WORKWEAR
Carhartt’s Force Series range is designed to fight sweat, dry fast and keep labourers comfortable.
F 26
or builders’ merchants, stocking and promoting summer ranges is both a seasonal opportunity and a way to help customers stay safe, comfortable and productive. With innovative fabrics, protective technologies and thoughtful merchandising, there’s real potential to boost sales while supporting the needs of every trade professional.
Long summer days bring more than just longer shifts and brighter mornings, they also come with serious health risks for anyone working outdoors. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), construction workers are among the highest-risk groups in the UK for skin cancer caused by UV exposure. Many people assume this danger only applies on hot, cloudless days, but UV rays are strong enough to cause lasting damage from March to October, even when the sky is overcast. Most people are familiar with the short-term effects of too much sun – redness, discomfort
RUNNINGS
When the temperature climbs and there’s no air con in sight, tradespeople need tough, work-ready gear that can handle the heat, as Oliver Stanley finds out.
and peeling skin. But sunburn isn’t the only concern. Repeated UV exposure gradually breaks down collagen and can damage DNA, increase the risk of skin cancers, and accelerate ageing. This makes choosing the right workwear essential.
Choosing the right materials Cotton is often the go-to for warmer weather; it’s soft and dries quickly so it’s very comfortable. But it offers surprisingly poor sun protection; a typical cotton T-shirt has a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of only 5, allowing around 20% of UV radiation to pass through. While tightly woven fabrics like canvas or denim do block more rays, they can
also feel heavy and stifling in the heat. One company innovating to account for this is Pulsar, who make high-visibility and protective workwear. The company has relaunched its LIFE Collection polo shirt, featuring a bamboo-rich fabric blend. This untreated fabric offers a UPF of 40+, helping shield against harmful rays. Colour plays a role too. Darker fabrics absorb more UV radiation; they act like a filter, preventing rays reaching your skin. However, darker colours also trap heat so make you feel hotter. Lighter colours reflect more sunlight so will keep you cooler but unless the fabric is specially treated, they often allow more UV through.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2025
COOL
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