The protective workwear industry has not historically been known as an innovative one. Change and technological advancements have been incremental and slow for decades, but in the last two decades alone, our industry has leapfrogged over turn-of-the-21st-century tech and continues to make rapid strides forward into the new frontier of FR garments.
Accelerated Advancement
Compared to other industries, ours has been slower to innovate, and there has been less than immediate market adoption of newer technologies. Take a look at the auto industry: we’re not all driving the same cars we drove 20 years ago (but if you are, good for you for maintaining your ride). We’re not using the same phones from 2004 (and remember the first iPhone didn’t debut until 2007), nor the same televisions, both in hardware and in delivery (who has cable anymore?). So why would we still be using protective workwear tech for 20 years with little to no difference from what was being used 20 years ago?
20 years ago, treated cotton was considered one of the best solutions in the marketplace. Then 17 years ago, Tecasafe® Plus entered the scene as the first ever inherent flame resistant multi-norm fabric incorporating lyocell fiber. While we of course still stand by the benefits and stellar performance of Tecasafe® Plus, the market has only continued to get better since then.
Evolution of Materials
Inherent fibers introduced a major shift in workwear development that has only gained steam: the shift towards enhanced comfort. 20+ years ago, no one expected to like wearing their FR. It was heavy, rigid, and hot, or it didn’t last very long. The durable option was Nomex and the soft option was treated cotton, which does not hold up to abrasive environments very well. Not much had changed in the 50 years preceding the development of Tecasafe® Plus.
But with the moisture management systems and lighter fabric weights made possible by inherent fiber blends, suddenly a whole new area of innovation opened, one in which comfort could be a priority alongside protection. And as we’ve discussed previously, comfort supports safety in significant ways.
The advent of Tecasafe® Plus paved the way for other more breathable and stretchy fabrics to come as manufacturers like TenCate Protective Fabrics .
Staying in the Past Can Cost You
Sticking with 2000’s protective workwear isn’t just less comfy, it’s probably going to cost you in more than one way in the long run. Financially, spending less on workwear in the short-term is almost always more expensive in the long-term, as cheaper products tend to wear out faster, especially when the materials are less durable than newer alternatives.
Safety-wise, using uncomfortable workwear is a liability. Uncomfortable workers are less likely to wear their protection properly or at all, making dangerous adjustments in the name of comfort, like rolling up sleeves or unbuttoning collars. Heavy materials with old-school breathability (read: not very breathable) also increase the risk of heat stress, especially for workers working outdoors in hotter climates or in heated environments.
Newer products not only meet minimum safety requirements, they can even exceed them. At TenCate Protective Fabrics, we know protection is the most important factor in FR workwear, so we aim to exceed standards with every product we develop. While older products meet the minimum requirements, there are better, more protective alternatives out there. Your safety is worth checking them out.
Embrace the Future
The future of protective workwear looks stretchy, with more and more stretch products entering the market each year, and the gap between FR garments and everyday streetwear ever closing. Five years ago, the first sub-6oz shirt was introduced. Two years ago, entered the market as a lightweight alternative to 88/12 that’s five times more breathable and incredibly durable. And just since then, we’ve introduced Tecasafe® 360+, an FR fabric with built-in stretch that is designed to offer unmatched comfort and outstanding durability without compromising on protection. Thanks to the XLANCE® fibers that give Tecasafe® 360+ its stretchiness and are exclusive to TenCate Protective Fabrics, the fabric has excellent shape retention with 99% stretch recovery, even after being subjected to harsh, high-temp industrial laundering.
With the industry innovating at a faster rate than ever, how do you stay up to date and decide what to switch to and when? If you’ve been in a workwear contract for the last three to five years, you may have completely missed some of the latest advancements. That’s why staying up to date in the industry is important: go to trade shows, experience new products in person, and engage with your partners in the value chain to get your questions answered and get tailored recommendations for your end use needs.
Looking for a friend to help you navigate the future of protective workwear? We’re here for you. Reach out to the protective fabric experts at TenCate Protective Fabrics here:
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