Whether you’re talking boots, gloves or coveralls, good fit is the key to health and safety. But where do you find them? We posed the question to Jen Christie, who chairs the Ontario-wide Ag Women’s Network. She in turn stirred up a lively conversation on the group’s Facebook page.
Jen Christie, chair of the Ontario-wide Ag Women’s Network.
“My women's overalls don't have a hammer loop,” lamented one respondent. “Do women not use hammers?” Another commenter pointed to pricing. “If I do find good women's boots, there's the Pink Tax,” she says. “I pay a good $20 more for the same pair of boots but in a women's fit, and usually they come with pink laces or lining.”
Many women are forced to find creative workarounds. That might mean forking over money for insoles to help your men’s rubber boots fit better or donning nurse’s scrubs instead of ill-fitting coveralls.
But other options do exist. One member of the Ag Women’s Network gets her gloves from the national equestrian outfitter Greenhawk. Several swore by steel-toed Blundstone boots.
If you’re confronted with meagre offerings at your local workwear store, talk to the manager. Many retailers will be happy to special order items if you can’t find them in-store. For example, Mark’s “Fast Find” service will place the order for you and deliver it free of charge to your home, work or nearest store location.
You’ll also find a growing number of online companies specializing in women’s workwear. For example, Sudbury-based Covergalls (covergallsworkwear.com) offers durable, designed-for-women coveralls; Canada’s Moxie Trades (moxietrades.com) has a wide selection of work boots for women; and Rosies Workwear (rosiesworkwear.com) in California offers clothing as well as accessories like tool belts and gloves.
Clearly though, there’s plenty of room for more entrepreneurs to jump on this wagon.
- Julie Stauffer