And it has been fantastic news for decorators who have been quick to pick up on the unique benefits of this premium workwear brand.

UK sales and marketing director, Michael Tottman said: "We believe we have the highest quality product on the market as far as workwear is concerned.

"All our products are double or triple stitched and come with a two-year seam and zip guarantee. Our operation is also completely vertical. We develop and weave our own fabrics and we have a manufacturing plant in Vietnam, which we own. This gives us great control over the quality and the manufacturing process, and essentially gives complete control over the business."

Mr Tottman continues: "MASCOT were excited to enter the Printwear market in the UK at the start of 2009 with their partnership with BTC activewear. BTC activewear have focussed heavily on workwear this year and MASCOT are pleased to be part of that strategy. Since its introduction to the UK in 2000, MASCOT had supplied to a few small decorators before but never had a large presence in the market.

"BTC activewear stock a range of key MASCOT products that are available only to distributors on a 24 hour delivery at very competitive prices."

Traditionally, uniform and workwear buyers were often unable to source a range to fit all employees within a company. "But," adds Mr Tottman, "you won't find that problem in MASCOT. Sizes range from XS - 4XL with 5XL available in some products. Trousers come in 18 different waist sizes with regular and long leg lengths, some styles come in short leg lengths. Those that don't come in short leg can easily be altered by our alterations studio."

Tested to work

"Tested to Work is our slogan and one that runs through our whole organisation from products to accounts systems to marketing and warehousing," Mr Tottman continues. "Everything we do is Tested to Work especially our products which have the most rigorous testing procedures I have come across in the industry. All our products are tested to work by test panels out working in different industries. We therefore know when a product comes on to the market that, for example, all the pockets are in exactly the right place, of exactly the right size and reinforced in the right areas. We study feedback from our test personnel and examine the garments and footwear they have used. We are so sure only high quality garments hit the market place that we guarantee our zips and stitching for 2 years, so if a zip or seam fails through general wear and tear within 2 years we will repair it or replace the garment free of charge.

"MASCOT control of quality comes from our fully integrated supply chain. Many Workwear manufacturers buy in fabrics and manufacture in outsourced factories whereas MASCOT controls or owns the whole process. We weave our own fabrics, ship them to be dyed in the best dye houses, then ship the fabric to our own purpose built factory in Vietnam to be cut and made into garments. "

MASCOT designed and built their own factory in Vietnam that opened last year and is already up and running to full capacity.

"This gives MASCOT a huge competitive advantage when it comes to controlling the quality and design of our garments," said Mr Tottman. "It is also important to note that MASCOT holds by far the largest stock of workwear in Europe with nearly 3 million products on the shelf and they are all available from Denmark on a 3-5 day delivery."

Fabrics such as the trademarked Kevlar and Cordura are components of MASCOT workwear, and it uses a heavy canvas weave in products such as the Almada trouser, to make them more durable. All products are ergonomically designed, with features such as strategically placed pockets and tool holders, and reflective tape.

Because BTC activewear buys in bulk MASCOT stock is always available, adds Mr Tottman, especially as MASCOT holds up to 3 million products on the shelf in Denmark at any one time.

All fabric is tested for colour and weight, wear, pilling, tensile strength, abrasion, washability and more at laboratories in Denmark and Vietnam.

In 2006, MASCOT was awarded market leader for product quality by international research agency, Frost & Sullivan. It chose MASCOT from among 750 of Europe's workwear manufacturers.

From local operator to global organisation

In a few years MASCOT has grown from a handful of employees and a small product range to an organisation with 1,100 employees and 17,000 products.

The range today includes safety footwear, a full range, which MASCOT launched in 2007. The range had been in development for several years like all other parts of the range and this had to be tested to work.

Much has changed over the years but the strategy remains the same. The basic idea is still to make high quality workwear for the everyday user. What the everyday user wants and can be offered on the other hand is very changeable.

Who knows in a few years there may be entirely new industries that pull professional workwear in a different direction. They may have new tools or electronic equipment which demands new pockets, new fabrics or new designs.

Either way, MASCOT will continue to follow our key principles, to develop modern, functional and eye-catching workwear for tomorrow's wearer.

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