Men's Hi-Vis Workwear
Men's hi-vis workwear is a compliance product first and a garment second — if the fluorescent area falls short by a few square centimetres, the whole delivery is unsaleable. We build men's EN ISO 20471 Class 2 and Class 3 programmes on certified fabrics with retroreflective tape from 3M or equivalent, and we calculate visible area at the pattern stage rather than discovering the shortfall at certification.
Men's workwear styles we produce
Class 2 and Class 3 options across the garments that make up a typical men's workwear range.
Hi-vis jacket
Class 2 or Class 3, 300D polyester PU, taped seams, detachable hood options.
Hi-vis parka
Class 3 winter parka with quilted lining, the cold-weather core of most ranges.
Hi-vis softshell
3L bonded stretch, Class 2; quieter and more flexible than a PU shell.
Hi-vis fleece
280 g/m² anti-pill fleece with Class 2 or 3 configuration.
Hi-vis cargo trousers
CORDURA knee panels, Class 1 or 2 lower-body configuration.
Hi-vis bomber and vest
Class 2 upper body for layering over a base or mid layer.
EN ISO 20471: the numbers that decide the class
Class is not a label — it is a measured area of fluorescent and retroreflective material. Here is what each class requires.
| Class 3 | 0.80 m² fluorescent background, 0.20 m² retroreflective, 0.20 m² combined-performance material |
|---|---|
| Class 2 | 0.50 m² fluorescent, 0.13 m² retroreflective, 0.13 m² combined-performance |
| Class 1 | 0.14 m² fluorescent, 0.10 m² retroreflective |
| Tape width | Minimum 50 mm for Class 2 and 3 garments |
| Tape placement | Two horizontal bands around the torso, plus braces over the shoulders for Class 3 |
| Sleeve bands | Class 3 requires bands around both arms; a gap of more than 50 mm breaks the band |
The two failures we see most often in competitor samples are sleeve bands interrupted by a panel seam, and a logo print that eats into the fluorescent area. Both are design-stage problems. We check them before the pattern is cut, not after the garment is made.
Fabric and construction
| Shell | 300D polyester PU, 5K/3K waterproof breathable; 100% polyester oxford alternatives |
|---|---|
| Softshell | 3L bonded, 94/6 poly-spandex TPU, 300 g/m² |
| Fleece | 280 g/m² anti-pill polyester, Class 2 or 3 configuration |
| Retroreflective tape | 3M Scotchlite or equivalent, 50 mm, segmented or solid |
| Seam sealing | Taped on all waterproof styles |
| Rain protection | EN 343 rated options where the garment must also be rainwear |
| Reinforcement | CORDURA 500D at knee, elbow and hem high-wear points |
Certification and technical files
- EN ISO 20471 certification to the specific class you are selling
- EN 343 rain protection testing where applicable
- CE technical file support and EU declaration of conformity
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 on fabric and trims
- 3M or equivalent tape certification with traceable batch numbers
- EN ISO 13688 general requirements for protective clothing
- BSCI-audited partner factories
Certification is issued against a specific construction. If you change the fabric, the tape or the panel layout after certification, the certificate no longer covers the garment. We flag any change that would require re-testing before it reaches production.
MOQ, sampling and lead times
| MOQ | 400 pcs per colour, sizes mixed within the colour |
|---|---|
| Sampling | 7-10 days in stock fabric, 15-20 days if fabric must be sourced |
| Certification sample | Made to the exact construction that will be certified |
| Bulk lead time | 35-55 days after PP approval |
| Testing | Hydrostatic head to ISO 811 plus incoming tape and fabric verification |
Questions buyers ask
What is the MOQ for men's custom hi-vis workwear?
400 pcs per colour, with sizes mixed inside the colour. Styles sharing one fabric platform can often share the minimum across the platform.
Can you certify to EN ISO 20471 Class 3?
Yes. We calculate the fluorescent and retroreflective areas at pattern stage and submit for certification against the exact production construction.
Do you use 3M tape?
Yes. 3M Scotchlite is our standard and we also work with equivalent certified tapes where a customer has a preferred supplier. Batch numbers are traceable.
Can we put our logo on a hi-vis garment?
Yes, but placement matters. A logo printed into the fluorescent area reduces the measured area and can drop the class. We position logos outside the measured zones, or size them to keep the area compliant.
Do you supply EN 343 rainwear?
Yes. Where a garment must be both high-visibility and rain protective, we test to EN 343 alongside EN ISO 20471.
Can you match an existing supplier's garment?
Send the sample. We will measure it, identify the fabric and tape specification, and quote a match — including where we would recommend a change to fix a compliance weakness.
Tell us what you need
Send a tech pack, a reference sample or just a target price. We reply within 24 hours with a fabric suggestion, a cost indication and a sampling plan.
Get a quote