Our Australian-born brand’s rich history has cemented its position as the market leader in contemporary workwear, from healthcare to the corporate world. Now, our compelling new-season designs illustrate the next exciting chapter in the story of how we dress for work.

From humble beginnings manufacturing nursing uniforms under the name Neat ‘n’ Trim back in 1962, NNT has grown exponentially to deliver a diverse range of workwear to businesses across Australia and the world. A look through our extensive archives provides a unique snapshot of just how much work attire has altered over six decades.
 

NNT’s longstanding design manager, Arthur Thomasse, explains that the uniform has been in perpetual evolution throughout that time. “The shift across workwear has been continual and coherent,” he muses. “We like to think that NNT has played a big role in its progression and has continually evolved and adapted to the changing landscape.” Certainly, the brand has consistently led the market in delivering style-centric solutions, its back catalogue tracing key fashion trends through the decades. “Across the eras, NNT has always aimed to offer uniforms that are fashionable and functional, to unify teams and empower the wearer at work,” says Arthur.

The business originally cemented its name as a prominent healthcare specialist, known best for the popular zip-through nurses’ dresses of the Sixties. “It’s an aesthetic that I’m sure brings back a lot of memories for many of our wearers,” Arthur smiles. As the business grew, so too did its array of products, with a significant expansion into corporate wear that offered a fashion-forward accent. “Double breasted jackets and dresses, power shoulders and geo and floral prints have all been part of our colourful journey,” Arthur muses.
 

It’s a fact that trusted brands aren’t built overnight. Indeed, it can take years of hard work to consolidate a credible reputation in the industry. “The longevity of the brand has been built around consistency, quality and progression,” explains Arthur. “It’s a reputation that has been acknowledged through many generations…[and] our success has been based on continual evolution and modernisation.” Perhaps NNT’s smartest move, though, has been its unwavering focus on placing the wearer at the centre of every decision. This consumer-centric approach has ensured that, no matter the industry, era, product or passing trend, each design is proudly fit-for-purpose and built to add value to every workday.

Over the last 60 years, our highlights have been many and varied, from the inception of a strong sustainability strategy to the inclusion of unisex fits in the range. Arthur describes this particular development as, “one more step towards breaking down gender bias and allowing for gender equality and fluidity across all industries.” He continues, “More recently, the team have been very proud of our collaborations with Indigenous artists, creating beautifully crafted printed items with a story and connection to our country.” An example of these important partnerships is the brand-new Water Dreaming range, which features the striking artwork of Lynette Nangala Singleton.

Fast forward to 2022, and there has been a universal shift in priorities when it comes to the modern uniform. A global pandemic and a move to working from home has irrevocably changed the face of workwear. “We are seeing a greater emphasis on sustainability, comfort, value and versatility,” says Arthur, explaining that the last two years have seen the need for rapid reinvention and a more holistic approach to design. It’s an approach that is evident in NNT’s compelling new-season pieces, as mix-and-match styles with an increasingly casual yet modern vibe take centre stage.

“The team has really emphasised the development of a mix-and-match wardrobe that gives the wearer flexibility,” says Arthur of this new aesthetic. Here, quality staples – from popular textured suiting to next-gen scrubs, provide a strong foundation, with the option to build on the basics with new-season items that offer an easy refresh without the need for an entirely new look. Asked to select just one piece that perfectly illustrates modern workwear, Arthur considers; “With summer around the corner, our new Avignon Shirt Dress is a timeless must-have. It’s smart, versatile and effortlessly elegant, and will make getting ready work a breeze.” After 60 years at the cutting-edge of uniforms that fuse form with function, what could be more fitting than that?