It’s
no secret that tactical wear is an important part of
today’s uniform market. “It just keeps expanding,
and there’s no end in sight,” says Tom Ames,
director of marketing, Blauer Manufacturing. But what is
somewhat surprising to the casual observer is the overall
look of the clothes. Tactical wear is now stylish and contemporary,
a far cry from the typical BDU look worn by tactical teams.
Indeed, the garments are not only being worn by specialized
units, but by others as well. And according to Steve Robinson,
Liberty Uniform, Spartanburg, SC, the garments have become
so important that in many instances they are being worn
in lieu of the Class A. “Tactical uniforms are replacing
traditional wear so fast that if you don’t get involved,
you will lose market share,” he notes.
Today’s tactical uniforms cover
the fabric gamut, with the poly/cotton blend leading in
popularity. But they also come in poly/rayon, worsted
wood blends and pre-shrunk, wrinkle free 100% cotton.
Lycra and Lycra-like yarns can also be found in some fabrications.
All trousers feature numerous side and cell phone pockets
and stretch waistbands. Shirts include pockets as well,
and allow full range of motion. The clothing is so popular
with today’s police force that some officers even
don their uniforms when they’re off duty.
 How
and when did this happen? Many point to changes in the
nature of police work over the last decade as a leading
source driving the tactical market. “Police officers
are more active nowadays, and handle a broader range of
duties,” says Ames. “While a Class A looks
good, it doesn’t have the functionality needed for
today’s type of work. It doesn’t allow full
range of motion, and isn’t very comfortable.”
The amount and type of equipment carried by an officer
has also contributed to the shift. Today’s cops
not only tote around handcuffs and night sticks, but specialized
weaponry, latex gloves and cell phones too, making side
trouser pockets a necessity. “There’s only
so much you can fit on a duty belt,” notes Robinson.
It was the Boston-based Blauer that first
recognized a latent need for change, and they responded
nine years ago by introducing a full line of trousers
and shirts for the tactical market. Typically made of
poly/cotton blends and fabrics with stretch properties,
the garments provide an officer with the comfort, utility
and style that was missing in everyday uniforms. Other
companies quickly followed suit, introducing their own
versions.
The result has been a blurring of the
lines between a traditional BDU and the standard Class
A, creating in effect, a new Class B. “This all
started with the BDU, a uniform identified by its patch
pockets and drawstring pants,” Fechheimer’s
Fred Heldman says. “As public safety and law enforcement
turned away from dress uniforms, many of the styles developed
came from what was happening in commercial apparel.”
But while a BDU is functional, it was designed with the
military in mind, and is considered too harsh and dramatic
in appearance for today’s casual world. In response,
the industry modified the look, and the market took off.
“The folks who were wearing Dockers with cargo pockets
became cops. They liked the look, and wanted it on the
job too,” notes Heldman.
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 Heldman’s
point underscores the role that the dress-down craze played
in the evolution of tactical wear. It also brings to mind
the changes in the average police recruit. Says Ed Philips
of Spiewak: “Traditionally, most cops were ex-military
men, but that isn’t true anymore. The industry took
its cue from the military, and designed uniforms that looked
sharp, but weren’t necessarily practical or functional.
That has changed, and it has been driven in a large part
by the end user and the commercial market.” Society,
too, became more informal and dressed down over the past
decade. As it did, the public's opinion of what a police
officer should look like relaxed too. “They were more
open to looks that reflected their own change in lifestyle,
and as such became less tolerant of a military-type appearance,”
notes Philips.
Like
career apparel during the 90s, the law enforcement market
was being driven by changes in mainstream fashion. But cops
aren’t fast food workers. How do you command respect
in a casual uniform? How do you add performance and style
without detracting from perception? “You can look
traditional without looking like a soldier,” says
Ames. That sentiment is echoed by Spiewak’s Michael
Spiewak. “Just look at Bike Patrols. They’ve
always come from a performance point of view. They wear
Lycra pants, comfortable shirts and breathable fabrics,
yet they still look professional.”
There
is still another reality driving today’s tactical
uniform market that must be mentioned -- the September 11
tragedy. “It seems cliche to say, but that event changed
the world,” says Matt Sinclair of 5.ll Tactical. “It
made us look at law enforcement differently, and showed
that crime is very different from what we thought it was.
Therefore, the preparation for the job had to change. And
that included the uniform. Slacks just don’t cut it
in this type of environment.” Many departments are
also getting an infusion of money from the Department of
Homeland Security. The funds, earmarked for equipment designed
to fight the war on terror, mean that tactical uniforms
in their present version are here to stay and will continue
to flourish.
Will
all this translate into the ultimate demise of the Class
A? Not likely, but it will no doubt undergo modification.
“There will always be a need for a more traditional,
dressy look in law enforcement,” notes Philips. “What
will happen over time is that the Class A will undergo changes
making it more suited to today’s world. The requirements
for police uniforms are unique -- they must be able to take
a beating while still looking good. This is the challenge
we’re all faced with. Change will come, but it will
take time.”
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