A new era of chef bib aprons: Choosing between the new Camden and Lockharte

The Camden Chef Bib Apron is a traditional everyday apron in a lightweight polycotton, cut for coverage. The Lockharte Chef Bib Apron, in comparison, is a heavier canvas apron in recycled fibre, made for chefs who want a unique look and for their apron to be an extension of their uniform. 

Here is what separates the two and which one belongs in your kitchen. 

The two aprons side by side

The Camden Chef Bib Apron

The Camden is a traditional chef bib, built for the way most commercial kitchens actually run. It uses a 65% polyester, 35% cotton blend, a great mix of comfort and durability. It sits light on the shoulders across a long shift, dries quickly after a commercial wash and holds its shape through repeat laundering. 

The wear points on any apron are the waist tie-off, the hip and the bench edge, and this blend holds its surface there rather than thinning out. Creasing is minimal, and the colour stays true through repeat washing, which matters when you are keeping a whole crew in matching black or navy over a long time period.

Coverage is the Camden's advantage. It is cut longer and wider than any of our other aprons, so it protects further down the leg and further around the hip. That extra width will decide whether you finish a service in a clean uniform, especially if you’re regularly doing things like leaning into a bench, plating over a pass, turning a rack of trays.

Colours

White, Black, Navy, Khaki, and Navy with white stripes. The stripe is worth considering for venues wanting a classic look that carries some heritage, while the four solid colours suit a more contemporary uniform standard.

Who the Camden suits

• Kitchens buying at scale: if you have a high number of staff or are running an apprentice intake, and affordable price point and one-size fit make it easier to specify in volume without sizing every staff member. 

• Roles where laundering must be done more frequently: for example butchers and pastry chefs. The Camden’s fast-drying and stability mean it can take more washes for those who need to change uniform multiple times per shift. 

• Back of house roles: sitting light for long shifts and protecting hips and thighs when working close to a bench or leaning into a pass. 

The Lockharte Chef Bib Apron

The Lockharte Chef Bib joins Chef Works Australia’s Lockharte family, which already includes bib, cross-back and waist styles. It is made from 80% recycled polyester and 20% cotton at 270 GSM, a weight built to take pressure and designed for standing the test of time. 

Heavier materials hold a clean line through service instead of creasing into the body, and can be more durable than some lighter materials. The recycled polyester resists stretching out of shape and holds its colour through repeated washing, while the cotton adds a softness to the garment. 

Colours

Khaki, Dark Navy, Black and Military Green; an earthier and more considered than a standard uniform palette.

Who the Lockharte suits

• Open kitchens: being more visible to guests, the Lockharte is doing double duty as workwear and part of the decor. It will also look as perfect at close as at the start of service. 

• Chef-owners and small independent venues: when you're on the floor talking to guests as often as in the kitchen, the apron is part of how the venue presents. The Lockharte gives a different look than a standard issue uniform and is built to be worn and photographed well, which matters when your kitchen appears on social media.

How to decide

If you’re buying for a large team, having something lightweight like the Camden would be better for everyday use. The wider cut protects better for those who need more protection and the lightweight fabric would help in hotter kitchens and hold up for washing more frequently. 

If you’re buying for yourself, or for a venue where guests can see the kitchen, the Lockharte earns its weight and is something a little different. If you think both could work for your kitchen, plenty of venues run a lighter apron for the hot areas and a heavier one for the pass and the floor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which chef apron is best for an open kitchen?

A heavier canvas apron in a considered colourway, such as the Lockharte Chef Bib Apron, holds its shape through service and reads as part of the uniform. Lighter polycotton aprons crease more visibly across a long shift.

Are Chef Works aprons made from recycled materials?

Several are. The Lockharte range is made from 80% recycled polyester blended with 20% cotton.

What size are Chef Works bib aprons?

Both the Camden and the Lockharte Chef Bib are one size, with adjustable neck straps and waist ties.

Explore the full Chef Works Australia range and decide which Chef Aprons are right for you and your team.