• • • APPAREL • • •


READY FOR WHATEVER THE WEATHER BRINGS BY NICK POULSON, COUNTRY MANAGER, UK & IRELAND, CARHARTT F


rom a cold loft first thing to an exposed rooftop by mid-morning, electrical engineers rarely spend a whole day in one


set of conditions. One job might mean hours in a cramped loft or


plant room, hands full of cable and connectors; the next might be first fix on an exposed new-build. As the seasons turn, that daily swing is why it’s worth reviewing your kit: what gets you through a mild autumn morning won’t do much by December, and what’s warm enough for December might well be overkill in October. Getting it right starts with layering properly, understanding the technology on offer and choosing each piece in your workwear wardrobe carefully.


Getting the layers right A proper layering system beats one heavy coat or sweatshirt because it lets you flex with conditions instead of locking you into one level of warmth all day. The base layer’s job is tackling moisture, not just keeping you warm. Pulling sweat away from the skin matters as much on a cold day as a warm one as damp skin chills fast once you stop moving. The mid-layer should provide warmth without bulk, so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re crouching, bending or climbing into awkward spaces. The outer layer needs to change with the weather, blocking wind on a dry day or offering proper weatherproofing once rain is involved. Understanding the fabric technologies available


can really help you build the right workwear wardrobe for the winter season. Cotton is always popular as it’s soft and lightweight, but it’s not the best choice for your base layer: it soaks up and retains moisture, so once you start sweating, it quickly gets damp, leaving you cold and clammy. A synthetic mix is a better choice; materials like polyester wick sweat away from the skin and dry quickly. Carhartt’s Force t-shirts use a synthetic


30 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2026


blend with FastDry technology, have mesh side panels for extra ventilation plus odour-fighting properties that matter on a long shift. If you’re moving around a lot, flexible materials


that have ‘give’ are a must. Rugged Flex stretch- enhanced fabric is a good example. For tougher outer layers, SuperDux offers a


lighter, more abrasion-resistant alternative to traditional duck canvas. Weatherproofing then comes down to Rain Defender, a water-repellent finish for light rain, and Storm Defender, a fully waterproof, breathable membrane for heavier exposure, keeping engineers dry without trapping body heat.


Matching the jacket


to the season Once the layers underneath are sorted, it’s time to choose a jacket carefully. Early in the season, when mornings are damp rather than freezing, a jacket simply needs to offer protection from wet


weather and a bit of warmth, nothing heavier. A duck canvas or denim jacket with a soft blanket lining, finished with Rain Defender to shed light rain, will do the job. As temperatures drop through Autumn, sherpa


lining is the next step up. Its soft, fleece-like pile traps far more warm air without adding bulk. By late winter, dedicated insulation matters more than lining alone. 3M Thinsulate traps warm air within thousands of fine fibres, as seen in the Washed Duck Active Jacket and the women’s Washed Duck Sierra Jacket.


Women in the trade With more women training in electrical engineering, it’s also important that tradeswomen have access to clothes cut specifically for them, not resized men’s patterns. The TENCEL Fibre Series is a direct response to feedback from women who wanted workwear that was lightweight and comfortable without losing toughness. Made using TENCEL Lyocell fibres, the range, including t-shirts and sweatshirts, is soft, breathable and durable enough for a demanding shift and downtime after. The same thinking runs through the women’s


Steel Pants. These are cut differently through the hip, waist and thigh, with a gusseted crotch and stretch fabric built around how women move on site rather than a resized men’s style. Getting that fit right matters even more than comfort as ill-fitting workwear can restrict movement or catch on equipment and is as much a safety issue as a comfort one. Carhartt has built workwear to last since 1889.


Fabric has always been chosen for the job, technology is built in and each piece is designed in a fit that works for whoever is wearing it.


www.carhartt.com electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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