Quarter 2 of 2026 proved to be a busy and rewarding period for the team at Workwear Solutions International. Between April & June we attended seven industry events across the UK and Europe, connecting with uniform buyers, suppliers, and industry leaders while contributing to some of the sector’s most important conversations.
From speaking on expert panels at the Textiles Recycling EXPO, exploring the latest industry innovations and advancements at the NAUMD Convention 2026, to sharing insights and best practice at the Uniform Buyers Network Roadshow 2026, the quarter provided valuable opportunities to learn, collaborate, explore and share industry insights.
Here’s a look back at where we’ve been.
NAUMD Convention 2026: 03/05/2026 – 05/05/2026
Held under the theme “Currents of Change: The Flow of Ideas, People, and Possibility,” the 2026 NAUMD Convention celebrated an industry driven by “adaptation, collaboration and progress”.
We identified three presentations that were particularly relevant to our clients:
- Built to Last – How Textile Standards Turn Uniform Quality into a Competitive Edge.
- Sustainability in Practice: What Actually Works in Uniform Programs Today.
- Tradition vs Comfort – How Modernization is Redefining Public Safety Uniforms.
Read more here: https://wsiltd.co.uk/looking-back-naumd-2026-currents-of-change/
NFCC PPE Conference: 12/05/2026 – 13/05/2026
This years’ National Fire Chiefs Council Conference saw the “launch of the new National PPE supply framework’ and explored topics around design, fit, repair & maintenance of Firefighting PPE. It was an ‘opportunity to help advance the PPE agenda, share technical learning, and reinforce our collective commitment to firefighter safety’.
On Wednesday the 13th of May, Natalie spoke on a panel to continue the important conversation on ‘Fit for Form’ – An IntroductionBS 30417 – Provision of Inclusive PPE. She was joined by Sara Gibbs, BSI, and Amy Beams, Women in the Fire Service UK.
Key considerations were raised during the presentation, including:
- How to incorporate ‘Fit for Form’ principles without returning to unisex clothing which has historically been built around the traditional male form.
- The importance of the language used throughout procurement processes, considering gender specific perceptions of ‘unisex’ when implementing true ‘Fit for Form’ principles.
- How to implement improvements for specific wearer groups without creating stigma. For example, supporting those experiencing menopause through breathable, comfortable fabrics that enhance wellbeing for all wearers, rather than being positioned as specialist ‘menopause clothing’.
Natalie left the event encouraged by the progress being made across the fire and rescue sector, having spoken with organisations from across the country who are working hard to begin embedding ‘Fit for Form’ principles of Inclusive PPE and workwear into their procurement processes, and prioritising inclusivity in their future uniform programmes.
BSI Standards Conference and AGM: 21/05/2026
Conversations explored how to attract younger people and end users into Standards Committees. “As committee chairs, we need to get more creative in encouraging end user representation”, Natalie noted. Representation goes hand in hand with accessibility, and ensuring meetings are scheduled and structured to accommodate end users balancing full-time roles is essential to enabling broader participation. Natalie offered a practical example of what attending committee meetings during the working day looked like during the writing of BS 30417: “we had one committee member attend from her car in her Hi-Viz as she was on-site and it was pouring with rain!”.
Natalie herself plays a crucial role in the development of Standards as Chair of PH/3, overseeing all protective clothing Standards on behalf of the British Standards Institution. She described the days’ discussions as having “raised some thought-provoking questions about the future of Standardisation – from the use of AI in Standards-making, to encouraging young professionals into committees”.
EUROSHNET Conference 2026: 27/05/2026 – 28/05/2026
This year’s EUROSHNET conference – Digital & Green Innovations – aimed to shape safer, more innovative, and resilient working environments across Europe. On Wednesday the 27th of May, Natalie joined the PPE session, which brought together different perspectives concerning regulation, inclusiveness, digital innovations, and trustworthy certification mechanisms that shape the present and future of PPE in Europe.
Natalie’s presentation, “Inclusivity in Standards: The Importance of People, Product and Process,” explored why inclusive PPE cannot be achieved through product design alone. It emphasised that meaningful change requires three interconnected elements:
- PEOPLE – greater representation of end users and diverse voices within Standards committees
- PRODUCTS – PPE designed using inclusive, evidence-based anthropometric data and ‘Fit for Form’ principles
- PROCESS – procurement, Standards development and testing methods that embed inclusivity from the outset
The presentation challenged the industry to move beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach, highlighting the need for Standards and procurement practices that ensure PPE is safe, effective and accessible for every wearer.
Uniform Buyers Network Roadshow 2026: 04/06/2026
We are proud to have co-hosted this year’s Uniform Buyers Network Road Show, together with our client An Post at their iconic headquarters in Dublin. The event brought together procurement professionals, buyers & industry thought leaders from across the sector, providing a collaborative forum to share real-world experiences, discuss practical challenges and exchange proven solutions.
Across keynote presentations, panel discussions and collaborative, open conversations, our team left the event with three key solutions for future-proofing uniform, workwear & PPE programmes:
- Designing for Circularity – Prioritising Durability
- User-Centred Design – Inclusivity & Fabric Selection
- Navigating Upcoming Regulation – DPP Compliance
Read more here: https://wsiltd.co.uk/practical-solutions-for-future-proofing-uniform-workwear-ppe-programmes/
Textiles Recycling EPXO: 24/06/2026 – 25/06/2026
The Textiles Recycling Expo Europe, held alongside the Future Fabrics Expo in Brussels on the 24th & 25th of June 2026, brought together innovators, manufacturers, recyclers, brands and procurement professionals to explore the future of circular textiles. As Europe’s leading exhibition dedicated to textile recycling and circularity, the event provided a valuable opportunity to examine the latest technologies, legislation and practical circular solutions shaping the textiles industry.
Three topics stood out as particularly thought-provoking:
- Advancing the Future of Stretch, biobased and recycled elastane. Industry Roundtable 24/06/2026
- Bridging the Circularity Gap in Uniforms, Workwear and PPE. Panel Discussion 25/06/2026
- The True Cost of Textiles: Waste, Responsibility and Europe’s Future. Panel Discussion 24/06/2026
Read more here: https://wsiltd.co.uk/from-innovation-to-implementation-looking-back-textiles-recycling-expo-europe-2026/
From inclusive design and evolving Standards to sustainability, circularity, and procurement best practice, the conversations reinforced the importance of taking a strategic approach to long-term uniform programmes. We look forward to building on these insights throughout the rest of the year, continuing to support our clients with independent expertise that delivers safer, more sustainable and future-ready workwear solutions.
