News

Dec 22, 2025 / Mergers & Acquisitions

Blue Point’s NSA Acquires NASCO Industries

Blue Point Capital Partners and its portfolio company, National Safety Apparel (“NSA”), announced the acquisition of NASCO Industries, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of premium flame-resistant rainwear and protective outerwear. This strategic addition marks NSA’s...

Dec 22, 2025 / People

In Memoriam: William J. Darah Jr.

William Darah, a prominent Toledo business owner and longtime NAUMD member, passed away on December 9 at Sylvania Ebeid Center. The cause of death was complications from cancer. He was 75 years old. Bill, as he was known, was a fixture at NAUMD conventions for...

Dec 22, 2025 / Public Safety

The year of the tactical vest

Every decade has its era-defining garments. Think spaghetti strap dresses in the 1990s, low-rise jeans in the 2000s, and athleisure in the 2010s. This year, one garment felt suddenly ubiquitous: the tactical vest. And it’s not just law enforcement wearing this...

Dec 22, 2025 / Awards

2025 Awards Profile: Matco Tools, Berne Apparel

Berne Apparel developed a versatile outerwear program for Matco Tools, designed to meet the demands of distributors and customers working in rugged automotive environments across the U.S. The collection includes three jackets—each balancing durability, comfort, and...

Dec 18, 2025 / NEWS, People

Why Uniforms Matter: A Look Inside the Business, History, and Human Side of Workwear

The Wall Street Journal recently released a thoughtful and beautifully produced video exploring a subject that everyone in our industry knows well—but the broader public rarely stops to examine: uniforms. At first glance, uniforms are simply what people wear to...

Dec 15, 2025 / Public Safety

San Francisco Fire Department Becomes Largest in U.S. to Adopt Non-PFAS Turnout Gear

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) has become the largest department in the United States to transition its entire fleet to non-PFAS turnout gear. The gear was purchased in part through a $2.35 million Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from FEMA and...

Dec 15, 2025 / Uniform Atlas

Designing a safer hijab: contrasting the British and New Zealand police models

The British Leicestershire Police has announced that female officers will soon be allowed to wear the Blue Light Hijab. This new headscarf was developed in collaboration with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and is intended to offer a safer alternative to the...

Dec 15, 2025 / Awards

2025 Awards Profile: HeroCert Cover Pants, LION

LION developed the HeroCert Cover Pants to give emergency responders fast, reliable protection without sacrificing mobility or comfort. Built from a single layer of fire-retardant fabric and certified to NFPA 1977, this cover pant offers turnout-level strength in a...

Dec 15, 2025 / Awards

NAUMD Opens Submissions for 2026 Industry Awards Honoring Excellence in Uniforms, Image Apparel, and Workwear

The Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) has officially opened submissions for the 2026 NAUMD Awards, inviting manufacturers, distributors, designers, and solution providers across North America to submit their programs, products,...

Dec 8, 2025 / Uniform Duty

Goodbye 2025, You Chaotic, Beautiful Beast

I’ve sometimes wondered if the future might skip past uniformed humans altogether. You know—robots wearing uniforms, embroidered epaulettes fused to titanium shoulders, automated patrol units asking dispatch whether their Class B settings are machine-washable. It’s...