Jackie Rosselli, Director of Communications, Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD)
Law enforcement uniforms are certainly not what they were a few decades ago, or even a few years ago. The Class A’s of yesteryear have been largely replaced by Class B and tactical wear that better reflect the threats and demands of police work today. Infused with technology and manufactured with the latest fabrications, uniforms provide the wearer with practical, comfortable and functional attire that doesn’t compromise appearance.
This article appeared in the March/April issue of OFFICER Magazine. Click Here to subscribe to OFFICER Magazine.
Appearance is an important consideration, of course, for how an officer looks may impact how he or she is perceived. “Uniforms are not just attire; they represent strength and competence for the law enforcement community,” says Rick Levine, executive director of the Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD). “Uniforms have the power to foster pride, instill trust and facilitate job performance.”
There are many products on the market that help departments achieve a comfortable and functional look while still maintaining a professional appearance. What are the must-have uniform products for departments? What attributes do they look for, and are there any new products in 2023 that achieve their goals? To find out, NAUMD recently spoke with a number of its network members to see what departments are buying, and to learn about new products to watch for:
Comfort Reigns Supreme
It should come as no surprise that comfort tops the list of officer wants in any uniform program. “Law enforcement’s needs are really no different than any other occupation,” says Brett Barthel, vice president, sales & business development, at Workwear Outfitters. “The demand for uniforms with stretch, durability and upgraded features continues to rise and we continually challenge ourselves to meet that demand in new ways.”
Barthel says that non-FR, 100% polyester and poly/cotton pants and shirts continue to be the fabric of choice, with dark navy the leader in color. Demand for lightweight blended ripstops with stretch is also increasing. “Retail fabric expectations continue into the workplace and law enforcement is no different,” he continues. “Today, it is possible to increase comfort and functionality and still have a professional appearance.”
CEO Rory Staiger of Ace Uniforms agrees. “I don’t expect Lululemon to launch a tactical line, but if they did, I’m sure it would be a hit,” quipped Staiger. “Comfort and function are top of mind for departments now more than ever, and we’ve seen suppliers like Flying Cross, 5.11 Tactical, Blauer and Elbeco shift their designs to meet these needs.”
A best selling line for Ace Uniforms supports this. Core S.T.A.T., a new lightweight polyester uniform from Flying Cross, has a modernized fit loaded with functional features, and a superior hand-feel fabric.
Flying Cross is known for its premium Justice PolyWool and Command Polyester uniform programs, as well as its Phantom uniform line from Vertx. Other Flying Cross products to watch for in 2023 include Vertx Phantom Flex, Phantom Flex OPS and the Fusion Flex uniform lines. The Phantom Flex series offers the best in tactical stretch performance with purposefully-built features, while Fusion Flex offers a full uniform program in a durable, performance fabric featuring evaporative cooling with 37.5 Technology.
“Like all our products, we work with our end users to understand specific needs during the design and development stage,” notes Tom Rose, vice president of public safety for Flying Cross. “We believe great products are a collaboration of thoughtful end users, world-class designers, an amazing development team and an overall organization that understands and supports the needs of the customer.”
Covid Impact Minimal
NAUMD network members report no significant increase for barrier protection due to Covid. However, the thought of reduced exposure to all types of things whether infectious, hazardous, or simple stains still exists. “We’ve experienced an uptick in base layers, long sleeves over short sleeves, and head and hand coverings, which is no doubt attributed to an individual officer's new preferences in a post COVID world,” says Staiger.
And Will Ayres, 5.11’s senior director of sales, reports another trend in this post-Covid world: increased demand for information surrounding home laundering. “It’s more important now than ever before,” he said.
Lighter, Comfortable FR Products
5.11's best selling uniform family continues to be the Stryke PDU uniforms both in twill and ripstop. The company hasn’t specifically been seeing requests for Class B FR Uniforms, but Ayres says there is a move by some departments to purchase lighter weight FR uniforms. “We’ve seen agencies look more to a “No Melt No Drip” Class C uniform, as traditional FR fabrics are typically on the heavier side,” he said.
5.11’s new V.XI Collection XTU Uniform falls into that category. Released during the SHOT Show, the initial offering of the XTU uniform features a long-sleeve rapid shirt and pant.
Over at Ace Uniforms, the company is eagerly anticipating the launch of Original Footwear’s hands free tactical boot line. “No matter the generation, officers will love the ease, comfort, and reliability of this technology,” says Staiger.
About the Author
Jackie Rosselli is the Director of Communications for the Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD). For more information on the products mentioned, visit NAUMD.com
More Than Pants and Shirts
A complete uniform program includes more than just shirts and pants, and the desire for comfort and functionality extends to other components as well. COBMEX’s Public Safety Collection is designed with that objective in mind. Their fleece-lined sweaters (styles 2020 and 2030) continue to be best sellers according to Jon Edberg, a COBMEX vice president. An acrylic and wool blend allows these styles to be comfortable, warm, and breathable. Engineered with technical elements like badge plates, name plates, and epaulets, officers can customize these styles based on the demands of their role.
The newest addition to the COBMEX Collection, is a quarter zip mock-neck “Military” sweater. “The goal was to design a modern version of your typical military sweater,” explained Edberg. “To achieve this, we combined a contemporary mock-neck with tactical elements like button epaulets and reinforced shoulders and elbows. The result is a performance-driven sweater adequate for the rigors of law enforcement.”
The uniform badge is perhaps the most identifiable component of an officer’s attire. Comfort, of course, is not a factor, but tradition is. “Metal badges have always been our top seller and will remain so,” says Lee Galperin, president, Smith & Warren. “The metal badge is the single most iconic and recognizable part of a law enforcement uniform.”
Smith & Warren’s new Matte Black finish badge, launched in 2022, is receiving buzz, and interest is strong with their awards and medals lines. “We added over 50 new commendation bars and 5 new medals to the product line in 2022, and demand has been steady,” notes Galperin.
For information on the products supplied by any NAUMD network member, contact Rick Levine at [email protected], or visit https://naumd.com/
This article appeared in the March/April issue of OFFICER Magazine.
