What Kishigo does

Kishigo is a US-based manufacturer of high-visibility safety apparel, founded in 1971 by Loren H. Wall in Westminster, California and currently headquartered at 11250 Slater Ave, Fountain Valley, CA. The company designs and produces an extensive product portfolio spanning ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant vests, flame-resistant (FR) garments certified to NFPA 70E and ASTM F1506, outerwear, rainwear, pants and gaiters, T-shirts, public safety apparel, women's workwear, and accessories, organized under sub-brands including the 1971 American-made premium line, Premium Black Series, Premium Brilliant Series, and Enhanced Visibility Series. Technical differentiation is centered on proprietary fabric technologies such as Ultra-Cool polyester mesh, Cool Touch moisture-wicking, and Brilliant Plus reflective trim, supported by fabric partnerships with Westex by Milliken and GlenGuard for FR materials.

The business operates exclusively through a B2B distribution model, with no direct-to-consumer online sales. Authorized distributors and internet partners across the United States carry inventory, manage pricing, and fulfill orders; the website quote-request system routes inbound inquiries to distribution partners. Kishigo supports this channel with a dedicated distributor portal, marketing materials, and regional sales representatives. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product transactions with recurring reorder patterns from established B2B customers, plus a custom/private-label manufacturing stream under the 1971 brand for clients with specialized design or rapid-turnaround needs. The company serves construction, roadwork, transportation/DOT, public safety, industrial/FR applications, and warehouse/logistics end markets, with named enterprise and government customers including Delta Airlines Honor Guard, LA Metro, LADWP, McCarthy Construction, American Airlines Veterans EBRG, and the OC 405 Partners Joint Venture on the $2.08 billion I-405 Improvement Project.

Name

Kishigo

Legal name

Kishigo

Website

https://kishigo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kishigo is a US manufacturer of ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant high-visibility safety apparel, including vests, flame-resistant garments, outerwear, and rainwear, sold exclusively through B2B authorized distributors serving construction, roadwork, transportation, public safety, and industrial end markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Visibility Safety Apparel

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Visibility (Hi-Vis) Safety Apparel (CRAAALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel (CRAAALAD), Workwear, Uniform & Protective Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAH), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Workwear, Uniforms & Safety Apparel Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAC)

Keywords

• High-visibility safety apparel
• Flame-resistant workwear
• ANSI 107 compliant clothing
• Reflective safety vests
• Industrial hi-vis garments

Headquarters

HQ city

Fountain Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Safety Apparel Sales: Direct B2B sales of high-visibility safety apparel through authorized distribution partners. Products include vests, outerwear, rainwear, flame-resistant garments, pants, gaiters, t-shirts, accessories, and public safety apparel. Sales are primarily one-time product transactions with recurring reorder patterns from established B2B customers.
2. Custom/Private Label Manufacturing: Custom-designed and made-to-order apparel products through the 1971 brand, featuring domestic manufacturing at the Fountain Valley, CA facility. Targets clients with specialized needs requiring unique designs or faster turnaround times than offshore production can support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kishigo designs and manufactures high-visibility safety apparel, including vests, outerwear, rainwear, T-shirts, pants & gaiters, womenswear, flame-resistant garments, and public-safety apparel, built to meet ANSI/ISEA 107 and applicable FR/arc standards. The company sells its catalog through a US network of authorized distributors and internet partners, and offers custom design and made-to-order apparel through its American-made 1971 brand produced at the Fountain Valley, CA Design and Production Center.

Product overview

Kishigo is a high-visibility safety apparel company with over 50 years of experience manufacturing workwear that meets ANSI/ISEA 107 standards. The product portfolio spans multiple categories including Vests (Class 2, Class 3, Surveyor, Enhanced Visibility, Breakaway), Flame Resistant (FR) apparel, Pants & Gaiters, Public Safety, Accessories, Outerwear, Womenswear, Rainwear, and T-Shirts. The company operates several product sub-brands: Premium Black Series (premium-grade dark contrast workwear), Premium Brilliant Series (maximum visibility with enhanced reflective trim), Enhanced Visibility Series (color-coded for job site role differentiation), and 1971 by Kishigo (American-made custom design line). The portfolio also includes the Cool Touch moisture-wicking technology line and the 1828 Recycled Vest sustainability initiative. Kishigo serves construction, roadwork, transportation, public safety, and industrial sectors through a distributor network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1971: Premium American-made product line featuring the best designs, components, and styles. Products are designed and produced in Kishigo's Design and Production Center in Fountain Valley, CA, representing over 50 years of focus on innovation, quality and comfort. 1971 branded garments represent the ultimate expression of Kishigo's commitment to safety, quality, and innovative design.

Products and services

• Vests High-visibility safety vests across multiple ANSI classes (Class 2, Class 3, Surveyor, Enhanced Visibility, Breakaway) in mesh and solid fabric constructions, for construction, roadwork, and industrial workers.
• Flame Resistant (FR) Line Flame-resistant high-visibility workwear compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107 and meeting NFPA 70E, ASTM F1506, and NFPA 2112. Includes FR vests, T-shirts, hoodies, balaclavas, and hard hat accessories with CAT 2 arc ratings.
• Pants & Gaiters High-visibility pants and gaiters including insulated, rainwear, and mesh options with Class E ratings, designed for construction, roadwork, transport, DOT, and traffic applications.
• Public Safety Apparel High-visibility workwear for first responders and public safety personnel (police, fire, security, sheriff) featuring Type P | Class 2 compliance and 4 or 5 point breakaway doffing capabilities.
• Accessories High-visibility safety accessories including balaclavas, sun shields, hard hat nape protectors, hats, knit beanies, and arm/ankle bands, with both ANSI 107 compliant and Non-ANSI options.
• Outerwear High-visibility outerwear including parkas, bomber jackets, sweatshirts, and soft shell jackets, ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R Class 3 compliant, with waterproof and insulated styles.
• Womenswear High-visibility workwear designed specifically for women, including construction vests, surveyor vests, Class 3 vests, and soft shell jackets in Type R Class 2 and Class 3 compliant options.
• Rainwear Waterproof high-visibility rainwear including jackets, bibs, and pants with Type R Class 3 and Class E ratings, in solid/waterproof constructions for harsh weather conditions.
• T-Shirts High-visibility T-shirts including Class 2 and Class 3 ANSI compliant options, with Cool Touch moisture-wicking technology, contrast designs, and polo shirts, available in short and long sleeve variants.
• Cool Touch Line High-performance moisture-wicking workwear line, including T-shirts, hoodies, and polo shirts, engineered to wick sweat away from the body and boost cooling efficiency in high-heat work environments.
• Polar Shield Parka (JS157) High-visibility Class 3 parka engineered for the coldest conditions, designed for roadway crews, construction workers, towing operators, maritime employees, and other workers in low-temperature environments.
• 1828 Recycled Vest High-visibility safety vest constructed from post-consumer recycled materials including fabric, reflective tape, thread, zipper, care label, and hangtag, as part of Kishigo's sustainability initiative.
• FR Base Layer Long Sleeve T-Shirt (F709) Lightweight Modacrylic FR interlock knit base layer (55% Modacrylic, 45% Cotton) with ribbed neck and cuffs, CAT 2 Arc Rating / ATPV 9.8 cal/cm2, Non-ANSI class, in Black.
• FR Base Layer Long Sleeve T-Shirt (F710) Lightweight Modacrylic FR interlock knit base layer (50% Modacrylic, 40% Lyocell, 10% Twaron) with ribbed neck and cuffs, CAT 2 Arc Rating / ATPV 16 cal/cm2, Non-ANSI class, in Lime.
• 3 Pocket Zipper Mesh Vest (1085/1086) Ultra-Cool polyester mesh vest with zipper front closure, 2-inch wide high-performance reflective material, mic tab, radio pocket, pencil pocket, and lower inside patch pocket, ANSI/ISEA 107-2015/2020 Type R | Class 2 compliant.
• Contrasting Mesh Vest (1056/1055) Ultra-Cool 100% polyester mesh vest with 2-inch wide high-performance reflective material and 4.5-inch contrasting color, Type R | Class 2 compliant, with pencil pocket and lower inside patch pocket.
• Kishigo4Pets High-visibility safety apparel for dogs, extending Kishigo's safety expertise to pet safety products, sold via the dedicated kishigo4pets.com site.
• 1971 by Kishigo (Custom American-Made Line) Premium American-made high-visibility workwear line designed and produced at Kishigo's Fountain Valley, CA Design and Production Center, offering custom design and made-to-order apparel for clients with specialized needs.
• Premium Black Series Premium-grade high-visibility workwear with black/dark contrast panels for a professional look, combining style with high-quality materials, cargo pockets, and reflective trim, including vests, outerwear, and T-shirts.
• Premium Brilliant Series Maximum-visibility workwear line featuring unique reflective trim that enhances low-light visibility, designed for workers who start early or work past sundown, including vests, outerwear, and T-shirts.
• Enhanced Visibility Series Color-coded high-visibility workwear designed for easy identification of roles on job sites, available in multiple colors (white, black, pink, royal blue, red, green, gray, purple, yellow) for differentiating workers, managers, security, medics, and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• OSHA enforcement of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Performance Class 2 or 3 required for workers in highway rights-of-way since July 15, 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• American Airlines Veterans Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) - Chicago ChapterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Kishigo partnered with American Airlines' Veterans EBRG to provide custom-designed honor guard vests for the Dignified Transfer Program at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, honoring fallen military heroes.
• OrafolcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Orafol provides reflective solutions and materials for Kishigo's Premium Brilliant Series products. Their reflective technology enables enhanced low-light visibility and differentiation from work zones in challenging lighting conditions.
• Westex by MillikencoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Westex by Milliken supplies flame-resistant fabric materials for Kishigo's FR product line. Their DH fabric technology is used in 1971 branded FR garments meeting ASTM F1506 and NFPA 70E standards.
• GlenGuardcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021GlenGuard provides flame-resistant modacrylic mesh fabrics for Kishigo's FR safety vests. Their FR mesh technology enables breathable protection in flame-resistant high-visibility apparel.
• OC 405 Partners Joint VentureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Major infrastructure partnership for the $2.08 billion I-405 Improvement Project. Kishigo supplies high-visibility apparel for 60 work sites with hundreds of daily workers on this Orange County highway widening initiative.
• Delta Airlines Honor GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Custom designed, made-in-the-USA vests delivered to Delta Airlines Honor Guard for dignified transfer ceremonies. Demonstrates Kishigo's custom manufacturing capabilities.
• LA Metro Service PatrolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021LA Metro sourced customized FR and ANSI Class 3 vests for its Service Patrol operations, providing highest quality visibility and flame-resistant protection for transit workers.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021LADWP chose Kishigo for rapid delivery of highest quality FR vests available, meeting urgent utility worker safety apparel needs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Radians: Radians is a direct competitor in high-visibility safety apparel, offering ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant vests, FR garments, and a broad PPE portfolio sold through distributors to the same construction, roadway, and industrial customers as Kishigo.
• National Safety Apparel: National Safety Apparel manufactures FR and arc-rated workwear, including hi-vis options, sold through industrial safety distributors. It overlaps directly with Kishigo's FR and high-visibility product lines for utility, oil & gas, and electrical worker end markets.
• Pyramex: Pyramex is a direct competitor producing safety eyewear, hi-vis vests, head protection, and FR apparel marketed through the same B2B safety distribution channels that serve Kishigo's construction and industrial customers.
• Lakeland Industries: Lakeland Industries manufactures protective clothing for industrial, chemical, and FR/arc-rated applications, including high-visibility garments, overlapping with Kishigo's certified workwear portfolio for hazmat, oil & gas, and electrical safety.
• Ergodyne: Ergodyne designs and sells hi-vis workwear, cooling apparel, and jobsite safety gear through industrial distributors. Its cooling and hi-vis lines directly compete with Kishigo's Cool Touch moisture-wicking and ANSI 107 product ranges.
• Tingley Rubber: Tingley manufactures protective rainwear, boots, and high-visibility outerwear sold through industrial distributors, directly overlapping with Kishigo's rainwear and ANSI Class 3 outerwear categories for outdoor and roadway workers.

Broad incumbents

• Bulwark Protection (VF Corporation): Bulwark is VF Corporation's dedicated FR workwear brand offering NFPA 70E-compliant garments to utilities, oil & gas, and chemical customers. It competes with Kishigo's FR portfolio but operates as part of a much larger apparel conglomerate.
• Protective Industrial Products (PIP): PIP is a broad industrial PPE distributor-owned brand offering hi-vis vests, FR apparel, and hand protection. It overlaps with Kishigo's safety apparel lines but sits inside a much larger PPE distribution platform.
• Carhartt: Carhartt is a long-established workwear brand that has expanded into FR and high-visibility segments. While its core canvas workwear is broader than Kishigo's safety focus, its hi-vis and FR sub-ranges compete for the same trade and industrial buyers.

Emerging players

• Refrigiwear: Refrigiwear specializes in insulated and cold-weather workwear, including hi-vis options, addressing the same cold-exposure end-uses as Kishigo's Polar Shield Parka and outerwear categories for roadway and maritime workers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MLKISHIGO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kishigo1971
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kishigo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kishigo
• Instagraminstagram.com/kishigo

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kishigo