GlenGuard

What GlenGuard does

GlenGuard is a performance fabric brand — not a garment manufacturer — that supplies inherently flame-resistant and arc-rated (AR/FR) fabrics to downstream PPE brands and industrial workwear makers. The brand operates as a division of Glen Raven Material Solutions, LLC, which is itself a subsidiary of Glen Raven, Inc., a Burlington, North Carolina-headquartered diversified textile company whose roots date to 1880. GlenGuard's portfolio comprises two core product lines: GlenGuard FR (an arc-rated, inherently flame-resistant workwear fabric offered in 4.5 oz, 5.3 oz, 6.1 oz Rip Stop, and 6.4 oz weights across multiple colors) and GlenGuard Hi-Vis (a flame-resistant high-visibility fabric for safety vests, available in woven and mesh constructions, with an Anti-Stat variant for gas-rich environments meeting EN1149-3 and EN1149-5).

GlenGuard's underlying technology is built on a meta-aramid blend using solution-dyed fibers, where color pigments and protective properties are embedded at the polymer level before extrusion through a spinneret — a process the company claims makes it the only inherent solution-dyed AR/FR fabric manufacturer globally. This is supplemented by the proprietary Wickzz™ Moisture Management System, which uses hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers in tandem to drive moisture off the skin and disperse it for rapid evaporation, addressing the heat-stress-driven PPE non-compliance that safety managers cite as their largest issue. Fabrics are certified to meet or exceed NFPA 70E, NFPA 2112, NFPA 1975, NFPA 1977, ASTM 1506, ASTM F1959, ANSI/SEA 107-2020, CGSB 155.20/155.22, ISO 11612, IEC 61482-2, and Underwriters Laboratories guidelines, with durability validated through 170+ industrial laundry cycles.

GlenGuard's go-to-market is a B2B fabric-supply model: the company sells fabric to garment manufacturers (Ariat, Bulwark, Cintas, Rasco, Blauer, Reed Manufacturing, National Safety Apparel, ML Kishigo, and others), which then produce and distribute finished AR/FR workwear through industrial safety distributors (American FR & Safety, MCR Safety, Ergodyne, Radians, Lakeland), retail outlets (Boot Barn, Cavenders), partner e-commerce platforms, industrial laundry rental programs (Cintas), and Amazon. Revenue is generated through fabric sales and brand licensing to garment partners, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Demand is driven through a multi-channel marketing approach including The FRontlines content blog, industry event participation (ASSP Safety 2024, IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop 2025), social media, and wear trial programs targeting safety managers and procurement professionals in Oil & Gas, Utilities, Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Mining, Chemical Processing, Wind Energy, Food Processing, and — as of January 2024 — Aerospace.

Name

GlenGuard

Legal name

Glen Raven Material Solutions, LLC

Website

https://glenguard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

GlenGuard is a Burlington, NC-based fabric brand under Glen Raven, Inc. that manufactures inherently flame-resistant and arc-rated (AR/FR) fabrics for industrial workwear, supplying downstream garment makers like Ariat, Bulwark, and Cintas across Oil & Gas, Utilities, and related safety verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AR/FR Protective Workwear Fabrics

NAICS

Apparel Knitting Mills (3151)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective & Safety Textiles (FR/Arc/Heat/Cut/Chemical) (IMAOADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)

Keywords

• Flame resistant fabrics
• Arc rated textiles
• AR/FR workwear materials
• Inherent FR fabrics
• Protective industrial fabrics

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

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, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fabric Sales to Garment Manufacturers: GlenGuard sells its AR/FR fabrics (GlenGuard FR and GlenGuard Hi-Vis) to garment manufacturers who produce protective workwear. Fabrics are sold in multiple weights (4.5 oz, 5.3 oz, 6.1 oz Rip Stop, 6.4 oz, 6.7 oz knit) and colors. The company positions itself as the 'fabric of choice' for industrial AR/FR applications.
2. Licensing of GlenGuard Brand: GlenGuard brand fabrics are used by partner garment manufacturers (Ariat, Bulwark, Cintas, Rasco, etc.) to produce finished AR/FR garments. The brand is licensed through these partnerships, with garments available through distributors and retailers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GlenGuard manufactures and supplies inherently flame-resistant and arc-rated (AR/FR) fabrics to garment manufacturers, industrial safety distributors, and protective apparel brands. Its two core product lines—GlenGuard FR and GlenGuard Hi-Vis—are sold by weight, color, and construction specification to industrial buyers, with finished garments distributed through licensed partners including Ariat, Bulwark, Cintas, and Rasco.

Product overview

GlenGuard is a performance fabric brand — not a garment manufacturer — supplying inherently flame-resistant and arc-rated (AR/FR) fabrics to downstream PPE brands and garment makers. The portfolio consists of two main product lines: GlenGuard FR (arc-rated, flame-resistant workwear fabric) and GlenGuard Hi-Vis (flame-resistant high-visibility fabric for safety vests), both incorporating the proprietary Wickzz Moisture Management System for moisture-wicking and heat stress reduction. GlenGuard FR is offered in multiple fabric weights (4.5 oz, 5.3 oz, 6.1 oz Rip Stop, 6.4 oz) across standard and custom colors, while GlenGuard Hi-Vis is available in woven and mesh constructions with an Anti-Stat variant for gas environments. All fabrics are solution-dyed (inherently colored) and inherently FR, meaning protection cannot wash out.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wickzz Moisture Management System: Proprietary moisture-wicking technology that drives moisture away from skin and disperses it across the fabric for quick evaporation
• GlenGuard Hi-Vis Anti-Stat

Products and services

• GlenGuard FR Arc-rated, inherently flame-resistant fabric engineered for industrial AR/FR workwear. Solution-dyed with the Wickzz Moisture Management System for comfort, available in multiple weights and colors with custom color options. Sold to garment manufacturers and industrial distributors for use in shirts, pants, coveralls, jackets, and vests serving oil & gas, utilities, petrochemical, manufacturing, mining, and chemical processing workers.
• GlenGuard Hi-Vis Inherently flame-resistant high-visibility fabric for safety vests and high-vis FR apparel. Available in woven and mesh constructions featuring No Melt, No Drip technology. An Anti-Stat variant passes the Shirley Gas Probe Test and meets EN1149-3 and EN1149-5. Certified to ANSI/SEA 107-2020, ASTM F1959, NFPA 70E, and UL standards. Sold to garment manufacturers and distributors for use by utility workers, emergency services, and industrial personnel needing combined visibility and FR protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Color and FR properties maintained through 170+ industrial laundry cycles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, premier and supporting.

• Axiom SpaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2024GlenGuard fabric was selected for Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronaut flight suits. The mission (January 18 - February 9, 2024) featured GlenGuard 6.4 oz black fabric and 6.7 oz knit fabric in orange, black, and navy. This represents the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the ISS.
• Glen Raven Technical Fabrics (GRTF)coreOthers · 1 June 2021GlenGuard is a brand within Glen Raven Technical Fabrics (GRTF), part of Glen Raven, Inc. Sammy Dobbs joined GRTF as Director of New Business Development for GlenGuard brand. Key team members include Jeff Michel (VP, Protective Fabrics) and Rich Lippert (VP, Technical Sales).
• AriatpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAriat manufactures premium FR workwear including the Women's FR Featherlight Work Shirt made with GlenGuard fabric. This product won the 2021 OH&S New Product of the Year award in Protective Apparel. Ariat represents a flagship brand partnership for GlenGuard in the workwear market.
• CintaspremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCintas offers FR garment programs including industrial laundry services. GlenGuard fabric is featured in Carhartt FeatherWeight FR Women's Rental Line, available exclusively through Cintas. Cintas represents a major distribution channel for GlenGuard-based garments.
• RascocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRasco FR manufactures workwear including field jackets and insulated bib overalls using GlenGuard fabric in various weights (4.5 oz inner layer, 5.3 oz, 6.1 oz outer layer).
• BulwarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBulwark manufactures FR workwear using GlenGuard fabrics for industrial applications.
• BlauercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlauer produces FR garments using GlenGuard fabric, serving public safety and industrial markets.
• Reed ManufacturingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReed Manufacturing produces FR shirts using GlenGuard fabric available in various colors including navy.
• American FR & SafetysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial safety distributor offering GlenGuard-based FR products.
• Apparel Solutions InternationalsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFR garment distributor serving US and Canada markets with GlenGuard-based products.
• MCR SafetysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafety equipment distributor offering GlenGuard-based FR garments and information through their knowledge center.
• National Safety ApparelsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafety apparel manufacturer/distributor offering Vizable FR brand products made with GlenGuard fabric.
• ML KishigosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh-visibility workwear manufacturer offering GlenGuard FR products.
• RadianssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafety equipment distributor offering GlenGuard FR vests.
• ErgodynesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafety equipment distributor offering GlenGuard-based products.
• LakelandsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafety apparel manufacturer/distributor offering high-visibility products that may include GlenGuard fabric.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Lakeland Industries: Lakeland manufactures and distributes FR protective apparel globally, listed as a GlenGuard distribution/distributor partner and competing in finished-garment categories that consume FR fabrics.
• Bulwark Protection (VF Corporation): Bulwark, a VF Corporation brand, is a major FR workwear brand specified with GlenGuard fabric, but also sources and qualifies competing FR fabrics (Westex, Nomex), making it both a customer and competing specification pathway.
• Teijin Aramid (Twaron/Technora): Teijin Aramid is the upstream meta/para-aramid fiber producer supplying mills like GlenGuard; it competes both as a fiber supplier and through its own protective fabric offerings, giving it vertical leverage against GlenGuard.
• Honeywell (Protective Equipment): Honeywell supplies a broad portfolio of PPE including FR garments and is a confirmed GlenGuard partner (featured on GlenGuard's partner page), making it both a customer/distributor and a competing protective-apparel brand.

Direct peers

• Westex (Milliken & Company): Westex, a Milliken brand, manufactures flame-resistant fabrics (Indura, Ultrasoft, DH) for protective workwear, competing head-to-head with GlenGuard FR in the same converter/OEM distribution ecosystem.
• Mount Vernon Mills (FR Fabrics): Mount Vernon Mills produces flame-resistant fabrics under the AmTEX brand for the protective apparel market, competing with GlenGuard in mass-market FR fabric supply to garment converters.
• DuPont (Nomex): DuPont Nomex is the heritage meta-aramid AR/FR fabric brand used across oil & gas, utility, and military applications, directly competing with GlenGuard in the inherent FR fabric category with deeper R&D and upstream fiber control.
• Tencate Protective Fabrics (now part of XAM Metals / Lysander): TenCate Protective Fabrics supplies inherent FR fabrics for military, industrial, and emergency-response applications, overlapping directly with GlenGuard in DuPont/TenCate-spec program competitions.

Emerging players

• Polartec (Milliken): Polartec, now part of Milliken, produces performance/technical fabrics including FR variants, competing with GlenGuard in the broader performance-technical fabric category where moisture management and durability are key.
• Carhartt (Workwear / FR program): Carhartt's FeatherWeight FR Women's Rental line is made with GlenGuard fabric (exclusive to Cintas), positioning Carhartt both as a customer and as a competing brand in FR workwear with proprietary fabric requirements of its own.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glenguardfr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GlenGuard
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlenGuardFR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glenguard
• Instagraminstagram.com/glenguardfr

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 GlenGuard