Held under the theme “Currents of Change: The Flow of Ideas, People, and Possibility” the 2026 NAUMD Convention, held in Boston on the 3rd-5th of May 2026, celebrated an industry driven by “adaptation, collaboration and progress”. Bringing together professionals from across the uniform, workwear, image apparel and public safety sectors, the event explored emerging industry trends, shared best practice and showcased innovative approaches to long-term uniform programmes.
We identified three presentations that were particularly relevant to our clients:
- Built to Last – How Textile Standards Turn Uniform Quality into a Competitive Edge – Erica Simmons (The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colourists AATCC)
- Sustainability in Practice: What Actually Works in Uniform Programs Today – Ben Mead (Hohenstein), Brice Calder (Claigan Environmental Ltd), Matthew Allen (Reju), Lina Londono (Debrand) and Cheryl Smyre (Parkdale Advanced Materials)
- Tradition vs Comfort – How Modernization is Redefining Public Safety Uniforms – Eldon Griggs (Galls), B. James Bottoms (Luly Yang Design Group), Tim Freischmidt (Fechheimer), Adam Hall (Lion).
How Standardised Textile Testing Transforms Common Uniform Challenges
What our Clients expect from their uniforms: Colour That Holds → Strengths That Last → Comfort That Performs → Compliance That Protects → Appearance That Endures
Explored were the Four Pillars for Transformation: Durability, Consistency, Thoughtful Design & Trust (Erica Simmons Tech Director AATCC).
- Durability focused on ensuring garments can withstand repeated laundering and everyday wear, with accelerated colourfastness testing demonstrating how products can be designed for long-term performance (TM061).
- Consistency highlighted the importance of reliable fabric behaviour, including resistance to acids and alkalis, to ensure garments continue to perform as intended throughout their service life (TM006).
- Thoughtful, wearer-centred design emphasised the role of comfort and textile performance with examples of moisture management testing (TM218).
- Trust was identified as being built on measurable evidence, with recognised test methods – such as Xenon-Arc colourfastness testing – providing independent verification that product claims can withstand real-world conditions (TM16.3).
Ultimately, industry Standards support “taking uniform quality programmes from good enough to truly dependable” (Erica Simmons Tech Director AATCC). The four pillars show how recognised test methods convert expectations around durability, consistency, comfort and colourfastness into measurable evidence that buyers can use to assess product claims.
How Companies Are Approaching Materials Selection
“Sustainability in uniform and workwear programs is evolving” and means different things to different organisations. “Rather than being driven by a single set of external requirements, it is increasingly shaped by customer expectations, material innovation, operational efficiency and the need to manage waste and risk across the supply chain”.
As polyester production continues to rise, the environmental impact of synthetic textiles is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. With increased attention on microplastic pollution, including significant investment in research into its effects on human health (HSS/EPA directed $144m towards research – Cheryl Smyre: Parkdale Advanced Materials), and post-consumer textiles representing the industry’s greatest waste stream (there is enough clothing already in circulation to clothe the next six generations), material selection is no longer just a performance consideration but a long-term sustainability decision and investment.
For uniform programmes, this means choosing materials that can support emerging solutions, including biodegradable fibre technologies and approaches that work across virgin and recycled textile supply chains.
But this approach extends beyond the fabric itself. Fit is also a sustainability issue: poorly fitting garments can reduce wearer performance while increasing returns, replacements and textile waste.
Additionally, while branded uniforms are a valuable asset during service life, they can quickly become a liability once withdrawn from use if branding prevents garments from being reused or repurposed. Considering branding, trim and product construction at the design stage can therefore play a key role in enabling a dignified second life for garments and supporting more circular uniform programmes.
Ultimately, circularity must be designed into the programme from the outset, from material and branding choices through procurement to end-of-life management.
How Public Safety Uniforms Are Evolving in Practice, Not Just in Theory
“Uniforms have always carried deep symbolism in public safety, representing tradition, authority, and identity”, but the last 10 years have represented one of the most intense periods of modernisation the industry has seen. After hundreds of years of relatively traditional uniform design, there has been a fundamental shift away from the mindset of “this is what my grandpa wore” (Tim Freischmidt – Fechheimer), towards asking what today’s workforce needs – and increasingly, what will attract the next generation of recruits.
“Today, a new generation of officers and command staff is placing greater emphasis on comfort, function, and versatility”, and material choices are changing accordingly. Tactical, rip-stop fabrics, polyester and stretch technologies are being used to create lighter, more breathable garments with greater freedom of movement and easier care. Natural fibres, recyclability and end-of-life are also receiving greater consideration.
Comfort is also becoming more than a preference. It can contribute to wearer satisfaction, retention and reduce issues associated with poorly designed uniforms. As a result, comfort is increasingly becoming a recruitment and retention tool rather than something that should be sacrificed for tradition.
However, comfort cannot come at the expense of protection. Specifications must define the required protective performance, and testing must verify that new technologies meet it.
This is also changing how fabrics are sourced. Performance-oriented materials are increasingly manufactured offshore, often requiring specialist processes and capabilities. Requirements such as PFAS-free construction add further complexity, as both the fibres and the treatments applied to them need to be considered.
For military and public safety buyers, future-focused specifications are increasingly important and must reflect current wearer expectations. For example, legacy fabric choices are becoming more difficult and costly to maintain as minimum order quantities rise – understanding recruits can open the way to more readily available technologies.
The way uniform programmes are managed is evolving too. Manufacturers, distributors and end users are increasingly working as partners, sharing responsibility for forecasting, inventory and programme management rather than simply selling products. At the same time, organisations expect faster turnaround, influenced by the “Amazon model” (Adam Hall – Lion), creating greater pressure on supply chains.
Technology is helping to address this through digital ordering, web portals and online project-management tools, providing greater visibility, accuracy and control. Yet adoption remains inconsistent, with many organisations still relying on outdated processes. As requirements and customisation increase, this can create greater administration, longer lead times and reduced accountability.
Ultimately, modernisation is about aligning public safety uniforms with today’s operational realities and workforce expectations, while maintaining the protection and availability that organisations require.
Workwear Solutions have been members of NAUMD since 2022, where our Founder & MD Natalie sits on the board of Directors as the first non-North American Director. She attends their annual events, presenting key issues such as workwear trends and inclusivity in the UK and Europe, bringing an international perspective to the North American market and industry.