Golden emblem – Consumer Quality Leader 2023 for NEO Tools workwear!
2024-04-15
Consumer Quality Leader 2024 for NEO TOOLS
2024-05-31Designing with passion, or NEO TOOLS’ original clothing
At NEO TOOLS, we know that health and safety clothing is a cornerstone in working long hours in demanding conditions. For this reason, we are actively involved in creating workwear that harmoniously combines modern trends and comfort – with environmental consciousness. Our designs are characterized by flexibility, versatility and care for the environment; and at the same time they serve as a model and set standards for future collections.
At NEO TOOLS, each model of health and safety clothing is the result of conscious design and many years of experience. We take care of the smallest detail so that our products not only meet, but exceed the expectations of our customers. NEO TOOLS brand clothing is synonymous with comfort and functionality – it is created with inspiration from nature and advanced technology, reflecting the innovative spirit of our brand.
ORIGINAL DESIGN Created by NEO
To emphasize how important the process of creating workwear is to us, we have created the ORIGINAL DESIGN mark, indicating the designs developed by NEO TOOLS brand clothing technologists. The designs are based on technological innovations regarding the highest quality materials, zippers or reflectors.
Besides, the basis for us in creating health and safety clothing is to listen to the needs of our customers. The changing labor market, and at the same time the specifics of outdoor activities or specific industrial conditions, make us able to respond to the needs of different industries, offering not only functionality or comfort, but also an appropriate degree of safety.
NEO TOOLS brand recognized by specialists
Proof that we are heading in the right direction is also provided by the awards and accolades that have been given to the NEO TOOLS brand for developed health and safety clothing. In 2023, we received a prestigious award in the form of the title: Consumer Quality Leader.
Several times we have also become finalists in the industry’s esteemed Good Design competition, and in 2022 we won the main statuette in the category , “work and office”. Not for the first, but also not for the last time, it turned out that NEO TOOLS health and safety clothing is second to none!
An interview with a health and safety clothing technologist from NEO TOOLS.
To emphasize how significant the timing of the Original Design Created by NEO designation is for us, we interviewed our Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer, about design and trends.
NEO TOOLS: What are the main trends in health and safety clothing technology today?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: In recent years, I’ve seen two major trends: comfort and functionality. Relatively recently, the third place has been taken by fashion, which in workwear goes decidedly towards the outdoors. Users (NEO TOOLS brand customers) expect workwear to become a “second skin,” that is, it will not restrict movement – it will work together with the user, and in addition, all the items needed for the job, whatever it may be, will be at hand.
There is a lot of scope here for builders, technologists and designers to rise to the occasion. In addition, workwear is ceasing to be used only for work and is beginning to be used as everyday, trekking, outdoor clothing.
The times when it was clear at first glance that this was typical workwear are passing. Of course, we can still find a wide range of such products, because they are also needed and find an audience, but more and more often we can see the same pants in workwear manufacturers as well as sportswear.
In addition, brands previously dedicated exclusively to sportswear are introducing workwear, which proves that the market expects modernity, versatility, but also an element of fashion.
NEO TOOLS: What innovations or novelties have emerged in recent years in the field of fabrics and materials used for garments?
Chief Technologist, Health & Safety Apparel Designer: The definite king are 2way/ 4way stretch materials and those that contain elastic fibers. In addition, materials derived from recycled fibers and those made from renewable sources are playing an increasingly important role.
The ideal choice is to combine all these types of fibers in one fabric. In addition, many companies are working on fabrics made from banana leaf, coconut or coffee fibers. There are also recycled materials, for which no water is needed, which we have less and less of.
NEO TOOLS: What challenges does the apparel industry face in terms of sustainable production and the environmental impact of clothing?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is to reduce the cost of manufacturing recycled materials, making garments made from such materials more affordable to a larger audience. The thought comes to mind that when we recycle something from another item we avoid additional manufacturing costs, unfortunately in the real world this is not the case, and the cost of processing the raw material for reuse in another product is higher than if we created the product completely from scratch.
Another issue is the stereotype that if something is made from recycled it is inferior, has lower performance, is weaker. Of course, this is not true, because recycled materials are just as or more durable than those made “anew,” using newly created intermediates in another factory.
Another challenge is to increase the final consumer’s awareness of product selection and optimize the “fast fashion” trend, which is hurting both the environment and the factories that produce this type of clothing.
NEO TOOLS: What technologies and materials are used in the production of outdoor clothing to ensure comfort and functionality?
Chief Technologist, Designer of health and safety clothing: These include 2way/ 4way stretch fabrics and knits, as well as materials using thermal technology, anti-bacterial technology, all kinds of coatings to prevent soiling or make it easier to remove soiling.
In order to ensure comfort and functionality in outdoor clothing (and more), another consideration must be taken into account. Technology and materials play an important role, however, they are not the only actors on the stage. No matter how advanced materials or finishes we use, it will be of no use if the knowledge of the technologist and designer is missing from the product development process. Only the combination of these four factors produces the desired effect.
It should also be remembered that there are no bad and good materials, they are only incorrectly applied. The same principle applies to clothing in a general sense – there is no good and bad clothing, there is only improperly selected clothing for the conditions in which we want to use it.
NEO TOOLS: How is technology influencing apparel design and creating more efficient and durable products?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: It is crucial because the better materials we use, the longer the life of the product, i.e. the product is more durable and serves for a long time. By “better” here, I mean materials and accessories of the right quality and appropriately selected for the type of garment.
In addition, technology in apparel creates opportunities to achieve the right properties in the most optimized way possible. For example, a winter jacket does not have to be very thick to be warm, if we use a filling with the right parameters and technology.
NEO TOOLS: What trends do you see in apparel design and styling in the future?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: The “eco” trend, that is, using recycled and renewable fibers with as little harm to the environment as possible, is already very much in evidence today.
When it comes to the issue of fashion in workwear, it is definitely going into stretch & slim versions geared toward sports and outdoor/ trekking. These three trends are increasingly intermingling, while leaving elements specific to their industry.
NEO TOOLS: How does the NEO TOOLS brand create clothing?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: The starting point for creating “something new” is always the need of a current or potential customer. This is done in two ways: the first is a signal from the market, where it is the customers who say what they need, what they lack, what they can’t find, and what they need. This is a much easier way for the design team, as they transfer the customer’s words to paper and then to the product.
The second way is to try to search for customers’ needs before they arise. We are constantly studying the market, observing trends, the actions of competitors, the actions of international leaders in the industry, listening to suppliers who mirror the market, participating in various trade fairs (including those outside the health and safety industry), where we search for new technologies applicable to our industry – I mean sports fairs, fashion fairs or fairs related to the activities of our company.
We need to know how and what tools an industry uses in order to be able to create garments that help in our daily work, because this is also a kind of tool for our operations.
The first operational step is to determine what kind of product we want to create, its parameters, functionality, what it should be made of. Of course, the designer’s paper and pen will create everything, so close cooperation between the designer, technologist and designer is essential.
This creative part of product development must be balanced with the right price and positioning of the product on the shelf, that is, the work of the buyer and product manager. When all the conditions are met, we move on to the testing stage, where we check and test the made samples several times and in different ways, to eliminate as many errors as possible, including hidden ones that may appear during use.
In addition, we very precisely choose the factories where our garments are sewn, which we reinforce with numerous inspections during and after production. It is quite a long and complicated process to finally create a product that is versatile and at the same time tailored to the needs of the final user.
NEO TOOLS: Is it challenging to work for NEO TOOLS?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Apparel Designer: Definitely yes! Especially when it’s the design team that has to guess the customers’ needs. The right choice of materials, colors, the right cut is not insignificant and every element must work together.
In addition, the product must follow fashion and industry trends, while meeting the expectations of potential customers in terms of functionality and convenience. The task is made somewhat more difficult by the fact that we have many interesting projects behind us and do not want to duplicate them.
So, every time, we have to create a product that at the same time relates to the range of our collections, and at the same time is something completely new, fresh and modern. Working on a garment can be compared to the mechanism of a watch – each cog must properly interact with another for the whole process to work properly.
NEO TOOLS: What are the customers of NEO TOOLS health and safety clothing?
Chief Technologist, Health and Safety Garment Designer: Demanding, yet dedicated. They require us to be knowledgeable about the tools they work with, to understand different industries and what solutions they need – to customize our garments as universally as possible, to respond quickly to their needs.
We strive to meet their expectations, for which they reward us with their trust and choice of products we create in our brand. However, the greatest honor we can get from our customers is that they watch what we do, look forward to more new ideas that hit their taste and their needs, as evidenced by the fact that they use our health and safety clothing every day.
