Impressions - September 2016 - 30

Workwear for the
automotive industry
has to accommodate
everything from buttons
that won't scratch to
pockets for multiple
small tools.

be anywhere near a car if they have anything on their body that could scratch it.
So we engineered a tab button, which is
like a jeans button in that it doesn't fall
off like regular buttons do. This tab button has a proprietary coding that keeps it
from scratching.
Th ey also carry a lot of tools - from
screwdrivers to little fl ashlights - that
they use to do their jobs. We try to build
pockets in a manner that allows them easy
access to these items.
Impressions: What colors are currently popular in the workwear market?
SK: Uniforms are fairly traditional, but what
we are seeing are kind of sophisticated pops
of color. For example, what would be a traditional black shirt may have a red shoulder
treatment. Or, you may have a subtle color-blocking treatment on your shirt. The
color blocking, in particular, we've seen
spanning a lot of industries - everything
from delivery to food service.
Impressions: What cuts or styles are trending?
SK: In the uniform industry, a regular or a
loose fit is the standard. The reason is that
wearers are bending, moving and kneeling,
and they've got to be able to have range and
be comfortable. There are options in a wide
variety of fits - everything from a slim to
a slim skinny - but in the true workwear
industry, we're seeing regular and relaxed
P.30

fits. We have, however, moved away from
that loose fit that you were seeing years ago.
Another shift we've seen for placket shirts
is a movement away from a ribbed collar
toward a self-fabric collar. One of the reasons for that is that a ribbed collar tends to
fade at a different degree than the body of
the fabric, which can make garments look
unprofessional after prolonged laundering.
Th e self-fabric collar has a
more professional look to it.
Impressions: How has workwear for women changed
during the past few years?
SK: It all depends on what
type of company you're
working with, but the main
difference is that it is essential
to have a women's-fit garment.
Th ese garments need to be
truly sized up, offering missy
and full-figure sizes, so they
truly fit the woman worker.
If you had asked me that
question a couple years ago,
even as little as five years ago,
you'd probably have found
that most of the companies
out there were kind of shoving their women into men's
clothing.
Impressions: What are some

I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M SEPTEMBER 2016

Wickable,
snag-resistant
polo shirts
are something
you see Under
Armour selling,
but you also see
them in a work
environment.

of the unique technological features that
today's workwear styles offer?
SK: Heat stress is one of the No. 1 complaints from people. There are a lot of
diff erent industries that deal with warm
climates or hot environments, from manufacturing to delivery and automotive.
We developed a product called WorkTech
that's based on a study of the hot zones in the
body. Your body heat builds up right down
the center of your back - called the "stove
pipe" - and then is released through your
collar. WorkTech products are engineered
with an AeroCool mesh design under the
arms, on the back area and around the neck
that allows the body to circulate air, move
moisture and cool down. The nice thing is
that it doesn't look like some of the designs

Color blocking is popular
for garments across
many industries.
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Impressions - September 2016

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