Employee apparel promotes loyalty and communicates the wearer’s relationship with the unit and the university. There are four different options for employee shirts and caps. The designs are appropriate for employee wear such as regular shirts, polos, jackets, vests, caps. Shirt designs may be embroidered or screen printed, and cap designs will be embroidered. All licensees have guidelines and artwork for these options.

Since color is one of the most powerful ways a university can identify itself, employee apparel should be red (match closely to Pantone 186c, the university’s official cardinal red). The university gold (match closely to Pantone 142c), white, wheat, and denim are also approved. Used consistently, the colors chosen to represent Iowa State create a strong identifying image. Conversely, some colors and color combinations can be confusing.

Colors associated with other public higher education institutions in the state should not be used. Even though gold is one of Iowa State’s primary colors, using black or a black and gold combination is not allowed. Purple is not within any of Iowa State’s color palettes and should never be used.