For decades, a woman who wanted to wear a shirt or jacket before going to work on construction sites in Australia had to make a compromising choice. She had to choose to wear a men’s shirt in a smaller size or roll up the sleeves of a unisex jacket. This was not only compromising but also dangerous for women who work on construction sites.
Today, however, there is a significant change in the way women are dressing for work. Major clothing companies all over the country are, for the first time, focusing on designing clothing for the female form. This significant shift in the way work clothing is designed for women means that a woman on a construction site can now concentrate solely on the job at hand.
From Unisex Baggy to Tailored Fit
This evolution of work clothing for women represents a significant milestone in the history of work clothing for tradespeople. For instance, in the past, clothing designed for women who work was essentially a smaller version of a men’s garment with a splash of pink thrown in for good measure. This, however, does not take into consideration the fact that there are significant differences between the female form and the male form.
Today, clothing designed for workwomen takes into consideration the dimensions of the female form. The pants fit comfortably around the waist, are not too loose around the back, the shirts are not too tight around the chest, nor are they too loose around the waist, which causes extra fabric to bunch around the waistline. Even work safety boots for women are available.
The Real Benefits of Female-Focused Design
Industrial clothing can give tradeswomen immediate benefits. First and foremost, comfort is an obvious benefit. But ease of movement is also extremely vital. Clothing that naturally fits your body means you can move freely. You can reach up, bend down, or drive heavy machinery without any problem. You don’t have to worry about constantly pulling your pants up or pushing your sleeves back. This level of physical comfort can give you an instant boost of confidence.
If you feel good in your work clothing, you can command respect from your co-workers and get your job done without any distractions.
Meeting Australian Safety Standards
Of course, comfort and looks are wonderful, but if your clothing does not provide adequate safety, it is completely worthless. Safety standards in Australia are extremely difficult to meet, especially in regard to visibility and materials. Women’s work clothing has to meet the exact same AS/NZS safety standards as men’s work clothing.
With regard to safety in the dead of night, reflective tape is also an issue. There is reflective tape which has to be put in precise positions on your body. If your unisex shirt is hanging too low, you will never be able to see it from the right angle. Women’s work clothing means safety features are in precisely the right position on your body, ensuring your safety in hazardous working conditions.
Driving Productivity and Workplace Safety
Ill-fitting clothing has always been a safety issue within the construction industry. The extra fabric can get caught on a scaffolding, caught in a power tool, or caught by a machine. Cutting out this extra, unnecessary fabric, however, drastically reduces the number of work accidents that happen within the construction industry. Safety, of course, leads to a heightened sense of productivity. When you don’t waste your time adjusting your tool belt or your pants, you can get the job done efficiently.
Gear Up for a Better Workday
The days of ill-fitting, uncomfortable clothing are behind us. The tradeswomen of Australia are calling for clothing that works as hard as they do. Take a moment to think about your current wardrobe and what’s holding you back. When you invest in a new wardrobe of tailored work clothing, you’re not only investing in your safety, but your comfort as well. Take a look at the latest in female-specific construction clothing available today!
