Bespoke uniform redesign for 2,000 bus drivers across Lothian’s Edinburgh operations. Including all-weather outerwear, branded shirts, polo shirts, knitwear, and accessories. Murray has worked with Lothian since 2017.
”The new uniform feels better quality, more modern and more comfortable. I feel that looking smart helps represent the company in a more professional and positive light.
Paul HendersonBus Driver
employees say uniform influences their decision to join and stay at a company. Murray Uniforms x Coventry University, 2,500+ respondents
”I think having the different options is a great idea... When I put it on in the morning and look in the mirror, I feel put together. It makes me proud to work for Lothian and be part of a team.
Carys GarganBus Driver
Murray designed a complete bespoke uniform range for Lothian Buses, covering the full wardrobe needs of bus drivers across Edinburgh’s operations. The range includes breathable shirts, a summer polo, a quarter-zip jumper, a convertible softshell jacket and gilet, a waterproof anorak, a tie, and a bespoke beanie, designed as an integrated layering system rather than individual garments.
Weather performance was built in at the textile selection stage, with fabrics chosen specifically for Edinburgh’s climate rather than adapted from a standard range. The softshell jacket’s convertible design (full jacket or zip-off gilet) means drivers have a genuinely versatile option for transitional days, while the waterproof anorak with taped seams and hi-vis piping provides protection during winter without compromising visibility or brand appearance.
With most of Lothian’s current drivers over 50, attracting a younger generation is one of the operator’s most pressing challenges and uniform plays a role in that conversation whether operators acknowledge it or not.
Research consistently shows younger workers assess an employer’s culture before they apply, and uniform is part of what they’re reading. The previous Lothian uniform (blazer, tie, formal shirt) communicated a working environment that felt at odds with what younger candidates expect.
The new range, built around a stand-up collar polo, a convertible softshell gilet and a smart-casual layering system, modernises that signal without losing the professional standard a public-facing Edinburgh brand has to maintain.
The female driver uniform was redesigned from the driver’s actual working position rather than simply sizing down the male version. Polo shirts and button-down shirts were recut to have the buttons on the right, and additional buttons were added to prevent gaping. Details that directly address how the uniform looks and feels when seated behind a wheel.
The Science of Uniform® is Murray’s proprietary design process that starts with understanding what a uniform needs to do for its wearers rather than with the garments themselves. For Lothian, this process surfaced two briefs that weren’t immediately apparent: the ergonomic demands of a seated role, and the role uniform plays in attracting younger candidates. Both of which shaped the final design as much as the weather brief that started the conversation.
Lothian Buses has operated in Edinburgh for over 100 years and the uniform needed to carry that history visibly. The redesign retains Lothian’s signature burgundy and gold through the tie, knitwear, and detailing, and keeps a classic tailored shirt as the foundation of the range, so the uniform reads as contemporary without losing the brand recognition Edinburgh locals and tourists associate with Lothian.
Many organisations only review their uniform programmes when circumstances change. But the right moment to act is earlier than most realise.
A strategic review can help organisations improve both wearer experience and long-term operational performance.
