Why Do Painters Wear White?

Why do painters wear white?  This is a question we are asked all the time. There are so many beliefs as to where this “uniform” for painters began. The tale we stick to when asked may not be 100% accurate, but it sure sounds good, and folks seem to like it.

Legend has it that back in the 1800s, union painters implemented the all-white uniform to set themselves apart from the non-union painters. This became their mark of professionalism, and they frequently added a black bow tie to enrich the professional look. At the end of the day, if the painter came off a project with some paint on their clothing, it would imply that they were skilled. Strangely enough, this same principle applies today.

When you see a painter with numerous colors on their whites, it signifies a seasoned veteran of the trade. Today, if you see a painter in a clean white uniform, it typically means it’s his/her first day on the job.

It doesn’t matter where the uniform came from. We can give you some explanations as to why do painters wear white? It’s preferred within the ranks of painting professionals.

House painters deal with a lot of drywall repair dust and white paint. We would look horrible leaving these jobs if we were wearing dark-colored paint clothing.

It usually gives the sense of purity and cleanliness, two qualities that everyone welcomes into their residences. If working outside on any exterior paint jobs, white clothing is the coolest choice available.

When people see men in all white, they quickly become more aware of where they touch and their surroundings. The uniform has stopped many wet thumbs.

Painters working on construction sites are never mistaken for plumbers or carpenters.

Since painters only wear white, it’s what is accessible to us at the painter's supply retail shop. And for us, we’re completely fine with it.

The real reason painters all over the globe wear white is that we’ve spent way too much money marketing ourselves to wear anything else. If we decided to change colors, it would be false advertising.​