Red Wing recently collaborated with Bold as Brass founder, Katherine Evans on our 619 women’s coverall. Bold as Brass, a growing support network highlighting challenges faced by women in construction, mining, and quarrying has quickly gained a big following. It really resonates with women sharing similar experiences in these industries.
Katherine’s journey into creating Bold as Brass came from dealing with her own struggles. Thinking back to her early days in the industry, she remembers dealing with poorly fitting men’s work gear, which highlights bigger problems in the design of workwear. From too-long sleeves to jackets sitting weirdly on the hips, it sums up the daily challenges women in the industry face. Katherine describes an image of a woman having to hoist coveralls like a petticoat while navigating stairs and ladders shows the need for change. How can you stay safe from danger when your safety gear itself is part of the problem? Katherine points out that these issues aren’t limited to just one company; they’re rooted in societal norms.
Bold as Brass stepped up directly in response to these challenges, becoming a platform to question and tackle gender-specific hurdles in the industry. Katherine’s proactive search for suitable gear led her to use social media, particularly LinkedIn, to seek recommendations. This search for solutions quickly connected her with John Boyack, our Sales Manager in Europe, who not only responded but also gave her the chance to try out the innovative 619 style coveralls.
The 619 women’s coverall shows Red Wing’s commitment to addressing gender-specific concerns and comes with lots of innovations. Katherine enthusiastically talks about features like two-way zippers that make bathroom breaks easy without taking off the coveralls, a game-changer in functionality. Wrist buttons and well-placed pockets are further highlighting the considerate design. As Katherine points out, having incorrectly sitting pockets on the chest is hugely problematic for woman as it increases the likelihood of walking into things, resulting in potential discomfort and pain. The 619 has deep chest pockets ensuring practicality and comfort.
John and Red Wing have been advocates for raising awareness about challenges faced by female workers. The Right Fit campaign, started a couple of years ago, has generated significant interest, leading us to extend its commitment to a ‘Right Fit’ approach for everyone. Katherine emphasizes the need for this approach, sharing an incident where she questioned a hard hat manufacturer about accommodating individuals with dreadlocks or wigs, revealing a lack of inclusivity in standard designs.
Red Wing’s commitment to change is clear in John’s statement that we’ve transformed how we customise safety gear. The Right Fit toolbox, created to educate customers and employees on the importance of proper fit and wear, shows the Red Wing’s dedication to safety and comfort. Red Wing goes further by offering a personalized fitting service in Aberdeen, recognizing the unique needs of employees.
The collaboration between Red Wing and Bold as Brass goes beyond a typical business connection. It signifies a collective effort to reshape industry norms, ensuring every worker, regardless of gender or physical differences, has access to safety gear that not only keeps them safe but also allows them to thrive. This journey showcases Red Wing’s steadfast commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
