In 2010 Ann Muirhead, associate head of fashion won the Lord Stafford Award for innovation in development for the Richmond trousers which were created as part of a collaboration between Coventry University and Rackety's, a Staffordshire company who design clothes for disabled people.
Ann developed the range of Richmond Trousers for soldiers that have suffered leg wounds in combat, covering any external metal frames and guarding against infection while being true to casual or military trousers in appearance.
Following this success, the company sought Ann and course director Angela Armstrong's expertise on making fashionable health and safety wear for construction sites.
Research was carried out into the current market and trends in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) allowing the team to gain an insight into the requirements of equipment and what is currently available.
Ann explained: "We found that current PPE is not fit-for-purpose and is considered unfashionable, encouraging construction workers to modify or discard the garments. The clothing is not ergonomic, the fabrics are cheap and underdeveloped and the clothing is inappropriate for the variety of temperatures and environments that people work in."
Observational and participatory research was carried out by Michelle Stanley (research assistant in sport & exercise science) across two sites in Birmingham and Leamington Spa, identifying PPE issues in terms of comfort, durability, washing, environmental, body temperature fluctuations and cost.
Innovative pattern cutting and manufacturing methods are at the core of the project. The team will be sourcing manufacturers with appropriate production skills and manufacturing in the UK as the team are keen for the brand to be British.
Ann and Angela have also researched specialist fabric suppliers and have had a great deal of success looking in the international market, although there are some British companies offering suitable materials they are very expensive.
Angela led the research on sourcing and testing the latest smart fabrics, coatings and trims and their assessment in relation to current health and safety standards. She investigated the sustainability of materials and manufacturing processes and impact of end user activity such as washing and drying. The team also visited the NEXT testing facility at Enderby, Leicester.
Ann has been leading on the work of end user needs in terms of ergonomics, the assessment of current H&S regulations and ensuring that all products meet these standards.
Rebecca Ryder-Caddy, lecturer in fashion and product development is working on the Future Armour branding to help raise awareness of products being developed. Rebecca created a man-spiration site; a virtual den or shed where men can discuss and share anything of interest, from beer to beards.
"We want our brand to become something which men are happy to be affiliated with and ready to wear. The Clubhouse is a social media platform where men can share things they think are cool and fashionable and we're hoping that Future Armour will feature in that space, without it being forcibly marketed to them," explains Angela.
Rebecca has also supported development of an identity to create a brand underneath the umbrella of the Future Armour Ltd Company. The brand Workshy now operates for the sole area of work-wear.
Ann and Angela have met with experts in the military, fire service, and ballistics all of whom are experiencing the same issues with PPE identifying a broader application for the brand in a global market.
Ann continued: "There is a huge potential for this work. We are making garments that are functional and fashionable. People are much more design educated than their grandparents were and are not so willing to accept impractical clothing which not only looks bad but also performs badly. It's an exciting time for Future Armour."
The content is brought to you by Coventry University.
