Reflective Jackets

Jackets capable of reflecting light are in demand by fans of running, cycling and street sports, so they now often appear in the collections of famous clothing manufacturers, and they produce not only purely sports items, but also in the lines of lifestyle brands.

For the first time, reflective elements were created by the 3M company from the USA in 1939. It was a film that was stuck first on road signs and then on cars.

A little later, they decided to use reflective film in the creation of sports equipment and clothing for motorcyclists. The company continues to this day with reflective materials used in both road markings and sportswear such as Nike sneakers and windbreakers.

The details of the light reflection technology are different for different things depending on their application, but the principle of light return is similar and is to use microscopic glass spheres to create a reflective surface. When a ray of light hits such spheres, it is refracted internally twice, which causes it to be reflected in the opposite direction. Light can fall at any angle, but it will always return towards its source and not scatter.

Most of the jacket options with reflective details are made for people who work on the road, for example, repair it, and risk being undetected in the dark, as well as for professions that involve working at night.However, recently, ordinary pedestrians, as well as athletes (especially runners and cyclists) have become interested in such jackets, which led to the appearance of clothing capable of reflecting light from such famous brands as Nike, Supreme, The north face, Ice Cold, Rapha, Stone Island and others.

The company also offers products made entirely of reflective fabric. Such jackets attract not only with their glow at night, but also with adjustable hoods, special warming cuffs and convenient pockets with zippers.

Adidas offers windbreakers with reflective mesh, as well as models with reflective 3-Stripes on the sleeves. In a set for such jackets, windproof trousers are produced with the same reflective details.

Also worth noting is the Stone Island brand, which has been producing reflective jackets since 1991. This manufacturer uses a variety of light reflection technologies these days. He offers lightweight jackets in reflex mat material that can reflect light even from very faint sources. The brand's cutting-edge developments are also jackets created using liquid reflection technology (spraying is used) and products from reflective yarns that can glow in the dark.

Most often, reflective elements are found on the sleeves, bottom or back of the jacket, making it visible at night. They are an affordable and inexpensive alternative to expensive branded reflective jackets because they can make any jacket reflective.

Jackets can be finished with both textile ribbons up to 5 cm wide, and braid capable of reflecting light. Sew on such strips by hand or on a sewing machine. In the daytime, they are almost invisible on the fabric of the jacket, especially since the ribbons are of different colors, but at dusk and at night the owner of such a jacket will stand out in the dark, which can save his life.

If you are interested in a jacket made of reflective fabric, examine the offers of brands that produce such clothing, comparing their prices. As a rule, the quality of such jackets is quite high, so first select a manufacturer with an affordable price level, and then pay attention to the choice of style and color of the model. In addition, decide whether the presence of pockets or a hood in the model is important to you.

Look closely at the elements - they should be even and smooth, without surface defects. In addition, they should be of medium flexibility so as not to tear, but bend easily enough.