At Steel City, we select hi-vis and workwear with the same care we’d take if we were issuing it to our own crew. It’s really important that we check the standard first, and then choose garments that can take your branding beautifully without compromising on visibility.
We know that when you’re kitting out a site team, small misses can cause big delays. That’s why our proofing and repeat-order processes are so tight—we want to help you avoid those usual frustrations like the wrong class, the wrong shade of orange, or branding that sits across the tape. It’s about making sure that when you need a top-up, it matches your previous order perfectly.
- Standards that get you through the gate: So, our starting point is always EN ISO 20471 / EN471 Class 2 with UKCA & CE marking. We’ll also include GO/RT 3279 Issue 8 when you need that specific orange, because we know site gates often check class and colour before they check names. That choice really helps reduce the risk of your team turning up in the wrong spec and having to re-issue kit at the entrance.
- Branding that respects the reflective: It’s really important that our proofing flow checks the print or embroidery position before production. We know that reflective bands and hi-vis panels lose their impact if they get covered with stitching or ink. This keeps your logo placement off the tape and leaves the garment doing its main job when your team is working in traffic, plant areas, or low light.
- Consultative, task-based shortlists: Our team will suggest a tight set of options based on what you’re actually issuing for—whether that’s compliance hi-vis, clear ID pieces with usable print areas, or day-to-day workwear. We know that ordering blind can lead to the wrong garment type in the wrong sizes, so this allows you to place an order that fits the job perfectly without having to write your own spec sheet.
- Consistency on repeat orders: We aim to lock in sizing runs (often S-5XL / XS-5XL) and keep the same branding method per item. Swapping methods can change how big the logo looks and where it sits, and we want to keep your replenishment batches visually consistent so your crews don’t end up looking mismatched across sites.
- Fabric weight that lasts: We will always steer you towards hard-wearing polycotton workwear (typically 65/35) around 240-270gsm with reinforcement like bar tacks and twin-needle stitching. Lighter cloth and weak seams tend to fail first at knees, pockets, and stress points, and this reduces those early blow-outs when you’re kneeling, climbing, or carrying tools all day.
- Lead times you can plan around: We know lead time is a popular question, so our quotes show lead time by product line – commonly 10 working days from artwork approval. We’ll always flag faster options where they exist, because we know rushed swaps can arrive in the wrong spec or with branding that doesn’t match. This helps you hit start dates without gambling on last-minute substitutions.
- A brilliant baseline that’s upgradeable: Our team uses the items listed above as a really strong baseline because they give you workable compliance, sensible branding areas, and repeatable re-orders without extra back-and-forth. If you’re issuing at scale or have a special requirement, we can source bespoke alternatives and still run them through the same tight proofing and repeat-order controls.