Let’s face it: Work uniforms aren’t always the most stylish or comfortable.

Just a few years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find workwear that fit well, held its shape, and actually felt good on your body.

But times are changing, and as consumers wear more athleisure and stretch apparel in their everyday lives, they’re demanding the same comfort from their workwear.

That’s where The LYCRA Company comes in.

We’ve been in the comfort-and-fit business for over 65 years, and now we’re expanding our reach in the workwear category, bringing our fibers and technologies to the workers who need them most.

At the helm of that project are two veterans of The LYCRA Company: David Capdevila, a global product manager and go-to-market leader, and Marc Souto, technical sales manager for southwestern Europe.

David and Marc, who joined The LYCRA Company 21 years ago just a few months apart, have spent their careers working together to innovate and reach new markets.

When the opportunity came to grow The LYCRA Company’s presence in the workwear category, it just made sense for them to take on the challenge.

“Our careers have been a potpourri; we do everything that’s needed together,” David said. “Our roles are synergetic, extremely complementary.” 

For the latest installment of our Voice of the Expert series, we spoke to David and Marc about the biggest trends in workwear and how The LYCRA Company’s products are meeting the moment.

Let’s reach back in time for a moment: Have you ever worked a job where you had to wear a uniform?

Marc: I worked one summer in the supermarket, and I had to wear corporate wear.

I was 18, and I got that job to pay for my driver’s license.

To me, wearing that uniform was horrible.

You’re 18 years old, you have to wear the same polyester shirt every day, it’s not comfortable.

Certainly, this period was memorable but not the most comfortable!

I think a lot of people have had that experience! How has the workwear category changed since then?

Marc: One thing is that the workwear category is adopting the features and benefits of other garment categories.

We’re talking about comfort — both thermal and mechanical comfort, with elasticity etc. It’s evolving in that direction.

At the end of the day, you’re wearing those garments more than eight hours a day, so the users want to be comfortable and feel their uniforms help them better perform in all situations.

Why is it important for the LYCRA®, COOLMAX®, and THERMOLITE® brands to be in the workwear space?

David: There’s a natural fit. People don’t work 24/7 — after work they go running, or they go out in a nice pair of jeans.

They know the added value that our stretch fibers bring to clothing, and they want to find the same benefits when wearing uniforms at work.

Just as a professional will scrupulously select their ingredients, they know that they can count on the performance of our fibers, one key ingredient of their outfit.

There is a lot of overlap with apparel; our technologies fit naturally 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.

On top of that, we’re incorporating sustainability at every stage, from production to recycling.