Industry, security, construction: workwear essentials guide

What do the industry, security and construction sectors have in common? They comprise physical and messy jobs, often performed outdoors and in uncomfortable positions. In basic terms, jobs requiring suitable and carefully chosen garments to guarantee maximum comfort and optimum protection.

From the material to the cut, thickness and technical characteristics, there are plenty of options! Quality and resistance are essential for workwear pieces so our teams seek out varied, high-performance, ever more technical and robust professional garments, allowing you to meet your customers’ most specific needs.

This continually expanding selection includes the KARIBAN BRANDS specialised workwear brand, WK. Designed To Work, as well as leading professional textile brands, such as Dickies, Puma Workwear, B&C Pro, Russell Workwear and Result.

The workwear section covers a wide range of jobs and different sectors. In this article, we will focus on construction, security and industry. We’ll take a close look at the everyday job and the needs of these demanding professionals, considering essential pieces, technical aspects and care conditions.

Your aim? To get a clearer picture and define the options depending on the job in question: plasterer, bricklayer, site supervisor, carpenter, mechanic, etc. So let’s consider some scenarios which may help you make the PERFECT selection for your customers!

Essential textiles in the construction professions

The following pieces are divided into three categories to help you put together a full workwear outfit for artisans:

Tops

Let’s begin with the first layer, which will be worn against the skin: this could be a t-shirt or polo shirt with short or long sleeves, with a ladies’, men’s or unisex cut. In any case, you should prioritise comfortable textiles and shapes that allow good freedom of movement.

Imagine a painter in a building who will be going up and down ladders, bending down and standing up numerous times in the course of a day: they will need a resistant, easy care and comfortable t-shirt. The Men’s eco-friendly crew neck T-shirt (WK302) by WK. Designed To Work will be ideal! In polycotton, it won’t crease, will resist abrasion and dry quickly.

The advantages of this style

• eco-friendly design in organic cotton and recycled polyester
• enzyme treatment: soft feel and perfect printing surface

Over this first layer, you can add a vest, sweatshirt or even a thicker jacket for those working outside in cold weather.

A fabric particularly popular for its versatility? Softshell! A Softshell work jacket will be supple and breathable as well as water repellent with a wind breaker effect. This is also available in a sleeveless version, such as the Kariban K403 Men’s softshell bodywarmer with a microfleece inner layer. Perfect for mid-season or cool mornings, for artisans working outside.

The advantages of this style

• elasticated and comfortable material which adapts to the body’s movements
• three-layer softshell for ideal protection in mild adverse weather

Bottoms

For professionals who do a lot of work on their knees or who may be exposed to splashes, it’s better to cover as much skin as possible to protect against injury. In this case, opt for work trousers, preferably in flexible and resistant fabric.

The Men’s PREMIUM GDT trousers (DK0A4XSP) by Dickies offer a smart design with a hammer loop, multiple pockets and a comfortableelasticated waist.

A great piece for a plumber or heating engineer who will appreciate having their pens, tape measure, phone and van keys within reach!

The advantages of this style

• knee pads in Cordura®, a polyamide ultra-resistant to abrasion

And for those seeking an urban but practical look, there are even work jeans! A thick, resistant and particularly hard-wearing fabric which remains comfortable and stretchy thanks to elastane. This makes them perfect for a building site or garage! These Men’s multipocket denim trousers (WK705) by WK. Designed To Work are a great example of resistance with their reinforced stitching.

The advantages of this style

• washable at 60°C
• reinforced crotch gusset: best resistance and freedom of movement

Suits

Finally, some professionals prefer to opt for a suit, such as these Dickies Ladies’ everyday overalls (DK0A4XT5), which cover the whole body. And for good reason: there are lots of benefits! Practical and easy to slip on, overalls offer total protection, allowing professionals to work without soiling clothing worn beneath the work uniform.

This is also true for coveralls, a must-have in the construction sector.

On a building site or in construction, security comes first!

This much is clear: in the construction or industry sectors, security plays a key role. Therefore it is essential to determine the working conditions and how the professional outfit will be used with your customer to make sure you’re choosing from the right items.

You can then offer technical workwear, and/or more traditional professional clothing which will also have an important function.

Technical protective clothing

An essential asset on a building site? Visibility! In fog, low light or even during night work, conditions often require specially adapted clothing.

You may go for simple options: adding iron-on reflective strips to a garment, such as the YRP01 Yoko style or wearing a WKP705 Reflective mesh sports vest by WK. Designed To Work. These alternatives mean you don’t have to add another layer, especially in hot weather.

Even more efficient are the level II high visibility pieces compliant with the ISO standards which regulate this type of technical garment. This is the case for this Yoko Hi-Vis Short-Sleeved T-shirt (​​YHVJ410), available in fluorescent orange or yellow.

The advantages of this style

• meets standard EN ISO20471:2013 class 2
• soft to the touch and comfortable to wear

Other workwear

In addition to the technical garments above, other pieces can complete the outfit and play a basic protective role, if only by covering the body. This helps protect against minor knocks, splashes, dirt and more. Security is essential for all workers and artisans!

This may involve more traditional garments but with characteristics geared towards professional use. This is the case for the Men’s short-sleeved Day To Day t-shirt (WK3020) by WK. Designed To Work, also available for women. With its anti-pilling treatment and polycotton fabric resistant to industrial washing (60°), this t-shirt is suitable for intense, everyday use.

The advantages of this style

• wide range of colours and sizes (up to 5XL)
• smooth surface for easy decoration access

Image, season and temperatures: adapting workwear to context

There are multiple finishes, cuts and colourways to choose from, combining performance, comfort and design. Marled or padded fabric with wide armholes and original colourways: a wide range of options for your professional brand image!

TopTex’s stylish workwear selection

To brave winter and its cold temperatures

Are your customer’s expectations geared towards high thermal insulation? The following product suggestions are suited to winter weather:

A warm and breathable jacket, such as this Unisex hooded performance parka (WK650) by WK. Designed To Work. Thick and comfortable with its fleece and padded lining, it is also extremely resistant to tearing and abrasion.

To stay comfortable in summer

Finally, performing a physical job outdoors in high temperatures is tough so it’s essential that you select the right garments.

Puma Workwear also offers an ultra-breathable Men’s crew neck t-shirt (PW0210). Its secret? A mix of cotton and Natura® Polyester, a unique blend that wicks away sweat, allowing it to evaporate on the outer layer.

More styles

Multipocket trousers

On a high visibility textile, for example, dirt can reduce the reflective power so it must be washed correctly and regularly to remain clean and effective.

How do we personalise high visibility textiles?

With embroidery, printing and transfers. Not on the non-reflective parts, of course, but the smooth surface (often in polyester) is ideal for a wide range of customisation techniques!

A few precautions must be followed when looking after a work jacket or washing work trousers or professional overalls. These styles often come with pockets, buttons, tear release tabs and YKK (global zip leader) zip fastenings. You must take care to close and fasten all of the parts so they don’t damage the fabric during the wash.

Incidentally, for styles coated with a PVC or polyurethane layer, it’s better to avoid ironing this area and be careful which laundry detergents you use: overly “aggressive” solvents may break down and ultimately damage the coating.

How can we personalise a thick work jacket?

Some styles come with invisible zips, allowing easy access (e.g. on the left side), namely for embroidered decoration.

For t-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts, whether in cotton, polyester or a mix of the two fibres, the simplest wash is often advised: machine wash on the reverse at the temperature recommended on the label (we try to focus on styles suitable for industrial washing at 60°) without machine drying or the use of solvents or softeners. This protects the anti-pilling treatment and the comforting feel of the fleece.

How can we personalise a workwear piece?

Depending on the material, the thickness of the fabric (weight), the quantity, budget and colour, there are numerous techniques available! To find out more, read our article on the 7 marking techniques.

Some of the latest recommendations:

Shaking and smoothing garments before hanging them (on a line or flat, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions) will help keep their shape intact, wash after wash.

Finally, some pieces have been tested for their water resistance. In this case, it will be indicated on our factsheet, as on the Result R316X Lite Jacket whose “water resistance properties are effective for up to 12 washes”.