Your bartender or server at the Hilton Columbus Downtown will soon be a little more fashionable.
In partnership with the Columbus Fashion Alliance, Hilton employee uniforms for reception, restaurant and bar staff will be refreshed by the local fashion organization.
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Kevin Black, head of production for the Columbus Fashion Alliance, has assembled a team of local independent fashion designers to design uniforms for employees of the Hilton Columbus Downtown, which is set to open a new tower this fall, the hotel’s second phase. North High Street.
Hilton approached the Columbus Fashion Alliance last fall for a uniform update, inspired by the hotel’s art collection and its ongoing commitment to partnering with local manufacturers.
The hotel spent $2 million on a 250-piece art collection when the first phase opened, said Christian Coffin, the hotel’s general manager. The collection has forged a connection between the hotel and the local artistic community.
“It’s a wonderful collection. And not only did it make the hotel spectacular and add a lot of soul to the property, if you will, but it also created an immediate connection to the neighborhood,” Coffin said. “So since then we’ve tried to build on that.”
The uniforms draw inspiration from the “new Hilton look” through renderings, room mockups, and interactions with guests and staff.
“We spoke with the interior graphic designer from New York, some of the restaurant chefs they’re bringing in, trying to get a feel for the new vibe of the hotel,” Black said.
Tracy Powell, Columbus designer and owner of The House of IsA, designed the uniforms that front desk employees will wear, while the internal CFA team designed the uniforms for employees of Hilton’s new rooftop restaurant and bar, FYR and Stories on High.
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The Columbus Pursuit menswear company will provide men’s suits for the reception, which will be paired with Powell-designed shirts. Columbus College of Art & Design students designed scarves and pocket squares to coordinate with uniforms.
The CFA will also have support from apparel and fabric manufacturer Columbus Apparel Studio for some of the mass production of uniforms.
“It’s really a community partnership,” Black said. “We’ve tried to tap into all aspects of the community to make sure we can engage all of the strongest community players, just to make sure we can make the hotel shine and shine brightly.”
The CFA partnership continues the hotel’s other efforts to partner with local producers, including food and beverage companies.
“This hotel is about telling the story of Columbus, and fashion art is definitely a big part of that story,” Coffin said.
tmoorman@dispatch.com
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