Common Materials Used in High-Visibility Apparel

Unique materials make high-visibility clothing different from regular apparel. Textiles and specialty dyes and materials create shirts, hoodies, and vests that glow and stand up to wear and tear. Learn about the common materials used in high-visibility apparel.

Polyester

Manufacturers often use polyester or a polyester blend to create high-vis clothes. The strong fibers don’t stretch or create tiny fuzzballs, called pilling, like other textiles often do. Polyester resists soaking up moisture, helping to keep workers dry around water and wick away sweat on hot days. Polyester’s resistance to strain and distortion makes it an excellent, durable material for industrial workspaces.

Spandex

Another common material used in high-visibility apparel is spandex, particularly blended with polyester. Spandex’s stretchiness can make polyester more comfortable while retaining its durability. Spandex is a lightweight material that returns to its original form even after repeated stretching and wear.

Fluorescent Dyed Material

The base textiles used to make high-vis apparel undergo special treatment. The characteristically bright, neon color of high-visibility clothes comes from fluorescent dye. Neon orange, yellow, green, and red fabrics contain dye that reacts to ultraviolet (UV) light rays to produce a glowing effect. This glowing light is most visible during rainy weather, at dusk, and at dawn, but the clothes don’t glow in the dark.

Retroreflective Materials

Manufacturers apply retroreflective materials to high-vis clothing to increase visibility at night and in very dark conditions. Micro-prismatic tape made from vinyl and glass bead reflective tape cover high-vis gear and bounce reflected light back to the light source. With a combination of fluorescent dyes and retroreflective materials, your gear makes you noticeable during the day and at night.

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