PULSAR® design and deliver an extensive collection of high-performance apparel that not only abides by the rule of equivalent standards but goes above and beyond.
One of PCIAW's editors spoke exclusively with PULSAR®'s Managing Director, Stuart Jukes, to find out more from him on the disparity between men and women's design in workwear.
How does gender affect the design process?
The gender affects the design quite a lot, not just the way round the garment fastens but you also have to be considerate of the different body shapes and positioning of stitching and panelling to ensure areas of the garment aren't restricted, as well as certain areas of the garment require more panelling and stitching ensuring they offer extra support in the areas needed.
We also must consider, when designing the garment for a female fit, the positioning of underwear, so when worn, there are no visible underwear lines. This is particularly difficult with some of our lighter-weight, next to skin garments, such as polo shirts in hi-vis yellow, as it's very hard to hide darker coloured underwear.
The other problem we face in designing women's high visibility protective clothing is that the current European standards only allow for a garment to meet a level of classification when it has a certain amount of fluorescent background material and reflective tape. For us to manufacture garments in sizes suitable for smaller women, the current standard inhibits the level of performance that can be achieved. For example, for us to manufacture a women's size 8 or size 10 polo shirt in a size that will actually fit, we are not able to achieve class three in the EN ISO:20471 standard. This ultimately means that anyone wearing a smaller size garment would not be able to carry out the same job function as another person wearing a larger garment if class 3 protection was required.
Can you give me specific examples of how PULSAR® is tackling the disparity between men and women's hi-vis/workwear?
For the past few years now we have been expanding our product offering for women, utilising exactly the same raw materials, fabrics and accessories in our women's clothing range as we do in our men's. There is no reason why women should have a heavier, less comfortable or lesser performance garment than men do when carrying out the same job and processes.
Considering that only one in three women in the UK are wearing correct-fitting PPE as of 2017, why do you think this issue is still ongoing?
Personally I'm quite shocked that this figure that is so low. I understand that a number of manufacturers have been quite slow on the uptake in development of ladies fit PPE and clothing, but there is now a huge push from a number of large brand manufacturers to continually design, develop and deliver as many products for women as are available for men. I do talk to a lot of women throughout the industry in different organisations and it's quite surprising to hear that they are unaware a women's fit product would be available to them and instead advised they will have to wear an extra small men's garment. It's great for us manufacturers to develop women's PPE and protective clothing, but it's of no use if no one knows that it's available to them in the first place. This just comes down to an education process throughout the industry and articles like this one can surely only help
How do you plan to continue addressing inequality in PPE in PULSAR®'s future?
We have a development program in place to continue to expand our women's clothing offering. A new women's high visibility softshell will be available early 2020 as well as a new improved fit combat trouser. Another collection we are looking to develop is a range of hi-vis orange electric ARC protective clothing to mirror the men's range already available, I estimate this to be available in 2020 with the certification process is already in hand.
PULSAR®'s Ladies Hi-Visibility Collection has been designed to be 'stylish, professional and hard wearing. Fully compliant to the latest EN ISO standards, PULSAR®'s Ladies Collection includes polo shirts, combat trousers and a waterproof and breathable interactive coat. All of them are available in hi-vis yellow and orange and they cover a size range from 8 to 26. PULSAR®'s range entirely eradicates the idea that creating functional, safe and above all, professional, PPE for women is too difficult.