Hi-Vis Workwear

Hi-vis clothing is not a style choice but a measurable form of protection, and its standard is EN ISO 20471. The standard defines the area of fluorescent fabric and retroreflective tape on the garment in square metres and sets three classes.

Class 1 is the lowest level and makes sense only in low-risk areas with no vehicle traffic.

Class 2 is the middle level; it is common in indoor warehouses and on-site use with slow-moving vehicles.

Class 3 is the highest level and is used on roads, in high-speed traffic and in night operations. An important distinction: Class 3 requires a surface that wraps around the body — a sleeveless vest on its own can never be Class 3. Where Class 3 is required, you need a long-sleeved top, or a vest combined with a sleeved top.

Colour is not a free choice either: the standard defines specific colours — fluorescent yellow, orange-red and red. Other colours can be used for a corporate look, but they do not count towards the certified visibility area.

In practice three points are overlooked. First, tape placement: what determines visibility at night is not just the amount of tape but its placement around the torso and limbs — this is what makes the human silhouette recognisable. Second, washing: fluorescent fabric fades with washing, and a faded garment is less visible in practice even if it still meets the standard's area; that is why hi-vis products are washed separately and without fabric softener. Third, dirt: tape covered in mud or oil does not reflect.

When a logo is applied, the reflective tape must not be cut; embroidery and print are placed where they do not reduce the certified area.

Mars Wear manufactures to order at its own production facility in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, with its own design team. Our minimum order is 100 pieces and our standard lead time is 15 working days; we ship within Türkiye and abroad. If certified PPE is mandatory at your workplace, state the required class at the start of the project.