Three installers on a concrete slab with rebar: an electrician kneeling at a floor box in double-knee canvas work pants, a plumber squatting with a tape measure in grey stretch cargo pants, a third stepping onto a ladder
Custom work pants · built where they wear

Custom Work Pants With Reinforced Knees and Crotch, Rigid or Stretch, With Your Logo

A work pants manufacturer that patterns, cuts, sews and embroiders flat-front, cargo, carpenter and double-knee work pants in our own factory, for crews who kneel, squat, climb and carry tools all shift.
Send the Pants Your Crew Wears Now See where work pants wear first
Every sample goes through our movement test and ships with its fabric abrasion result.
01Range

Cargo Work Pants, Carpenter, Double-Knee, Stretch, Women's and Class E Hi-Vis

Custom work pants cut on our own CAD patterns, in rigid twill, canvas, ripstop or stretch twill, reinforced where they wear.
Every style sits on one waist × inseam grid. See the size grid
  • Facility technician in khaki flat-front work pants at a plant-room doorFlat-front
    Slant front pockets, two back pockets and a rule pocket, in rigid or stretch twill.
  • Warehouse worker in grey cargo work pants with bellows pockets on both thighsCargo
    Flapped bellows cargo pockets on both thighs, a phone pocket and a rule pocket.
  • Carpenter in brown canvas carpenter pants with a hammer in the hammer loop beside a saw benchCarpenter
    Hammer loop, rule pocket and utility pockets on the right leg, in canvas or twill.
  • Worker kneeling on a floor in double-knee work pants, the second knee layer clearly visibleDouble-knee
    A double front from mid-thigh to below the knee with knee-pad pockets, in self fabric or nylon overlay.
  • Installer in stretch cargo work pants in a deep squatStretch
    Flat-front or cargo in spandex twill or mechanical stretch.
  • Tiler in women's cargo work pants kneeling to lay floor tilesWomen's
    Flat-front and cargo, graded on a women's waist-to-hip block.
  • Surveyor at a roadside in fluorescent yellow Class E hi-vis work pants with reflective bands, worn with a vestClass E hi-vis
    Built to ANSI/ISEA 107 with the fabric and tape rules of our safety vests; with a Class 2 vest, a Class 3 ensemble.
  • Operator in FR work pants and FR shirt at an industrial plantFR work pants
    FR fabric that carries the mill's test report and an FR trim list, under our FR clothing program.
02Reinforcement

Reinforced Where Work Pants Wear First: Knees, Crotch, Pocket Mouths, Hems

A work pant wears first in four places: the knees, the crotch, the pocket mouths and the back hems. Each gets its own reinforcement, set on the pattern.
What your crew kneels on
How they work
Preset: an installation crew.
FRONTBACK
Orange = where the wear lands · grey panels = reinforcement on this build
Who checks it
The pattern room lead marks knee build, gusset, bartacks and kick tape on the pattern and signs it. Inspection
  • Nylon knee overlay on work pants kneeling on gravel

    01Knees

    Wears from kneeling on slab, gravel and decking.
    Single layer with pre-shaped knees: darts give the leg a slight bend, so the fabric does not pull across the kneecap.Self-fabric double layer with a pocket for an insert pad from your PPE supplier. Same build on our mechanic uniforms.500D or 1000D high-tenacity nylon overlay, the pad pocket behind it. On stretch pants the knee is always non-stretch.
  • Diamond crotch gusset on work pants in a squat

    02Crotch

    Takes every squat, step-up and ladder climb.
    Triple-needle join, bartacked. A diamond gusset spreads a deep squat over four seams instead of one point, and gives room to step up. Diamond gusset available on any style.
  • Bartacked front pocket mouth on work pants with a tape measure clipped in

    03Pocket mouths

    Tape measures, pliers, phones and hands.
    Bartacks at pocket mouths, back-pocket and cargo corners, belt loops and the fly end.
  • Kick tape inside the back hem of work pants over a work boot heel

    04Back hems

    The boot heel steps on the hem.
    Kick tape inside the back hem, in self fabric or nylon tape, so the hem does not fray through.Standard hem. Kick tape is advised on long inseams and for pants worn over boots.
  • Build spec · style WP-CG-02
  • KneeSingle layer, pre-shaped kneesSelf-fabric double layer + pad pocketNylon overlay + pad pocket
  • CrotchTriple-needle, bartacked + diamond gussetTriple-needle, bartacked
  • Pocket mouthsBartacked at every stress point
  • Back hemKick tape inside the back hemStandard hem
  • SignedPattern room lead, on the pattern
You sign the build spec sheet with the sample; re-orders are cut from the same CAD pattern.Put this build in my quote
03Crews

Construction Work Pants and Builds for Facility, Warehouse and Utility Crews

Each program is set up from the work the crew does. These are the builds made most often.
Installer kneeling on a timber-joist floor fixing a floor box, in double-knee work pants

Building and installation contractors

Cargo or carpenter pants, double knees with pad pockets, nylon overlay for rebar, a diamond gusset; stretch twill or canvas.
Send your crew list

Facility maintenance

Flat-front or slim cargo in the colour of their work shirts, a left-thigh logo and soil-release for plant-room grease.
Send your crew list

Warehouse and logistics

Lighter ripstop or mechanical-stretch cargo, a thigh phone pocket; Class E for yard and dock.
Send your crew list

Municipal and utility crews

Rigid twill or canvas cargo, double knees, kick tape; Class E with Class 2 vests. FR pants run under our FR program.
Send your crew list

Workwear distributors and uniform brands

Stock or custom styles in core colours, a fabric reserve, your labels and hang tags, neutral packing. See private label uniforms.
Send your crew list
Dock worker squatting to scan a carton in ripstop cargo pants and a hi-vis vest
04Choosing

Six Choices That Set Up a Work Pant

Each choice comes back with a recommendation in your quote.
Row of work-pant fabric swatches with a grey nylon knee overlay sample, a hand turning one over

  1. Fabric

    Rigid twill, canvas or ripstop, by how the pants are worn and washed. Fabrics
    Chosen wrong: colour and shape lost in industrial laundering, or a hot pant on a warm site.

  2. Stretch

    Rigid, spandex or mechanical stretch. The stretch rule
    Chosen wrong: a crew that cannot squat, or seats and knees that bag.

  3. Knee build

    Single layer, double layer or nylon overlay. The four wear points
    Chosen wrong: knees worn through by spring, or pads that slide down the shin.

  4. Fit and waist

    Regular, relaxed or slim straight; a side-elastic waistband. Fits
    Chosen wrong: a back waist that rides down in every squat.

  5. Inseam

    The inseam split across your crew. The size grid
    Chosen wrong: hems under the boot heel, or ankles showing.

  6. Logo method

    Embroidery, transfer or print, matched to the fabric. Logo zones
    Chosen wrong: a thigh logo that distorts on stretch twill.
All six land on the build spec sheet you sign with the sample.Send your six answers, or leave them open
05Stretch

Work Pants With Stretch: 2% or 4% Spandex, Mechanical or Rigid

Stretch gives the wearer room to squat, kneel and climb without the pant pulling at the seat and knees. Rigid twill holds its shape and wears longer. One rule sets the stretch level per program, and the result is tested.
Installer on a ladder reaching into a ceiling hatch, one leg raised high, in grey stretch cargo pants
How the crew moves
How the pants are washed
Steel = stretch in the crotch, seat and back panels. Grey = the knee, always a non-stretch fabric on spandex builds.

  • Rigid twillYour build

    Rigid poly-cotton twill: our most abrasion-resistant work pant fabric. Recommended for crews who walk and stand more than they kneel, and for programs sent to industrial laundries.

  • 2% spandexYour build

    Poly-cotton twill with 2% spandex: our default stretch build. It gives enough give for squatting and stepping up while keeping the fabric close to the abrasion level of rigid twill.

  • 4% spandexYour build

    For crews who squat, climb or crawl through most of the shift: installers under floors and in ceilings, roofers, crews on ladders and scaffolds. More stretch, so it is always paired with a rigid or nylon-overlay knee.

  • Mechanical stretchYour build

    Polyester/cotton with no spandex: the stretch comes from the yarn and weave. Recommended first for programs that go through industrial laundering, where high wash temperatures are hard on spandex.
How a stretch pant is built
Knee reinforcement is always non-stretch; stretch stays in the crotch, seat and back panels. Logos on stretch use a cut-away backing.
How it is tested
Tested for stretch and growth to ASTM D3107. Growth must be 5% or less, so seats and knees do not bag.
When a fabric lot fails
It does not go to cutting; you are told if that moves the ship date.
Get a recommended knee and stretch build
06Testing

Abrasion and Seam Testing: Martindale Rubs by Fabric, Crotch Seam 250 N

Every work pant fabric is tested at the fabric and sample stage, before it is proposed for your program.
Martindale abrasion tester with fabric specimens, a technician changing a sample
When a result fails
The fabric is not used; another is proposed. A weak crotch seam is re-sewn with a revised setting and retested before the sample ships.
What you receive
A test record for each fabric, sent with the sample and kept for re-orders.
Martindale ISO 12947-2. A specimen is rubbed against a standard abradant until it breaks through; pass levels are set by the fabric's job on the pant.
Rigid poly-cotton twill
≥ 40,000rubs
Stretch fabrics, spandex or mechanical
≥ 30,000rubs
Knee overlay
≥ 80,000rubs
Crotch seam strength, ISO 13935-2
The crotch seam is pulled apart and the force at which it fails is recorded: it must hold 250 N or more. It is sewn triple-needle, bartacked at the join, and tested on a seam sewn at the production setting for your style.
Shrinkage after laundering ≤ 3% (ISO 5077)Soil-release finishLogo wash test
Ask for the test record with your sample plan
Knees on rebar, a boot heel on the hem, a tape measure in the pocket, all shift.
07Construction

Work Pants Construction: Waistband, Fly, Pockets, Seams and Bartacks

The parts that carry belts, tools and phones, fixed per style on the build spec sheet.
  1. 1

    Waistband

    Shaped, with belt loops, wide enough for a work belt and a tool belt. Side elastic inside the waistband for crews who bend and lift all shift. The back rise sits higher than the front: the movement test checks it.
  2. 2

    Fly and fastening

    Zipper fly with a waistband button or shank. Covered rivets for crews who lean on vehicles and finished surfaces, as on our mechanic pants.
  3. 3

    Pockets

    Slant or scoop fronts, two back pockets, a rule pocket on the right thigh, flapped bellows cargo pockets, a thigh phone pocket, and a hammer loop and utility pockets on carpenter styles.
  4. 4

    Seams

    Inseam, outseam, seat and crotch triple-needle stitched, with bartacks at every stress point. Knees and hems follow the knee build and kick tape chosen for the style.
    Send your pocket layout
Work-pant waistband with belt loops and a tool belt fastened through them
Zipper fly and covered rivets on work pants
Bellows cargo pocket, rule pocket and a hammer handle in the hammer loop
Triple-needle inseam and bartacks under a sewing machine foot
Waistband · fly · pockets · seams
08Movement test

Pants Movement Test on Every Sample: Squat, Kneel, Step-Up, Bend

Our in-house movement test, our own method, adapted for work pants from the one on our custom coveralls. A fit model wears the sample in the pattern room, with a pad in each knee pocket on double-knee builds.
  1. Fit model in a deep squat in sample work pants while the pattern room lead watches
    Full squat × 10

    Back waist and crotch

    The back waist drops no more than 3 cm; no strain on the crotch seam.
    The squat loads the crotch seam and the back waist.
    Limit line at 3 cm.
  2. Fit model kneeling on one knee with a pad in the knee pocket of double-knee work pants
    Kneel, 1 min

    Pad on the kneecap

    The knee-pad pocket centre sits on the kneecap within ± 2 cm.
    Kneeling shows whether the pocket holds the pad on the kneecap.
    Orange ring: the pass zone.
  3. Fit model stepping up onto a wooden step in sample work pants
    Step up 40 cm × 10

    Crotch and thigh

    No strain on the crotch seam on the step-up.
    The step-up works the crotch and thigh the way a ladder or a truck step does.
  4. Fit model bending to pick a toolbox up from the floor, back waist covered
    Bend to the floor

    Back covered, nothing pulling

    The pant does not pull tight across the knee or the seat.
    The bend shows whether the back waist stays covered when the wearer picks up tools.
    Back waist stays coveredNo pull across the knee or the seat
Which sizes
The base size and the largest waist on your order; rigid and stretch held to the same criteria.
When a sample fails
The pattern is changed where it failed, re-sewn and fully re-tested; it ships only after it passes.
What you receive
A signed fit-test sheet with a photo of each movement. Programs of 200+ people get it with the size-set wear trial.
Ask for the fit-test sheet
09Sizing

Work Pants Sizing: Waist 28–54 in × Inseam 30–36 in, Women's Cut

Sized by waist and inseam, so a crew of mixed heights gets the right leg length at every waist size.
Pattern maker measuring the inseam of a fit model wearing sample work pants
Choosing the size run
Send your staff's sizes and the reply proposes the size run and inseam split.
Knee position per size
The knee panel sits per size and inseam on the graded pattern, so a 30-in and a 36-in inseam both put the pad on the kneecap.
Packing
Each pair in its own polybag with a waist × inseam sticker; cartons by size or by person.
Waist 28–54 in, 2-in steps (XS–5XL) × inseam 30, 32, 34, 36 in; 37 in unhemmed for distributors who hem to order.
2830323436384042444648505254
30 in
32 in
34 in
36 in
37 in unhemmed
Waist, in →XS … 5XL

  • Regular straight

    Room through the seat and thigh, straight leg.
    Default

  • Relaxed

    For knee pads all day or thermal layers.
    Pads all day

  • Slim straight

    Closer thigh, for front-of-house teams.
    Front of house

  • Women's cut

    Its own block: waist-to-hip ratio, rise and knee position set for women's bodies.
    Own block
W 34 · L 32Regular straight
Example sticker
Send your waist and inseam spread
10Logos

Work Pants With Logo: Thigh, Back Pocket, Cargo Flap and Names

Logos and names go on in our own embroidery and print rooms.
  • Embroidered logo on the left front thigh of work pants
    Left front thigh
    Up to 3.5 in / 9 cm
    Embroidered on the cut panel before the pant is sewn, so it sits flat and clear of seams and pocket edges.
  • Embroidered logo on the right back pocket of work pants
    Right back pocket
    Up to 3 in / 7.5 cm
    Embroidered before the pocket is set.
  • Screen-printed logo on a cargo pocket flap
    Cargo pocket flap
    Up to 3 in / 7.5 cm
    Screen printed or embroidered.

  • Names and method

    • Names above the back waist or on the left thigh, lettering 1/4–1/2 in (6–12 mm), from your staff list, with a spelling proof you sign.
    • Cut-away backing on stretch fabrics; heat transfer for names and numbers on stretch.
    • A logo set-up record kept with the program; each new logo and fabric wash-tested before bulk, ISO 6330 or ISO 15797, 50 cycles, as on our custom work shirts.
    Send your logo file
Next step

Send Us the Work Pants Your Crew Wears Now

Post us a pair, or send photos of the knees, crotch and hems, and the reply marks where each reinforcement goes on your build.
Send Photos of Your Crew's Pants
11Specifications

Work Pants Specifications: Fabrics, Build, Sizes and Finishes

The reference sheet. Open a term to see what it means.
Five rolls of work-pant fabric side by side: khaki twill, grey stretch twill, brown canvas, green ripstop and black twill

Fabrics

Rigid twill65/35 poly-cotton twill, 240–280 gsm
Stretch twillPoly-cotton twill with spandex, 230–270 gsm · stretch levels
gsm: grams per square metre, the fabric's weight.
Mechanical stretchPolyester/cotton, no spandex, 220–260 gsm
Stretch from the yarn and weave, no spandex fibre.
Canvas100% cotton washed duck, 300–340 gsm
A dense cotton canvas, washed for a softer hand.
RipstopPoly-cotton ripstop, 200–240 gsm
A weave with a heavier yarn in a square grid.

Build

Knees and reinforcementThree knee builds, gusset, kick tape, pre-shaped knees, bartacks · wear points
Main seamsTriple-needle
WaistbandBelt loops; side-elastic option · construction

Fit and size

Waists, inseams, fitsThe size grid
Finished tolerancesMeasured points
ShrinkageTesting

Finish and colour

Soil-release finishAATCC TM130: grade ≥ 3.5 new, ≥ 3.0 after 25 industrial washes
Lets oil and grease wash out instead of setting in.
ColoursAny colour lab-dipped to your Pantone, matched to the program's shirts, checked against the retained dip before cutting · colour continuity
Fabric standardOEKO-TEX Standard 100 fabrics available
12Compare

Work Pants, Mechanic, Hi-Vis, FR or Coveralls: Choosing the Build

Choose by the work, then by the build.

  • Rigid flat-front or cargo

    This page
    CrewFacility, warehouse, industrial launderingBuildRigid twill, single or double knee

  • Stretch flat-front or cargo

    This page
    CrewInstallers and technicians who squat and climbBuildSpandex or mechanical stretch, rigid knee

  • Double-knee cargo or carpenter

    This page
    CrewCrews who kneel on concrete, gravel and rebarBuildTwill or canvas, self-fabric double knee or nylon overlay, pad pockets

  • Mechanic work pants

    Mechanic uniforms
    CrewWorkshops with oil, grease and brake fluidBuildSoil-release twill, covered rivets, fluid-tested logos

  • Class E hi-vis work pants

    Safety vests
    CrewRoad, yard and dock crewsBuildHi-vis fabric and tape; a Class 3 ensemble with a Class 2 vest

  • FR work pants

    FR clothing
    CrewElectrical and arc-flash exposed crewsBuildFR fabric, FR thread and trims

  • Coveralls and bib overalls

    Custom coveralls
    CrewCrews who want one piece over their own clothesBuildAction back, crotch gusset, fittings by height
13Inspection

Work Pants Inspection: Signed Pattern, First Piece, Four Measured Points

Every pair is checked against the sample you approved.

  1. Pattern signed

    Knee build, gusset, bartack points and kick tape marked on the pattern by the pattern room lead.
    01

  2. First piece on each line

    Line QC checks knee position, gusset, bartack placement, hem, pocket layout and logo position against the sample before the run continues.
    02

  3. Inline QC

    Checks at 3 points on each line, crotch seams and bartacks included.
    03

  4. Final AQL 2.5

    General Level II, signed by the QC manager before bulk is released.
    04
Line QC holding the first pair off the line against the approved sample, checking knee and hem
Waist
± 1 cm
Inseam
± 1 cm
Hip
± 1.5 cm
Front and back rise
± 0.5 cm

Your file for every program

  • Build spec sheet, signed by you
  • Fabric test record
  • Fit-test sheet with movement photos
  • Logo wash test record
  • Final AQL 2.5 report
  • Carton labels: PO, style, colour, dye lot
If a delivered batch is off, the reporting and remake terms are on our home page.
14Supply

Stock, Custom or Private-Label Work Pants, With Lead Times

Three ways in; the reinforcement and testing go with each.
  1. 1

    Stock work pants with your logo

    Flat-front, cargo, stretch and a stock double-knee cargo, with your logo and names added in our factory.
    Start this route
  2. 2

    Custom work pants

    Your fabric, colour, stretch, knee build including nylon overlay, gusset, kick tape and inseam split, from our CAD pattern or your tech pack, with a movement-tested sample.
    Start this route
  3. 3

    Private label work pants

    Your woven neck, care and size labels and hang tags, packed neutral or in your brand's name. See private label uniforms.
    Start this route
  4. Carton of folded work pants in individual polybags, each with a small size sticker

    Lead times

    • 5–7 dayslogo-on-stock sample
    • 12–15 dayscustom sample or size set, movement-tested
    • 25–35 daysbulk after sample approval
    • 37–50 daysa custom program, quote approval to ex-factory
    • 15–20 daysre-orders, same spec, same pattern
    Sea, air or express; EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP. Lead times
  • Fabric and stretch
  • Knee build
  • Crotch gusset
  • Hems
  • Pockets
  • Fit and waist
  • Inseam split
  • Colour and finish
  • Decoration
  • Labels
Any change after sample approval opens a new version of the build spec sheet, re-signed by you.
15Program model

Program Model: Installation Contractor, 18 Project Sites

~900

The program

A mechanical and electrical installation contractor in North America, with about 900 installers across 18 project sites.

What they wear

Stretch cargo work pants in our default stretch twill, double knees with the nylon overlay and pad pockets, and a diamond gusset for ladder and scaffold work.
Two installers on a scaffold fitting ductwork in grey stretch cargo pants with double knees

Sizing and logo

A waist × inseam run set from the staff list; the company logo on the left thigh and each installer's name embroidered.
4 months

Delivery and re-orders

Packed per project site, each pair labelled with name and size. Re-orders every 4 months, cut from the same pattern, fabric and logo set-up record.
16Checklist

Work Pants Quote Checklist: What to Send

Copy this list into your email.

Crew and build

  1. 01Styles: flat-front, cargo, carpenter, double-knee, women's, Class E
  2. 02Crew size, what they kneel on, how often they squat and climb
  3. 03Fabric and stretch level, or let us recommend
  4. 04Knee build: single, double layer, nylon overlay
  5. 05Crotch gusset and kick tape
  6. 06Waist and inseam spread, men's and women's

Logo, wash and delivery

  1. 07Colour: Pantone, or a garment to match
  2. 08Finish: soil-release or none
  3. 09Logo file or photo, position, names
  4. 10Wash route: industrial, or domestic and commercial
  5. 11Packing by size or by person, delivery sites
  6. 12A pair your crew wears now, posted or photographed
Or use the form
Your program

Start Your Work Pants Program

Send your crew's waist and inseam spread, the work pants they wear now and your logo.
Within 1 business day:
  • A written quote
  • A sample plan
  • A recommended fabric, stretch level and knee build
Your sample arrives with its fabric test record and movement-test sheet.
Or post us one pair your crew wears now, and the quote is built from it. Other ways to reach us
Please enter your name.
Please enter your company.
Please enter a valid email.
Please give a rough headcount.
What they kneel on
Styles
Wash route
Photos of the knees, crotch and hems: email them to [email protected].