David Clark, MD of Snickers Workwear, explores whether the combination of high-tech fabrics and ‘smart’ technology could provide the answer to wellbeing and productivity on-site.
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.
Wearable technology is here to stay
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 (www.aon.com/unitedkingdom/employee-benefits/news/articles/wearable-technology-could-improve-productivity.jsp) show the extent to which people are mindful of the role that wearable technology plays at work.
And, 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 one-third (36%) of employee respondents cite increased productivity as a benefit of using wearable technology in the workplace. 43% of respondents cite employee wellness as a benefit of using wearable technology in the workplace, while 41% also cite health benefits. Furthermore, 69% of respondents aged 18-24 years old believe that wearable technology is beneficial in the workplace
Performance and comfort is closely linked to 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. 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.
37.5’s developers discovered that embedding activated carbon in fabrics speeds up the conversion of liquid to vapour, cooling you down when it’s hot and warming you up when it’s 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, but by that time it’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 technology for workwear
It’s all about improving comfort and enabling a better work experience and such 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.
Users tests has generated positive feedback
At Snickers we undertook both lab tests and live user tests on 37.5 before including the technology in our product range. Since then we’ve had very positive feedback from users, highlighting the improved comfort of the fabric.
This ground-breaking state-of-the-art technology fits nicely into the Snickers 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.
Snickers’ Latest Climate Control Workwear with 37.5 Technology
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 the 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’re 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 precisely the right garments to fit your workday.