FOR WORKWEAR WORKERS LOVE TO WEAR, COLLABORATE WITH THE LYCRA COMPANY
Tough jobs demand the best from workers — and workers demand the best from their clothes. But for many, workwear doesn’t fit right or leaves them uncomfortable by the end of the day; too hot, too cold, too sweaty, too restricted. That can lead some workers to abandon important pieces of gear, which can end in accidents and injuries. And no one wants that.
Comfortable, well-fitting garments and high-tech performance benefits are the solution for better workwear — and you can count on The LYCRA Company, a proud member of PCIAW®, to deliver. For all-day comfort and fit, moisture control, and temperature management in durable workwear fibers that last, we’re your partner — all the way. LYCRA®, COOLMAX®, and THERMOLITE® brands offer performance fiber solutions to meet workers’ real needs.
From pilots in the skies to nurses on the ground, our fibers make workwear so comfortable employees forget they’re wearing it. So they can focus on what matters most.
"Our technologies fit naturally in the workwear category and bring real value for everybody: Fabric mills can innovate with higher-performing fibers, workwear brands can offer more stylish and durable garments, and workers feel more comfortable and confident."
David Capdevila
Product marketing and merchandising manager
The LYCRA Company
WHAT WORKWEAR RESEARCH SHOWS
According to research cited by the British Standards Institution in a 2025 report on personal protective equipment (PPE), ill-fitting workwear is a problem with measurable consequences:
If a worker is outside of the 5th or 95th percentile for typical body measurements, finding well-fitting PPE is unlikely
57% of women respondents found that their PPE “sometimes or significantly hampered their work”
28% of women do not wear all the required PPE at work because of issues with fit
In 2021/22, the estimated cost of workplace injuries and health issues in the UK alone was nearly $28 billion
Change is possible. With the right considerations for fit and environment, more workers can feel comfortable in their PPE and other professional clothing. Let’s work together to improve workwear.
BENEFITS OF WORKWEAR FEATURING LYCRA® FIBERS
COMFORT & FIT
Our stretch fibers help make workwear and personal protective equipment more comfortable and size inclusive
DURABILITY
Many of our fibers withstand industrial laundering (under ISO 15797) and keep looking great
TEMPERATURE & MOISTURE CONTROL
With breathable, moisture-wicking fibers and lightweight warming solutions, we cover every climate
LYCRA® FIBERS FOR DURABLE WORKWEAR
LYCRA® fibers for workwear deliver stretch comfort and inclusive sizing. Our most durable fibers are strong enough to endure industrial laundering — for comfort that lasts.
LYCRA® T400® FIBER
LYCRA® T400® fiber is engineered to provide comfortable stretch without compromising durability. It can withstand industrial laundering (under ISO 15797), and offers excellent shape retention, ensuring garments maintain their fit and appearance even after extensive use. And, thanks to its unique “snowman”-like shape, this fiber provides permanent moisture wicking, delivering breathable, quick-drying fabrics.
Also available as LYCRA® T400® EcoMade fiber, engineered in part with 14% renewable plant-based materials and at least 50% recycled PET bottles.
LYCRA XTRA LIFE® TECHNOLOGY
With LYCRA XTRA LIFE® technology, workwear lasts and lasts. Our fibers resist shrinkage, fiber damage, and misshaping. LYCRA XTRA LIFE® technology is the secret ingredient for durable, long-lasting garments that fit well, feel good, and perform.
A bonus? Garments that last longer are better for the planet — the more times you wear something, the lower its lifetime carbon footprint*. And for garments made with LYCRA XTRA LIFE® technology, that lifetime is long.
* Carbon Trust Analysis based on data from Peter Grace, Queensland University. Bcg analysis. Well Dressed (2006)
LYCRA® ADAPTIV FIBER
Every worker’s body is different — and each deserves a uniform, corporate wear, or personal protective equipment that fits. With LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber, garments always fit the way they should.
Because of its unique formulation, LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber adapts to the wearer’s needs. At rest, it applies the right level of compression for fit, shape, and control. In motion, it delivers a second-skin feel and stay-in-place fit. Plus, its easy-stretch qualities mean garments are easier to put on and take off, and sizing is more inclusive. It’s an all-around workhorse that meets the highest professional demands.
COOLMAX® FIBERS FOR COOLER, DRIER WORKWEAR
For reliable cooling, breathable fabrics, and moisture management in workwear, COOLMAX® fibers go the distance.
COOLMAX® ECOMADE FIBER
When it gets hot under pressure, workers need COOLMAX® EcoMade fiber.
Our specially engineered fiber wicks sweat away from the body to the outer fabric layer where it dries fast, keeping the wearer cool and dry. Thanks to the structure of the fiber, this moisture-wicking benefit is permanent — it won't wash out over the lifetime of the garment, even under the stress of industrial laundering (we tested it under ISO 15797).
COOLMAX® EcoMade fiber can be made from either 100% recycled PET bottles or 100% textile waste.
COOLMAX® ALL SEASON FIBER
Seasons are blurring and regional needs are shifting. But year-round comfort — without the need for multiple uniforms — is possible with our all-season fiber.
With COOLMAX® ALL SEASON fiber, workers stay cool and dry when it’s hot and warm when it’s chilly.
COOLMAX® ALL SEASON fiber is made with at least 95% post-consumer recycled PET bottles.
THERMOLITE® FIBERS FOR WARM, LIGHTWEIGHT WORKWEAR
Keep workers warm whatever the weather with THERMOLITE® fibers and insulations, designed for lightweight warmth.
THERMOLITE® ECOMADE FIBER
Work doesn’t stop when the temperature drops. That’s where THERMOLITE® EcoMade fiber comes in.
This lightweight warmth solution is made from durable hollow fibers that trap warm air inside garments, keeping bodies warm for longer.
It can be made with either 100% recycled PET bottles or 100% textile waste. Plus, it’s durable, potentially reducing the need to keep buying new garments.
SUSTAINABLE WORKWEAR SOLUTIONS
For more sustainable workwear crafted with recycled materials, LYCRA®, COOLMAX®, and THERMOLITE® brands offer durable, high-performance solutions.
LYCRA® T400® EcoMade fiber, made in part from recycled PET bottles and renewable plant-based materials, delivers permanent stretch, recovery, moisture-wicking, and breathability. LYCRA® T400® fiber is compatible with established polyester recycling processes. In controlled tests, LYCRA® T400® fiber components were blended with standard polyester and respun into new polyester fibers, setting the stage for circularity
COOLMAX® EcoMade fiber can be crafted from either 100% recycled PET or 100% post-consumer textile waste and provides cool, dry, breathable comfort to workers in any job
COOLMAX® ALL SEASON fiber is a specialty technology made from at least 95% recycled PET that combines insulating hollow fibers with channeled fibers for lightweight warmth when it’s cold and cool and dry performance when the temperature rises
THERMOLITE® EcoMade fiber, crafted from either 100% recycled PET or 100% textile waste, is a lightweight warming solution for workers who need it
Our recycled and renewable fibers have received third-party sustainability certifications: All recycled polyester products from The LYCRA Company have achieved OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Products made from recycled bottles are Global Recycled Standard certified, and products from textile waste are Recycled Content Standard certified.
WORKWEAR BRANDS & MILLS THAT USE OUR FIBERS
Shop the workwear brands and mills that use our performance fibers
