Vortex Designs

Add a Layer of Autumnal Style!

2011-10-05T03:20:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again where we have to start thinking about adding that extra layer of clothing to keep the chill out. Well here at Vortex we have the perfect solution!

Warm up your wardrobe for Autumn and Winter with Vortex's Signature Talia Tank Top, the ideal companion for chilly days and a perfect wardrobe essential. Not only is it on-trend but with its lightweight and practical style it is an ideal layering piece that you can slip over your blouse, or under a jacket without adding bulk.

A relaxed and comfortable fit in five fabulous colours, navy, black, charcoal, berry and cornflower blue. So whether it's to go over a striped corporate shirt or patterned uniform blouse there's something to suit all! The fine detail of the diamond jacquard, rolled edges and deep waist rib as well as being easycare makes it easy to be chic this season.

First Production Run Complete!

2011-06-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

It's over a year since Vortex first started talking to Teresa at Stedman Corporate Clothing about making a donation towards their appeal for the Nyumbani Orphanage in Kenya, so it's thrilling to see pictures of the first completed garments! Our donation took the form of 60 rolls of ladies uniform blouse fabric that could be used in the village's tailoring school, who up until this point had only paper to learn & practise with. After a long journey by sea and an even longer wait in customs, the fabric was finally delivered to the village in March and no sooner had it arrived, than the girls set to work and here are some pictures of their first creations! We were delighted to be able to help Teresa with this project, in total a full 20 foot container of donations was sent to the village to provide useful, practical assistance. Nyumbani, which means 'home' in Swahili, currently houses 650 children and is growing to accomodate up to 1000. The orphanage provides primary and secondary schooling, in addition to a polytechnical college that teaches students practical skills, such as stone masonry, carpentry and textiles.

Looking for a Spring Refresh?

2011-06-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Looking out at the rain pouring down it's impossible to believe that Summer's arrived yet, so here at Vortex we're still talking Spring (possibly in the hope that there will be a 'summer' to follow at some point)! In the women's office blouse world, that means time for a refresh- time for something a little cooler, short sleeved certainly, and brighter. Now brighter doesn't have to mean big, bold colours, it can just as easily mean a bright, fresh white blouse with a bit of added texture or interest. The style I'm thinking of is Hanna. It's the ideal spring, and summer if we ever get one, blouse for the office, reception or boardroom alike. As with all of our corporate blouses it comes in sizes 6-26 as standard, long sleeve is also available if needed, and there's a white or lilac option. So, forget the rain and buy a new blouse instead- guaranteed to cheer the dreariest of days! www.blousesandknitwearforwork.co.uk

Sale items now available online!

2011-04-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

There's no doubt we all love a bargin and who isn't looking for quality items at cheap prices these days? Well, when it comes to womens work blouses & office tops, look no further! There are some fabulous bargins to be had in our Sale- prices start from just £6.95! It's the same great quality and the same great service, but the prices really can't be beaten. So, shop the sale today & pick up that ever ellusive ladies office blouse or work top that's cheap & high quality all at the same time...

Practical Aid for Christchurch

2011-03-23T02:12:00.000-07:00

We've all been moved by the recent earthquake in Christchurch, the devastation stuck a particular chord here because our MD was in New Zealand visiting family at the time of the quake. Fortunate enough to not be directly effected, we were all anxious to find a practical way to help & support the longer-term re-building project. Director- E takes up the story.....

Predictions for 2011

2011-02-02T02:23:00.000-08:00

It's the question we all ask at the beginning of a new year and that's so what does this year hold? With the economy and our Industry in varied states of flux, it's a difficult one to predict but there's certainly some key issues that will play out and influence where we are this time next year. Director-E speaks to Vortex about their thoughts on the year ahead.....read the full article here

The Perfect Work Blouse

2011-01-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's new product development time here at Vortex and while scouring the net for inspiration I stumbled across a competition to design the 'Perfect Blouse'. Now unfortunately on this occasion, we'd just missed the deadline, but I couldn't help but think that if it was the perfect 'work' blouse they were looking for, you'd have to go some way to beat Freya. Freya has been top of our best sellers list for as long as I can remember, it's been much imitated, which we take as a huge complement, but never quite equalled. Whether it's the neckline, the double buttoning detail, the fabulous Cotton Touch fabric or a combination of all of the above, we'll never know. But one thing's for sure, if it is a perfect work blouse you are after, give Freya a try- you won't be dissapointed!

Feeling the cold? Add a layer of Vortex Knitwear!

2010-12-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Well, no-one can deny that the weather we've been having recently has been damn chilly and we've all been plundering our wardrobes to find as many layers as possible to put on & keep warm with! And when it comes to what to wear to work, this can be especially difficult- how to stay smart & warm all at the same time. Whilst a fleece or hoody may be fine for the warehouse, they just don't cut the mustard when it comes to the office or other corporate environments. The solution is clearly knitwear! Coming in the form of cardigans or tank-tops , Vortex Designs knitwear fits the bill perfectly. It's professional, stylish and easy care all at the same time. We've used a really special yarn called Nexio to create the styles. Nexio contains elastane which means the garments retain their shape, it's a high twist yarn without any surface fluff or 'hairs' which means there's no bobbling or pilling, as with wool/acrylic yarns, and it's a smooth, cool yarn making it very comfortable to wear. Available from stock, in sizes 6-26 and 6 different colours, there's something to be keeping us all warm (and smart!). Order yours today by clicking here .

Introducing the Talia Tank Top......

2010-09-08T02:29:00.000-07:00

Is it time to start thinking about an extra layer for our winter uniforms? Despite the recent last blast of summer sun, there's a distinctive autumnal air about the place this week and I don't know about you, but I'm thinking about what to wear to work to keep me that bit warmer. So, perhaps now's the time to introduce Talia, our fabulous new ladies Tank Top!

Lightweight and practical, Talia is the perfect piece of knitwear to pop over any blouse or top and it also sits perfectly under a jacket for added warmth in winter.

The diamond jacquard motif gives texture & interest, while the rolled edges on the neck & armhole and deep waist rib keep the look feminine and contemporary.

Available in navy, black, charcoal, berry & cornflower (as shown), there's a colour to suit all corporate colour schemes and the sizing's pretty generous too, covering sizes 6-26. So, why not give one a try?

The Essential Work Blouse.....

2010-08-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

Customer set us quite a task in developing our new Essentials blouse....The brief- a practical, simple work blouse that actually feels like a blouse, rather than a man's shirt that's just buttoned up the other way! A uniform blouse that is feminine, flattering, comfortable to wear, practical to look after and doesn't break the bank.

We decide to aim for a good solid work blouse that is practical and durable enough for cleaners, chamber maids & alike, while still retaining a corporate edge and being smart & feminine enough for receptionists & office workers- a real step up from a polo shirt or a basic poly/cotton shirt. Fabric first- it's got to be easy care, but not basic, so we opt for a soft drape polyester with the added benefit of elastane stretch- a real bonus at this price point and an essential for all that bending & stretching.

On to the styling- a flattering blouse style with 'shape' rather than 'fitted', long in the body with deep side vents for ease of movement, detail on the sleeve and a soft collar for that formal edge.

And so Lillie is born- the ladies blouse that combines everything- working practicality, corporate femininity and uniform formality! Needless to say it's going down a storm, so why not order one today?

Bright, bold & beautiful!

2010-08-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Out of all of the ladies blouse styles in the new brochure, it's Beatrice that appears to be the one that's catching everyone's eye!

When developing new styles it's always difficult to predict which one's going to be the most popular and invariably it's not the one you expect, but in the case of Beatrice we did have an inkling. The combination of white background & coloured stripes is always a popular one for corporatewear blouses, add to that the cotton & elastane stretch content, some raised stripes & different yarns to give texture and it's a pretty unique style.

We all know that we ladies can be a difficult bunch to please, so fabric aside, we've also heaped plenty of style features into this blouse too- cross cut back yoke, collar, front placket, sleeve cuffs and hem binding to name but a few! All in all if you're looking for a top quality uniform blouse that's smart, stylish & distinctive, you need look no further... www.vortexdesigns.co.uk

P.S Did I mention that all 3 colours- blue, aqua & pink- all come in long & short sleeve and sizes 6-26?

New Brochure!

2010-07-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's here! Complete with a new look, logo & colourscheme, not to mention blouse & knitwear styles, the new brochure is now on the shelves! Not only are there more styles in it than before, but the brochure itself is larger and has bigger images & more close-ups, all of which helps to really make the styles jump off the page! The Comfort Collection name has been replaced by 3 distinct ranges- Signature, Classic & Essentials- all with their own colour scheme, feel & identity and with 5 new styles & 4 new colours to take in- it's best to make sure you've got a copy! http://www.vortexdesigns.co.uk/

Signature Look

2010-05-05T03:41:00.000-07:00

Things are hotting up in preparation for the launch of our new brochure in just a few weeks time! Company Clothing magazine had a sneak preview when they came along to our recent photoshoot, here's what they had to say about it....

Come and see us at the Ricoh Arena!

2010-01-06T04:08:00.001-08:00

We're delighted to announce that once again we'll be exhibiting at the Workwear and Corporate Clothing show. Taking place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on April 13th & 14th, this year's show is set to be bigger & better than ever! Watch this space for more details about our stand and exciting new products that we'll be launching during the exhibition and visit http://www.workwearshow.co.uk/ for further show information.

Picking up a new stitch....

2009-11-06T03:50:00.000-08:00

Vortex feature on the front cover of Company Clothing magazine as they talk to us about the rise in popularity of knitwear. Our Kristin style cardigan continues to go from strength to strength with new interest from building societies, councils and airlines to name but a few! If you haven't ordered a sample yet, I would thoroghly recommend that you do -it's the ideal alternative, or addition, to a jacket!

Power Dressing

2009-06-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

Director-E recently spoke to Vortex about how important uniforms are during a recession. We covered everything from how investing in uniforms makes staff feel valued, to choosing a Kristin cardigan rather than a jacket to help cut costs and the easy care of our Cotton Touch fabric! Read the full article here....

Glorious Grace

2009-05-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

After such beautiful bank holiday weather could it be that summer is finally on it's way? One thing that's for sure is that the onset of warmer weather brings with it the need for cooler clothing and that's where Grace comes in.....

Luxurious Nexio jersey, a soft scooped neckline and flattering bodyshape, all combine to make Grace a wonderfully elegant top- it really is a different animal from other undersuit tops.

In developing the Nexio jersey we have been aiming for that soft, cotton feel jersey that will stand the test of time. There's lots to get right in a jersey- it's got to be the right weight- not too heavy, yet not too light & transparent, it's got to be soft & drapey, yet not too flimsy, it's got to have good colour saturation etc etc Well, we think we've cracked it with this one. We simply love this fabric so why not order one for yourself and give it a go?!

A missed opportunity?

2009-05-27T06:07:00.001-07:00

Company Clothing magazine talks to Vortex about the recent Workwear and Career Clothing exhibition. Overall the exhibition was very successful for us with the new Cotton Touch blouses, Zoe & Joanna, and Nexio yarn knitwear, Kristin, proving a big hit with visitors- we're just always after more!

A blend of properties.......

2009-04-14T02:18:00.000-07:00

Company clothing magazine talks fabrics with Vortex- this month it's tackling the issue of natural fibres vs synthetics... polyester, friend or foe?!

20 Questions

2009-04-13T02:38:00.000-07:00

Lucy gets a grilling by Company Clothing....

A surprisingly successful show.....

2009-04-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

In the current economic climate with the media telling stories of doom & gloom at every available opportunity, anyone would forgive us for feeling slightly anxious as we headed up to the NEC for last week's Workwear & Career Clothing Show. Whilst visitor numbers were undoubtedly down on previous years, we all know that it's quality, not quantity we're interested in- and I'm pleased to say that's what we got! There was a good mix of faces- new & not so new, all interested in being able to see all the Comfort Collection styles & colours first hand. The newer Cotton Touch blouses Zoe & Joanna were undoubted hits, but it was the Nexio top & knitwear-Grace & Kristin that grabbed the limelight. Grace is a fabulous undersuit top, the scoop neckline's flattering without being too revealing and the Nexio viscose gives drape & body. The Kristin cardigan continues to defy wearer's expectations of uniform knitwear- it's stylish, flattering, comfortable & smart enough to wear in the place of a jacket. It's no wonder they were so popular! Visitors took away brochures, ordered samples and arranged future meetings to progress enquiries further- we couldn't have asked for more!

Style Stakes....

2009-03-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Company Clothing Magazine recently spoke to Vortex about fashion's increasing influence on the world of corporate shirts & blouses.

Workwear & Career Clothing Show 2009

2009-03-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Vortex Designs will once again be exhibiting at the Workwear & Cateer Clothing Show! Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 1-2nd April, it is the only show solely dedicated to senior buyers, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers for the workwear, corporate clothing and PPE industry. We will be showcasing the Comfort Collection range, including the fabulous Cotton Touch blouses and Nexio yarn Knitwear. With samples of all styles & colours available to view on the stand, this is the perfect opportunity to come and find out why Vortex garments provide the ideal uniform solution. Register to visit for free or find out more information, including opening times, travel & accommodation, at http://www.workwearshow.co.uk/. We look forward to welcoming you on the stand!

Hospitality 2009

2009-01-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to announce that Vortex Designs will be exhibiting at Hospitality 2009 at the NEC Birmingham from 19-21 January 2009! Showing at stand no. 1071 in the Premises & Facilities Management sector, this will be Vortex’s first time at Hospitality- the premier event in the Hospitality & Foodservices calendar. We will be showcasing the Comfort Collection range, including the fabulous Cotton Touch blouses and Nexio yarn Knitwear. With samples of all styles & colours available to view on the stand, this is the perfect opportunity to come and find out why Vortex garments provide the ideal uniform solution. Register to visit for free or find out more information, including opening times, travel & accommodation, at www.hospitalityshow.co.uk/ . We look forward to welcoming you on the stand!

Wrap up with Kristin...

2008-09-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

You'd be forgiven for thinking we haven't actually had a summer, but one thing is for sure, winter is on it's way! So, why not wrap up warm and invest in our new Kristin knitwear? Recently added to The Comfort Collection range, Kristin is incredibly comfortable to wear, with lots of stretch for ease of movement. The vertical ribs flatter the figure & create a wonderful 'nipped' in feeling and the v-shaped neckline can be worn with any shape blouse collar or simply team it with an undersuit top. Kristin's yarn has a contemporary, dry touch handle and excellent shape retention, so that it looks as good at the end of the day as it did when you first put it on in the morning. It's everso easy to care for, simply wash on a gentle 40 degree cycle and lie flat to dry. Available in Red, Charcoal, Navy & Black, there's a colour to co-ordinate with every uniform palette- so why not order your sample today? You may never wear a suit jacket again!

New Comfort Collection brochure hits the shelves!

2008-07-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

With a refreshing new look, stylish photography and additional imagery, this year’s brochure marks a new phase in The Comfort Collection’s development. Men’s Shirts appear for the first time, the ladies range of blouses & undersuit tops has new additions, but the most significant newcomer is the Kristin Knitwear. Smart & professional, yet also eminently comfortable & contemporary, this knitwear is the ideal alternative to a suit jacket. Download your copy here .

Road Test for Zoe & Kristin!

2008-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Company Clothing Magazine conduct an independent road test,, or wearer trial, on the new Zoe blouse & Kristin cardigan. Click the image to read their findings.

Lights, Camera, Action

2008-06-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Company Clothing Magazine has exclusive access to the photoshoot for the new Comfort Collection brochure. Click the image to see Lotte Debell's review of the day's proceedings!

Workwear & Career Clothing Show

2008-04-02T02:18:00.000-07:00

Vortex Designs exhibits at the Workwear & Career Clothing Show, NEC, Birmingham. Attracting buyers, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers for the workwear, corporate clothing and PPE industry, Vortex preview new blouse & undersuit top styles as well as the knitwear. www.workwearshow.co.uk

Printwear & Promotion Show

2008-03-01T02:26:00.000-08:00

Vortex Designs exhibits at the Printwear & Promotion Show, NEC, Birmingham. Dedicated to the UK’s garment decoration industry, the show features clothing distributors, manufacturers & distributors of embroidery machines & accessories, screen printing & digital printing technology and many other techniques for garment decoration. www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk

Exhibition Preview

2008-03-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

Company Clothing Magazine previews the Workwear & Career Clothing Show.

Let's talk blouses!

2008-02-02T02:28:00.000-08:00

Company Clothing Magazine talks to Vortex about the latest trends & developments in corporatewear shirts & blouses.

Online Shopping Facility...

2007-10-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Vortex’s online shopping facility is launched, allowing account customers to trade securely online, the shopping facility is simple & straight forward to use.

Oskar joins Vortex...

2007-09-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Men’s Shirt Oskar is launched. The first men’s addition to the Comfort Collection, Oskar uses a stylish basket weave fabric, colours that co-ordinate with the ladies blouse range, a flattering fitted body shape and real attention to detail, to make wearers stand apart from the crowd.

Feature on Shirts...

2007-07-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Company Clothing Magazine talks to Vortex about the soon to be launched Men’s Shirts- Oskar.