The invention of high-visibility clothing (a.k.a. Hi-Vis clothing) has been life-changing (and for many, life-saving). This category of safety wear has been a standard part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for uniforms at many an airport and construction site, amongst other work environments. As the name suggests, hi-vis clothing increases the visibility of workers, who may be exposed to hazardous situations under both day and evening low-light conditions. From warning signs to traffic cones, the bright yellow/orange/green neon hues have become a common feature in day to day life. However, it may surprise you to learn that safety had not been the original purpose for this type of clothing, but rather it went through a gradual transformation over the last century into this final, more practical incarnation.
The makings of a bright future
The evolution of high-visibility clothing started with the broken dreams of one Bob Switzer in 1930’s California. A young Bob suffered a critical head injury in an industrial accident, which put him in a coma and cost him his dream of becoming a doctor. After waking from his coma, doctors told him that his vision was damaged and that he should stay in a dark room until he recovered.
As it happened, Bob’s brother, Joe, who was an amateur magician, had been experimenting with florescent chemicals for his act and used them to entertain Bob during his convalescence. Once he recovered, Bob continued to experiment with these chemicals, combining them with wood varnish in his own bathtub. Before long, Bob and Joe had developed the world’s first florescent paint, which they christened “Day-Glo” for its glowing appearance in daylight. Bob could also be credited with the invention of the first piece of hi-vis clothing, since at one stage, he elected to paint his wife’s wedding dress with his luminescent paint. I’m sure he must have had a very comfortable couch at home.
Under the name “The Day-Glo Brothers”, Bob and Joe brought their invention to magic and stage shows, and marketed their product for use in movie posters.
High-visibility technology in World War 2
In the wake of the Second World War, the U.S. Government found plenty of use for the Day-Glo Brother’s invention. Its application increased soldier visibility and reduced the instances of friendly fire. Additionally, the paint was used on fabric panels to send signals from the ground recognisable at great distances in the air. Aircraft crewmen wore florescent suits and held ultraviolet lamps as they directed pilots. Areas of ocean that had been scanned for floating explosives were demarcated by buoys that had been painted with the hardy hi-vis paint.
Lighting up the world
After the second World War, hi-vis clothing was introduced in the United Kingdom and was mainly worn by Glaswegian railway maintenance workers in the beginning. Seeing how effective this safety wear proved in this context, the popularity of this workwear exploded – particularly after the introduction of the 1974 Health and Safety At Work Act and the Personal Protective Equipment At Work regulations of 1992, which placed legal safeguards on those industries operating in potentially hazardous environments.
Findings from a U.S. study in 1981 further promoted the use of this clothing in other contexts of both work and leisure. The study found that two-thirds of crashes between motorcycles and cars occurred when motorists failed to see an approaching bike. This inspired a number of safety campaigns urging both cyclists and pedestrians alike to wear the brightest clothing possible to minimise the risk of collisions.
In other parts of the U.K., hi-vis vests have been used in “walking busses”, large groups of children walking to school together. In other parts of Europe, like France and Italy, these vests and other hi-vis clothing have become even more prevalent, with cyclists obliged to wear them after dusk and motorists storing hi-vis clothing in their cars in case of a breakdown. In 2008, iconic fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, even appeared in an awareness campaign to promote the use of the safety vests, saying, “It’s yellow. It’s ugly. It doesn’t go with anything, but it could save your life.”
Get affordable Hi-Vis clothing for your business
While arguably not the most fashionable item of clothing, these bright, synthetic clothing items have indeed done their part to reduce road accidents. If you ride a motorbike or bicycle, you’ll want to be seen on the roads. If you are a parent, you want to make sure drivers are aware of your children. Protect your family and friends on the road, and colleagues and employees on the job with effective and affordable hi-vis clothing from ClothingDirect.com.au’s vast range of offerings.