Workwear design requires skill, experience and listening to customers.

A team of 8 people works in different areas of design and product development at Dimex, and it includes a wide range of job descriptions and tasks. Design starts with the customer's needs, who leads the work of the product designer. In addition to the product designer, a pattern master, technical product designer and pattern seamstress participate in completing the workwear. At Dimex, we design durable, safe, functional and stylish workwear. Although the design and production of workwear is guided by various regulations, it is by no means boring, on the contrary! When the product development process gets underway, driven by the product development team, the first thing we think about is the user. What kind of work does he do? What kind of tools does he need and what conditions does he work in? This provides a pretty good starting point for conceptualizing the product. The product designer sketches the products based on the design brief, always keeping the product's functionality in mind, without forgetting the style. There is a hammer loop, a hanging pocket, a knee pad pocket, a tool loop and a reflector, if you will. Often, everything is successfully “fitted” into the garment so that it serves its purpose flawlessly. After reviewing the collection, the idea is passed from the designer’s desk to the pattern master and technical designer. The team thinks about the product’s structure, fit, cuts and how to best implement the designer’s vision and keep costs at the desired level. The collaboration between the designer, pattern master and technical designer must be, literally, seamless. Next, the baton is passed to the pattern maker, in whose skilled hands the patterns and fabrics are created into a model piece. The pattern maker examines the functionality of the pattern and technical solutions while working and points out any shortcomings. As a result of prototyping, fitting, test runs, certifications, weighing and tinkering, we have workwear ready for production. Dimex workwear is a puzzle of a thousand pieces put together by many professionals. Working in Dimex's product design is challenging, but ultimately rewarding. We asked the design team members, senior product designer Piia, and our pattern master Ilona, for their views on the special features of the job description in workwear. Piia Kuronen, Senior Product Designer Dimex Oy How have you been able to utilize your professional studies in your work? I first studied as a textile and clothing artisan and continued my studies as a clothing designer at the University of Applied Sciences. All the same laws apply to the production of workwear as in fashion design, so I have been able to apply textile knowledge, design techniques and planning principles excellently in my work with workwear. Of course, the journey with workwear is never complete, there is always something new to learn. What special requirements must be taken into account in workwear design? When designing workwear, the primary consideration is the durability, safety and suitability of the product for the job. The choice of material is its own, complicated process, where the best fabric is mapped out and tested for a product designed for a specific purpose. Workwear must take into account the requirements set by different work tasks on the product's functionality. The garment must have just the right kind of pockets for different work tools, the areas that are subject to stress must be carefully considered and durable technical structures must be selected, and the materials must be suitable for the prevailing weather conditions. The fit and ergonomics of the product are also key factors in designing functional workwear. In certified safety products, the product must also meet the design requirements set by various safety standards. Although the certificates set many boundary conditions regarding the product's appearance, we always think about making sure that the product is up-to-date in terms of style and technical solutions, which means we also follow the latest trends in the fashion world and innovations in the textile industry. What is the most rewarding thing about your job? The workwear design process is a long and multi-stage project, even taking years. It is rewarding to see a product developed with a team finally come off the production line, photographed and ready for customers to use. We regularly review the feedback we receive from our users, and of course it is great to hear if a product has managed to serve the end user particularly well. Ilona Ivanova, Pattern Master Dimex Oy What is the most rewarding thing about your job? Being involved in many different areas of product development and production inspires me to work in this field. I enjoy the varied working days. It is rewarding to participate in the development and production of safe and functional workwear, which is also beneficial to society. My work is meaningful because I get to prioritize and plan many tasks myself and schedule my work. It is especially nice to see a well-fitting and functional product in use. What do you do in a typical working day? I create patterns for workwear, constantly taking into account body proportions, fabric properties and technical details. I prepare documents for cutting in production areas and make measurement charts. Together with designers and a pattern maker, I develop the functional details of new products and model them into patterns in the pattern program. We clothe the makers of the future Dimex has been involved in Taitaja for the second year as the clothing supplier for competitors, judges and sport managers. Since young professionals are an important part of building the working life of the future, we want to be there at this early stage to support occupational safety and comfort with the right workwear. During the event period from 6 to 8 May 2025, you can also find us at the Taitaja event tent at the Dimex point, stand 48. At the stand, you can try out different skills in the form of a speed game, and all participants will be rewarded with Dimex-themed products. Of course, there will also be workwear for different needs and the latest innovations in workwear on display. See you at the competition!