The man paying at the petrol station checkout is wearing his work clothes with casual self-confidence and seems to feel comfortable in them. He looks cool, confident and attractive. And then he disappears into the company car to the next job site. Workwear? It's also clothing - and is worn with a great deal of self-confidence. An image that is becoming increasingly common. "And it's what garment manufacturers want when they design workwear," says Carla Cacitti, Head of Product Management and Development at BP Bierbaum & Proenen, the Cologne-based manufacturer of workwear.

The visual transitions between workwear and trekking and outdoor fashion have long been fluid. In the meantime, the relationship has changed. Whereas leisurewear used to predominantly influence workwear, today it increasingly works the other way around. Especially because it is smartly designed and also extremely comfortable to wear. However, the following still applies: "Even if the look of workwear is becoming increasingly important, it also has to impress the wearer with clearly thought-out functionality and comfort," says Cacitti. "Professionalism is extremely important to the wearer."

Behind this is also an increased desire for identity and a new self-confidence. Gerd Müller-Thomkins, Managing Director of the German Fashion Institute (DMI), says: "In an over-academicized Germany, the skilled trades have experienced a significant economic and social revaluation. Increased professional pride - this is expressed in aesthetic self-expression, i.e. professional clothing. Identity-forming workwear is once again desired here, with which people can define themselves to the outside world and be recognized within private and professional groups."

Find out what the wearer wants

But how exactly do manufacturers and suppliers of workwear find out what goes down well with wearers and what their expectations are? How do they combine the desired, job-specific function with casual style? Do they combine high wearing comfort with a strong look that shows the profession at first glance? "We regularly conduct wearer surveys with selected target groups for the workwear sector, as well as for medical professions, present clothing, see how the wearers react to it - and offer corresponding collections," says Carla Cacitti, describing the procedure.

Workwear should be functional, comfortable and fashionable at the same time. © DBL

One of the results: Today, it is increasingly about employees feeling comfortable, confident and valued. It is less a trend than a social change that employees want to have a say in their choice of workwear, feel comfortable in their clothes and see their professionalism confirmed. And employers are responding to this demand for appreciation. A rethink is taking place in almost all sectors.

Long gone are the days when employees tacitly accepted what their employers gave them to wear. Time for a change. DBL, a nationwide association of medium-sized textile rental service providers, has also realized this. When developing its own premium collection, criticism, suggestions and well-founded opinions from German customers were therefore also collected in advance.

"This resulted in a list that formed the benchmark for our current premium collection DBL Meisterstück. Only then did we invite fabric manufacturers, garment makers and designers to initial conceptual discussions," says Thomas Krause, DBL, describing the history of the collection's development. "It became clear from the inquiries that people's expectations of the look, design and quality of workwear had risen enormously and were becoming increasingly important."

DBL is convinced that many people today are looking for truly special workwear. And responded with the collection - which has since won the German Design Award. According to Thomas Krause, its appearance, functionality and comfort precisely reflect these expectations. "After all, today's wearers want to use such value and professionalism to present their own expertise. At the same time, they want to feel absolutely authentic and comfortable in their clothing."

Appear individually and feel comfortable

Criticism, suggestions and opinions from DBL customers formed the benchmark for the development of the premium collection. © DBL

For clothing engineer Corinna Horndahl from Hamburg-based clothing manufacturer Teamdress, who played a key role in the development of the DBL Meisterstück collection, the focus is primarily on the feel-good character of the clothing. And for her, this includes an appropriate selection of items within a collection. According to the clothing expert, dungarees, trousers and jackets are no longer enough these days. "There is an increasing demand for functional textiles that match the design, such as softshell and fleece jackets. Demand is very strong here. Selection and variety in a collection are now an absolute must for an individual appearance and a sense of well-being."

Incidentally, this also includes significantly more stretch elements and elastic fabrics, which most wearers do not want to do without on the job. Accordingly, such stretchy materials are now frequently used in modern workwear. And there has been a significant development in terms of their quality and washability. "Despite all the fashionable self-confidence - the clothing must also be able to cope with extreme movements, must fit well and be absolutely comfortable," says Corinna Horndahl. Modern workwear can do all of this today - and is expected to do so by those who wear it.

Silke Vogten, Freelance Journalist / am