Fit for females

CROMWELL HAS been at the forefront of safety and health for almost a decade and its ongoing research into PPE led them to look more deeply at the industry, researching the breadth and depth of what was available, and required, by an increasingly demanding market. 

Drilling deep into what workers truly needed from PPE, across the broad spectrum of industry, alerted Cromwell’s experts to some seemingly obvious shortfalls that until now, didn’t appear to have been addressed. With safety, health, and compliance at the top of all business’ agendas, how could anyone manage to achieve the goal of keeping everyone safe from harm if individuals couldn’t find PPE to fit? Compliance due to suitability was a clear issue.

One key point stood out to the team – PPE was still being designed and manufactured for an average individual, and for many manufacturers that method is still the case. Workwear, footwear, head protection, and more are predominantly designed for the average male worker, to fit and protect a person that doesn’t exist.

Traditionally, many industries and professions requiring workwear have been male dominated. As a result, the focus of design has primarily been on meeting the needs of male workers meaning that items designed specifically for females have been missing from the market. In answer to the growing need for inclusive solutions Cromwell has elevated the importance of gender-inclusive products by creating a specially designed and sourced collection of PPE with inclusivity and sustainability at its heart. 

Say ‘hello’ to Halo

Think about your people, they are all different. Each of them has specific needs and requirements. And they all deserve to be protected and comfortable in their work. That’s why Cromwell has developed Halo, their own brand of PPE that’s comfortable and fits well while it protects. And as part of the brand that they’ve included ranges of PPE designed especially for women.

Halo is designed in-house to meet the ever-evolving requirements of real people. All the materials used are sourced ethically and sustainably – the recycled and recyclable packaging they use has allowed removal of one tonne of single use plastic from the environment per year.

Neil Jowsey, managing director of Cromwell said, “I genuinely believe Halo is the future of safety. No one else is developing PPE in the way we are. It certainly sets us apart from our competitors.

“We’ve created a brand with equity and sustainability at its core; 1% of our sales are being donated to charitable organisations that align with that ethos. We believe that everyone deserves to be protected, safe, and comfortable at work whatever their body shape, personal requirements, or religious sensibilities – and we’re bringing them the first range of PPE to do just that.”

Created specifically for women

Cromwell's in-house designer explains how she's developed Halo so that it specifically meets the needs of women, and men, in industry. 

“As a team we have sought the views of a wide demographic of people working in the health and safety arena to gather their views around what they need, and want, from PPE. We’ve conducted surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect these valuable insights. And taken time to really understand the difference in roles, work environments, and the specific challenges faced by both sexes.

“We’ve put a huge emphasis on comfort and fit. With the varying shapes and sizes of women’s and men’s bodies, it was clear to us right from the beginning that putting this at the forefront of our thinking would be key to the success of the brand. And our research only served to reinforce our thinking. We found that both men and women require specific things in their workwear and so we’ve considered factors like flexibility, breathability, ease of movement, and sizing options to accommodate all body types – these are all aspects that our focus groups told us were essential to them when choosing workwear and PPE.”

Designed for life

“Our insight also told us that the life stages experienced by women impact them in so many ways. Understanding those needs and challenges is key to designing garments that are suitable for each of those stages whether that be pregnancy, menopause, or something else.

“For the fluctuating body temperatures often experienced by women in menopause, we wanted to design garments that would offer confidence, breathability, and comfort, especially in higher temperatures. Halo garments are made with breathable fabrics that feature moisture-wicking properties to help manage thermal comfort. And we’ve consciously chosen fabrics that are soft, lightweight, and gentle on the skin as some women report experiencing increased sensitivity during menopause. We are also introducing a back neck print to garments to exclude the need for labels which often irritate. And we have plans to introduce maternity wear, beginning with tops.

“Most of the industries we supply, such as manufacturing and aerospace, have strict safety regulations. To ensure we address these requirements, we’ve incorporated things such as high visibility fabrics and reflective panels, additional protective layers, and reinforced areas. Halo also considers functional features such as the inclusion of ample pockets, robust closures, durable materials, and easy maintenance. And what’s more, the range launching in the next few months will include items that are fully recyclable.”

Nicola Corfield, Halo’s garment designer, explained how she anticipates the range will benefit women in industry, she said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of creating workwear especially aimed at women is the positive impact it can have on their professional lives. By designing items that address the specific needs and challenges of men and women I hope we can boost their confidence, comfort, and overall job satisfaction. Knowing that my designs contribute to empowering people in the workplace is amazing.”

Sara Dunn is Halo category manager at Cromwell. For more information, visit www.cromwell.co.uk