What are you looking for in your winter workwear?

There are three things that come to mind immediately;

1. Warmth
2. Durability
3. Protection

When face to face with a frigid day you need warmth. This goes far beyond being purely for comfort (which is also really important) but survival. Core body temperature is the temperature of your internal organs which need to be kept between 36.5 °C and 37.5 °C for normal human performance. If your core body temperature drops below 32°C then you’re in life or death territory so it’s really important to keep warm!

All workwear needs to be durable, but winter workwear needs an extra level of strength because not only are you handling your normal work hazards you’re also dealing with rain, sleet, frost, wind and snow! You want to invest in quality products that exceed your expectations and last for years to come.

Protection is an all encompassing topic. We’re not just talking about protecting your fingers and toes from frostbite! We’re also discussing safeguarding your feet from blisters, stopping your body from getting cold from worked up sweat and giving you the security you need to do what you need to do without compromising your wellbeing.

Additionally you want to think about how easy it is to layer the items because if you’re moving between heated environments and the outdoors you want to be able to strip off a bit without compensating.

Think about the fact that the clothing you equip yourself with is your only defence against mother nature - choose wisely!

New Zealand Natural Clothing are advocates for natural fibres - but what makes them such a good choice for winter workwear? Let’s look at some prime examples and their qualities.

Possum is one of our favourites because not only is it a fierce contender for winter workwear, it also helps the local ecosystem when we control their population to protect our native species.

Possum is unfreezable which is practical for cold weather. It is also lightweight giving you the warmth you need without weighing you down. Possum fibre takes moisture away from the body and releases it into the air which means that your clothing won’t get smelly either. As a bonus, possum is silky soft so you have comfort as well as a strong piece of workwear.

Another top contender is merino wool. Merino wool regulates your body temperature which is already a big plus.

Other benefits of merino wool are that it expels moisture keeping you dry. It’s low allergenic as well which makes it a perfect option for people with sensitive skin. Because merino wool is so soft it’s a super base layer option!

Sheep wool is the workwear champion. It’s a coarse wool but designed to cope with outdoors work. Jerseys that are made from a combination of sheeps wool and nylon, stop them from snagging which makes them the ideal winter workwear choice.

Alpaca fibre is the definition of durable, they last and last! Not only will it be an investment of a lifetime (or three) it’s hypoallergenic. Warmer than sheep's wool, alpaca naturally repels water and is fire resistant - giving you that extra security.

You know what you want from your winter workwear and you’ve had a brief introduction to some of our natural fibres. Now we’re going to look at five professions that are largely outdoors and give specific recommendations for winter workwear.