David Clark, Managing Director of Snickers Workwear, part of the Hultafors Group UK, talks to PHPI about the advancements in wearable technology and high-tech fabrics.
With Google and Levi’s joint initiative Project Jaquard being typical of how ‘Smart Clothes’ are driving the development of the wearable technology industry, we’re now seeing weird and wonderful performance enhancing initiatives like yoga pants, powered sports bras, smart bikinis (and even smart socks), compression shirts and posture-tracking shorts. It’s certainly a long way from boiler suits and jock straps, but indicative of how high-tech fabrics and wearable technology are becoming the norm in performance clothing.
As Snickers Workwear leads the way with the trial of its Tracker-1 device and the patented KneeGuard system, wearable technology is here to stay in the working lives of professional tradesmen and women. In fact, the results of a recent survey by research organisation Office Genie show the extent to which people are mindful of the role that wearable technology plays at work.
While the benefits to personal wellbeing are now widely accepted, a key question remains: are wearables the answer to productivity?
In the survey of over 1,000 employees, more than a third (36%) of employee respondents cite increased productivity as a benefit of using wearable technology in the workplace. 43% of respondents cite employee wellness, while 41% also cite health benefits. Furthermore, 69% of respondents aged 18 to 24 believe that wearable technology is beneficial in the workplace.
“We have shown that wearable technology is certainly a major factor in helping to ensure personal wellbeing on site,” says David Clark, Managing Director of Snickers Workwear. “Our R&D goes on to show that the integration of wearables and high-tech fabrics in working clothes does have a major influence on productivity.”
Performance, comfort and productivity
As any athlete will tell you, when it comes to clothing, performance and comfort are closely linked. “In fact, an athlete’s performance can improve by up to 26% through the use of the advanced 37.5 Technology fabric,” says Clark. Snickers Workwear continues to bring advanced workwear with 37.5 Technology to the UK market.
37.5 Technology
The name 37.5 comes from the ideal relative humidity of the microclimate close to the skin – and the average person’s ideal core body temperature. It’s a technology that cools when it’s warm, but warms when it’s cold.
Its developers discovered that embedding activated carbon in fabrics speeds up the conversion of liquid to vapour, cooling you down when it is hot and warming you up when it is cold. Unlike conventional moisture management fabrics, 37.5 Technology is all about preventing sweating in the first place.
“The problem with fabrics that absorb moisture is that they solve the problem after it has arisen. You sweat, and then they start to work,” Clark says. “That’s too late. A fabric that knows what your body needs in advance is the solution.
“37.5 Technology started in outdoor clothing, expanded into lifestyle and sportswear, and now it’s embedded into Snickers Workwear. The more comfortable our users are, the more productive they are likely to be, reducing the risk of mistakes and accidents.”
Perfect tech for workwear
It’s all about improving comfort and enabling a better work experience,” Clark continues. “This technology suits our workwear perfectly with its superior absorption capabilities. We tested several similar technologies available on the market, but none of them were as responsive as 37.5.”
User feedback
Snickers Workwear did both lab tests and live user tests on 37.5 before including the technology in its product range. “We have had very positive feedback from users, highlighting the improved comfort of the fabric,” Clark explains. “This ground-breaking, state-of-the-art technology fits nicely into our strategy of offering the best workwear on the market, aimed at improving the user’s efficiency, comfort and productivity. It has unique features, and it feels great to be the first workwear manufacturer to launch it in the UK.”
37.5 active particle technology captures and releases moisture vapour to maintain the optimum relative humidity in your body’s microclimate.
Climate control workwear
A change of season means a change of focus on what you wear on site, so Snickers Workwear ensures you keep your cool when the heat is on or warm and comfortable when the temperature drops. Interweaving 37.5 Technology fabric into its latest LITEWork and ALLROUND garments means that you can wear clothes that excel at ventilation and moisture transportation to keep you working comfortably wherever you are on site. There’s a new range of shirts, jackets, trousers and accessories to ensure a balanced work temperature for your wellbeing, efficiency and job safety.
So, to make sure you get the right protection, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the newest LITEWork and ALLROUND workwear for the right garments to fit your workday.
For more information on Snickers Workwear with 37.5 Technology, visit: www.snickersworkwear.co.uk/
