When workwear needs to be practical for everyday use, it\u2019s rarely enough for it to be \u201cjust\u201d a larger size. It needs to be able to withstand wear and tear, allow freedom of movement and, at the same time, feel comfortable to wear for many hours. This is especially true if you\u2019re physically active, or if you switch between working indoors and outdoors during the day.<\/p>\n\n
For many plus-size men, good workwear comes down to three things: stretch, durability and breathability. When these three are in balance, you get trousers and tops that don\u2019t feel tight, don\u2019t give way in the wrong places, and don\u2019t feel like a sauna by lunchtime.<\/p>\n\n
There\u2019s a big difference between going up a size and choosing a cut that\u2019s actually designed for larger body types. In large sizes<\/a> The fit quickly becomes crucial: where does the knee sit on the trousers, how much room is there in the thigh, and how does the waistband sit when you squat down?<\/p>\n\n Hos Hos Birger<\/a> It is often said that larger sizes only make sense when the design takes into account proportions and movement, rather than just extra fabric. That is also why we are seeing more elastic in the waistband, more thoughtfully placed pockets and fabrics that give a little without becoming baggy.<\/p>\n\n A handy rule of thumb: If your trousers feel fine when you\u2019re standing up, but feel tight around the knees and crotch when you\u2019re working, it\u2019s not you who\u2019s the problem. It\u2019s the cut.<\/p>\n\n Stretch in workwear can be a real bonus when done right. A small amount of elastane in a cotton blend can make a big difference, especially in trousers, where you\u2019re often bending, lifting and walking up and down.<\/p>\n\n A specific example is the cargo trousers from North Latitude, which are available in large sizes at Hos Birger. They are made from 98 % cotton and 2 % elastane<\/strong> and are described as slightly stretchy with an elasticated waist, which allows for greater freedom of movement in everyday life (see the product description here: North Latitude cargo trousers<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n However, stretch isn\u2019t just about \u201cmore elastic\u201d. It\u2019s also about how the fabric is woven and where the garment is designed to give way. Some trousers feel flexible in the fitting room but become stiff after just a few hours\u2019 wear because the material doesn\u2019t move with the body.<\/p>\n\n Here\u2019s a good starting point when assessing the stretch in plus-size workwear:<\/p>\n\n The durability of workwear isn\u2019t just measured by \u201cthick fabric\u201d. Wear and tear often occurs in the same places: the knees, inner thighs, crotch, back pockets and pocket gussets. In plus sizes, the strain on seams and fabric can be greater, as there is more movement and more friction in everyday life.<\/p>\n\n Independent tests suggest that work trousers should be able to withstand high levels of wear and tear to be a reliable choice for everyday use. Testfakta mentions, amongst other things, wear resistance tests, in which around 30,000 bicycles<\/strong> may be a measure that indicates robustness (article here: Test facts on the quality of tradesmen\u2019s trousers<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n You don\u2019t need to measure the bikes yourself, but you can look out for the details that are often associated with a long service life:<\/p>\n\n A simple tip that many people overlook: Turn your trousers inside out and take a look at the stitching. If it looks shoddy on the inside, it\u2019s rarely any better out on the building site.<\/p>\n\n Breathability is often the first thing you notice is missing when it\u2019s not there. And when it comes to workwear, it can be just as important in winter as in summer, because you\u2019re switching between being active and taking breaks.<\/p>\n\n Breathability comes from two sources:<\/p>\n\n Rainwear is a good example of how breathability can be built in. North Latitude rain trousers, available from Hos Birger, are made from 100 % polyester with a membrane, as indicated by water column pressure 3000 mm<\/strong> and Breathability 3000 MVTR<\/strong> (see the product description here: North Latitude rain trousers<\/a>). In practice, this means that the trousers are designed to keep water out whilst allowing some moisture from inside to escape, so you don\u2019t get clammy quite so quickly.<\/p>\n\n Breathability is also about fit. If a jacket is very tight across the back and chest, even good materials are of little help because the air cannot circulate.<\/p>\n\n It can be difficult to make a choice based on fabric composition alone, so here\u2019s a simple guide you can use as a reference when looking at plus-size workwear.<\/p>\n\nStretch that works, without the clothes losing their shape<\/h2>\n\n
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Durability: it\u2019s the seams and the exposed areas that determine this<\/h2>\n\n
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Breathability: the comfort you feel after 6 hours, not after 6 minutes<\/h2>\n\n
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Materials in practice: which is best suited to which job?<\/h2>\n\n