Women’s Workwear that Gets the Job Done

Workwear has been a category to watch in recent seasons, with eyes on Dovetail Workwear, a young, Portland, Oregon-based firm specializing in women’s-specific product. Started by co-founders Kate Day and Kyle Marie Begley, who owned a residential design/build landscaping firm called Moxie & Moss Gardening, along with apparel industry expert Sara DeLuca, the three women recognized that everyday jeans were not up to the task in terms of workwear performance, fit and style. First out of the gate — the Dovetail Maven pant — was developed to address these shortcomings.

The Spring 2020 collection now aims to set a higher standard in women’s workwear.  The new series of midweight yet highly durable, stylish denim is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of Dovetail, Cordura, and Artistic Milliners, in partnership with a troop of dedicated product wear testers. “From fiber and fabric to garment construction and detail, our wear testers continue to drive our product design,” explained DeLuca, who heads product development at Dovetail.

The premier product released in this new series is a StayBlack Cordura denim, engineered with cotton, Invista T420HT nylon 6,6, and cellulose fibers for four times the abrasion resistance of traditional cotton denim. The fibers are dyed before weaving, in an environmentally sustainable process that helps conserve water and locks in color.

“We continue to see a growing convergence of workwear and outdoor clothing,” said Cindy McNaull, global business development director for Cordura. “The lines between the two segments continue to blur as the fast-paced lifestyles that we are living today demand wearable, built-to-last pieces that deliver when it counts.”

McNaull added, “Incorporating not only a core of durability, but a fusion of style, function and comfort tailor-made for women in the workplace, Dovetail’s latest Maven StayBlack workpant, powered by Supercharged Noir Cordura Denim is a great example of this evolution.”

The inaugural Spring/Summer 2020 line of pants, work shirt and pullover hoody reflect DeLuca’s effort to advance workwear technology and sustainability with progressive production processes and partners.

“It starts with materials that break the mold to redefine workwear,” DeLuca said. “Our fabrics must be functional and durable but with a deep appreciation of texture, color, and aesthetic. And making a difference matters throughout the product chain. Whether it’s organic cotton, modal fibers, waterless dye processing, or the next generation of fluorocarbon, and PFOA-free repellency treatments, our goal is to do it better.”