Should workwear be as durable as possible?

Why does resistance to wear and tear ultimately come at the cost of comfort?

Workwear has long been designed based on a single criterion: resistance to abrasion and tearing. Mewa has observed that this approach has its limitations: the more resistant the materials, the heavier and more cumbersome they become for everyday wear. This observation is commonplace in the field, but it is far less so in the design of product lines.

The postures involved are well-known: working on one's knees, repetitive bending, working with arms raised, and prolonged standing. Added to this are the high temperatures of enclosed spaces and the summer months, which make even the most protective clothing the one that weighs most heavily on the body throughout the day. It's the same trade-off that governs working in extreme heat.

What a knee pad pocket entails with regard to the EN 14404 standard

Force Evo includes several pairs of trousers equipped with knee pad pockets. This detail is not merely cosmetic: it's the key to protecting the knee without strapping additional equipment to the leg. The EN 14404 standard , which governs knee protection for kneeling work, specifically distinguishes between knee pads that are independent of the garment and those that fit into dedicated pockets in the trousers.

The key issue for the company lies elsewhere. The certification applies to the complete trouser-knee pad combination, not just the pocket: a certified knee pad inserted into non-certified trousers will not deliver the advertised performance. Three classes then guide the selection based on the type of terrain.

The press release does not specify whether the Force Evo trousers are certified according to this standard, nor which knee pads are included. This question arises before any product listing, and it relates to the issue of the regulatory framework for the worksite , which the buyer must be aware of before ordering.

A range designed to be combined rather than worn as a single unit

Force Evo covers electricity, construction, maintenance, and assembly. It includes trousers with knee pad pockets, jackets suitable for all weather conditions, and Bermuda shorts for the summer season. For women, the range offers trousers and a softshell jacket in tailored cuts.

The key selling point is the seamless integration of the two lines. "The color palettes are harmonized. This allows for targeted combinations of different requirements depending on the task," explains Silvia Mertens, Product Manager at Mewa. For example, sturdy trousers can be worn with a lighter top for tasks requiring a wide range of motion. The uniform inventory is then organized by workstation, rather than by collection. Mewa's other product lines operate on the same service principle.

Who pays for the maintenance and replacement of work clothes?

Like all Mewa collections, Force Evo is not sold but offered as part of a comprehensive service: provision, regular maintenance, repairs, and garment replacement. This model fulfills a legal obligation that falls on the employer, not the employee, as stipulated by labor law.

Article R. 4323-95 of the French Labor Code stipulates that personal protective equipment and work clothes must be provided free of charge by the employer, who is also responsible for ensuring their proper functioning and maintenance in a satisfactory hygienic condition through necessary upkeep, repairs, and replacements. Article R. 4321-4 establishes the employer's obligation to provide this equipment. Therefore, the expense does not end with the purchase; equipping worksites must be considered over the long term.

Outsourcing this cycle through a lease-maintenance agreement is tantamount to entrusting a third party with a responsibility that already exists. The press release provides neither the cost, nor the contract duration, nor the termination terms: three pieces of information that must be obtained before comparing it to outright purchase.

For small businesses, the trade-off is shifting. It's no longer just about the garment's lifespan, but also about the cost of wearing it for a full day and maintaining it over several seasons. The end-of-life of professional textiles is also factored into the equation, as demonstrated by the textile recycling loop.