Granite Explains Workwear Jargon

At Granite Workwear, we stock a wide collection of specialist workwear and country clothing to help you stay safe and protected. Often our decriptions and product titles will feature key words to highlight what material and safety features an item has, to help our customers with their purchases we've written a complete guide to the jargon which is often found across Granite Workwear.

Cordura

Cordura is a tough, long lasting, abrasion resistant fabric used in different fields the world over. Cordura has been supplying to; the military, luggage sector, police, and construction industries to name but a few. It has done this for over 30 years and as a result is becoming an increasingly household name.

Gore-Tex 

For such a widely used product, people actually know very little about the nature of Gore-Tex. It is not an outer fabric or inner lining, it isn’t a fabric impregnation or coating either. In fact, Gore-Tex is a membrane made of Polytetrafluoroethylene containing over 9 billion tiny pores per square inch. This is what allows for the breathability of Gore-Tex garments. As well as being a membrane, Gore-Tex is also a laminate. This laminate is bonded to the membrane and the insulative layer meaning increased levels of durability and insulation.

Anti-Wicking

By definition, Anti-wicking technology works by removing liquid from a fabric through capillary action. In clothing, this equates to keeping you cool and dry as your perspiration is taken away from the skin, keeping you cool and dry.

Thinsulate

Created by the Minnesota mining company (3M) in 1979. Thinsulate is a combination of the words thin and insulate. Much thinner than the commonly used substitute polyester, it also provides 1 and a half times the insulation of down for a fraction of the bulk. Thinsulate is even used in the roof lining of the new Porsche Boxter so it goes without saying that this is a high-performance textile.

Taslan

Taslan fabric is a nylon based manmade material which has been engineered to resemble cotton. As a result, it has been specifically designed to be wind and water resistant, whilst still being comfortable to wear and work in all day. Due to this versatility, this nylon has found a multitude of uses and has found its way into all types of outdoor clothing including jacket outer shells, riding pants and shorts. Other features of Taslan include; resisting mildew, holding its shape, drying faster than cotton, and it can also be bought in a wide range of different colours.

Polyamide

Polyamides is a term used to refer to nylons. It occurs both in manmade circumstances and naturally too in the form of wool or silk. It is an incredibly durable textile and has found use in the production of Kevlar (ballistic vests) airbags, climbing ropes and children’s clothing as it can be easily impregnated with titanium dioxide which is an effective defence against UV light.

Denier Nylon

This term is used mostly to describe textiles which are used for ballistic vests and are typically 2x2 or 2x3. Denier refers to the weight of the fabric not the strength of it.

Viscose

A semi-synthetic fibre, it is made by creating a viscous solution of the naturally occurring material cellulose. It is used in a multitude of different product including cellophane, sausage casings and synthetic velvet. Another term for Viscose is Rayon or viscose rayon. It is made by dissolving the pulp with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide.  

Polyester

Most commonly referred to as polyethylene terephthalate (pet). Polyester often includes natural chemicals like those found in the cutin of plant cuticles. Polyester is the third most widely used synthetic material in the world currently and is used in everything from pillowcases to plastic bottles. The reason for this wide usage is because of the extensive list of qualities which make it such a versatile textile. These include being; hydrophobic, resistant to wrinkling, tearing and abrasion as well as being highly insulative and lightweight.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride is the third most popular synthetic plastic in the world. It is thermoplastic meaning that when heat is applied it can be re-shaped. Sometimes known as vinyl in the US and Europe, it consists of 57% chlorine and 43% carbon. PVC is one of the few plastics which does not require crude oil, natural gas or any other non-renewable form of energy, as such, it can be regarded as a planet saving plastic.

Viloft

Belonging to the viscose family, Viloft is a special regenerative fibre which has a flat cross section and crenulated surface allowing for more insulated air to be trapped on the surface. This product is used predominantly in clothing, such as underwear, socks or sportswear. It has a host of protective qualities too such as being anti-static, being able to regulate the internal temperature and being able to absorb humidity amongst other things.

Elastane

Stronger and more elastic than natural rubber, this synthetic fibre was discovered in 1958 and immediately revolutionised the way we made clothes. This material goes under the name spandex when in the US and lycra in most other countries around the world. This synthetic fibre probably has the most usages worldwide due to its incredible stretching properties finding use in; belts, leggings, hosiery, slacks, miniskirts and swimwear. 

Oeko-Tex

This is an accreditation system which evaluates textiles from fibre to finished product. In order to get this accreditation, all parts of the garment have to be tested, even down to the stitching and threads used.  If an item of clothing has the Oeko-Tex standard then you know that it will be a durable, quality product. Furthermore, the system is updated on an annual basis so you can rest easily knowing that the accreditation on your garment is current and can provide the relevant protection for your job. 

Raglan sleeve

This is a sleeve whose most defined feature is to extend in one piece fully to the collar. This means that there is a seam running diagonally from under the arm all the way round to the collar. The advantage of this item is the fact that it allows a much greater range of movement than the traditional pre-fixed sleeve, making it ideal for those who need high levels of flexibility to perform at work.

Modacrylic

Modacrylics are, generally speaking, soft, strong, resilient and dimensionally stable. They are easy to dye, quick to dry and are nonallergenic too. Production of this fibre began in 1949 and it quickly found usage in; wigs, faux fur, rugs, carpets, paint rollers and the lining for insulative clothing. The material is highly flame retardant and are usually characterised by its creamy white colour. The light nature of this material combined with fire and arc flash resistant properties makes it a perfect choice for electricians.

Taffeta

Coming from the Persian word for twisted woven, taffeta is a plain, woven fabric. It is, however, considered a high-end textile and as such is used for luxuries such as curtains, ball gowns and even corsets. It is produced all over but India is where the greatest quantity comes from. Traditionally used in clothing, taffeta has found a scientific application in the construction of artificial blood vessels.

Dacron fibre

A trademarked polyester fibre. Dacron is a condensation polymer created from a combination of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. It is a versatile material too and has high tensile strength alongside being resistant to stretching when wet and dry. Its resistance to abrasion is exceptional too and it cannot be degraded by chemical bleaches.  

Coolmax

Owned by Dupont, Coolmax is a moisture wicking technology which uses specially engineered polyester fibres to take moisture away from the skin. The oblong fibres had by this material are manufactured to emulate capillaries so that they can effectively transport excess moisture away from the skin.  Due to the wicking nature of this material, it can be used in mattress covers to help those who sweat at night.

Polartec

Borne a decade ago in 2007 from the ashes of Malden mills company, Polartec LLC has over 400 patented textiles. Some of these include Polartec powershield, Polartec power dry and Polartec classic micro 100. Polartec supply to high [profile clothing companies such as; Patagonia, the north face and even at every level of the US military.

Belltron

This is a high-performance fibre which has excellent conductive qualities. In fact, using just a small amount of Beltron in an item of clothing will prevent the build-up of static shock which can be released when coming into contact with a door knob, a car door or a trampoline. It also means that it is much more resistant to the accumulation of dirt and grease on the surface. The list of properties for this material do not end there either as it is also, highly resistant to abrasion, washing and flexing. Belltron is also available in nylon and polymer bases which can be designed to have special resistance to chemicals and even from gamma rays which cannot even be seen by the human eye.

Teflon

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a widely used synthetic material most commonly found in Teflon. It is a highly hydrophobic material which means it cannot be wet by water or any liquids containing it. These qualities make it ideal for use in; non-stick pans, pipework, lubricants, NASA rockets and even in catheters as it can interfere with bacteria and other infectious agents which can spread disease. These properties stem from the aggregate effect of carbon-fluoride bonds which is the case with all fluorocarbons too.

Neoprene

Neoprene comes from a family of synthetic rubbers which are created by polymerising chloroprene. It is sold in rubber form and can be seen in laptop sleeves, electrical insulation, and automotive fan belts. It is highly resistant to degradation making it ideal for roles where there is high levels of corrosion and abrasion such as gaskets, hoses or gloves.

YKK

YKK is the largest zipper manufacturer in the world.  It also deals in other fastening products (poppers hooks and loops), in conjunction with plastic hardware and even industrial machinery. Although they do not sell their own individual products as such, the fastening they make is used in a vast range of products on the granite site. The reliance on this one manufacturer of fastening equipment is not without good reason however, and it is down to the ethos of the company ‘the cycle of goodness’ written by the founder of the company over 90 years ago. The basis of this principle is that no one truly prospers unless they bring prosperity to others. This belief translated into a desire for quality which is especially important when you are supplying moving parts (those most likely to break) to clothing manufacturers. This commitment to quality was what eventually led YKK to adopt a vertical manufacturing hierarchy, meaning that the process of making a single zip is all self-contained within YKK (all the raw materials and machines used in the process are made by YKK). 

Nitrile

Nitrile is used as an alternative to latex in medical fields such as making gloves, this is due to its unreactive nature and the fact that it makes an excellent seal. The definition of nitrile is any organic compound which has a Cyano functional group. Nitriles also find use in the making of super glue and inside engines where its nonreactive and thermo resistant properties are needed. Nitrile’s most common usage is as a seal and in its rubber form particularly it finds jobs in gaskets, o rings, fuel pumps, hydraulic hoses and tubing.

Protex

From the Kanecaron family, this FR and heat resistant fibre can be easily blended with other textiles such as cotton or polyester which it can do without losing any of its flame retardant qualities. These qualities are not lost with time or after being washed either like clothing which has FR spray coating as opposed to inherent flame retardant properties. These properties make it simple for Protex to find usage in a lot of everyday and luxury consumer items including; upholstery, protective clothing, drapes, carpets and even plush toys. 

Lyocell

A type of rayon consisting of cellulose fibre made from dissolving wood pulp using a dry jet-wet spinning procedure. This procedure solidifies the filaments resulting in synthetic fibres of nearly pure cellulose.  Also going by the name Tencel, the attribute which places this textile above its competition is its environmentally friendly production. This production is performed in a closed loop cycle which allows the solvents to be recycled with a recovery rate of 99.5%. Not only that but this material also carries the much coveted Oeko-tex 100 certification which means that it contains no harmful substances whatsoever. Not only this, but lyocell is also has anti-bacterial properties.

Protal

Protal is a cutting-edge fibre designed with fire retardancy in mind. The principle it works upon essentially states that fire needs three things to burn; heat fuel and oxygen. Remove any one of these things and the fire will be extinguished. Whenever a fire comes into contact with the fibre small amounts of inert non-burning gases push the oxygen away from the surface to stop the spread of the fire. A key factor to this fabric’s success is its ability to avoid melting onto or fusing to the skin. Garments containing Protal are much slower to ignite, buying the user valuable time to react whilst being fully protected.  

Sympatex

Sympatex is a synthetic material which is waterproof, windproof and breathable. It is often marketed as a three-layer laminate which has increased durability and resistance to abrasion. It consists of a hydrophilic block copolymer which unlike most breathable textiles, contains no pores this means that no water can get in but moisture can still be transferred through the fabric by an absorption evaporation process. Sympatex markets three different thicknesses, all of which have different properties and uses, some have more absorbent linings, some have aluminium linings to conserve body heat, keeping the user warm, others have been designed to change their properties as temperature and humidity increases.  In addition, they also stock material which is specifically designed for use in footwear.

EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate)

Eva most commonly finds use in the application of hot glue sticks and in coatings for footwear and clothing. This versatile substance is also known as expanded foam rubber and is therefore used in products which require shock absorption such as; mixed martial arts, bike riding, wakeboarding, and even fishing. Not only this but it also has inherent buoyancy meaning that it finds usage in the production of floats and floating eyewear. In fact, EVA is so versatile it is even used in the photovoltaics industry for crystalline silicon solar cells.   

Hydrostatic inflation

This is a device which has saved countless lives and has the potential to save a lot more. These devices work by a bobbin chemically reacting with water which then releases the co2, filling the buoyancy aid. The hammar automatic inflator does not work like this however and claims to be more effective and less prone to going off after a small splash of water or light rainfall. This device only goes off after being submerged in 10cm of water.

Primaloft

The Primaloft ethos is comfort and innovation, at Primaloft they believe these two beliefs are as entwined as the fibres in the cutting-edge garments they produce. Primaloft began with the intention of serving the US military with a product which was cheaper to make and more lightweight than goose down. In addition, this fabric is also super-fast drying meaning that it can take some torrential punishment.

Kevlar

A material with an incredible tensile strength to weight ratio, Kevlar often finds use in; racing sails, drumheads, bicycle tyres and probably most famously, body armour. It is highly resistant to heat and cold and in addition to this list of properties Kevlar is used in phone backplates as it does not interfere with cellular signals.  There are several differing grades of Kevlar to choose from including; K-29, K49, K100, K119, K129, Kevlar AP, and Kevlar KM2. One weakness of Kevlar however, is its susceptibility to UV degradation, as such, it is rarely used outside without some form of UV protection.

Polydex

A synthetic fibre.  It's hardwearing, colourfast and easy to care for.  The material is specifically treated and is dirt, oil and water repellent making it suited for a number of different roles.

We hope this guide has helped you with some of our terminology featured across Granite Workwear.