DRIFIRE
DRIFIRE is a Cleveland-based FR/AR (flame-resistant/arc-rated) protective apparel brand, operating under NSA (National Safety Apparel), serving industrial workers and U.S. defense personnel with work wear, rainwear, hi-vis garments, head/face protection, and accessories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DRIFIRE does
DRIFIRE is a manufacturer of flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) protective apparel operating as a brand under NSA (National Safety Apparel), a privately-held Cleveland-based safety apparel company with origins dating to 1996. The brand produces FR/AR clothing for industrial workers and U.S. defense personnel, with product lines spanning men's and women's FR work wear, FR rainwear, high-visibility FR work wear, FR head and face protection (hoodies, balaclavas, cooling neck gaiters), and accessories including FR sunglasses. Its stated technical differentiator is proprietary FR/AR fabric technology positioned as originally developed for American military applications and adapted for civilian industrial hazardous-environment use, giving the brand a stated dual-vertical exposure across defense and industrial hazardous-job markets.
The business model is B2B industrial sales with a supplementary direct e-commerce channel. Products reach end customers via a 'Where to Buy' purchasing pathway that routes buyers to authorized distribution, alongside direct consumer purchases through the parent company's thinknsa.com storefront. DRIFIRE operates two distinct verticals — Industrial and Defense — within the broader NSA brand portfolio, which also includes ENESPRO, NSA High Heat Industrial, and Wild Things. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and customers are directed to 'Where to Buy' for purchase information. Marketing relies on a multi-platform social presence (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok), email opt-in, and brand-site content marketing. The company maintains a workforce of 11-50 employees and includes a Vice President of Sales; no external investment, private equity, or venture capital backing is indicated, and distribution appears U.S.-domestic in scope.
DRIFIRE is structurally a brand within NSA's diversified safety-apparel group rather than a freestanding independent operating company, holding a registered DRIFIRE trademark and licensing its technology across both defense and industrial hazardous-workwear categories.
DRIFIRE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DRIFIRE
- Legal name
- NSA - National Safety Apparel
- Website
- https://drifire.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DRIFIRE is a Cleveland-based FR/AR (flame-resistant/arc-rated) protective apparel brand, operating under NSA (National Safety Apparel), serving industrial workers and U.S. defense personnel with work wear, rainwear, hi-vis garments, head/face protection, and accessories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DRIFIRE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Protective Workwear
- NAICS
- Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel (CRAAALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)
Keywords
Where DRIFIRE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
DRIFIRE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- FR/AR Clothing Sales: Direct sales of flame resistant and arc rated work wear including men's and women's FR work wear, FR rainwear, hi-vis work wear, head and face protection, and accessories.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
DRIFIRE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DRIFIRE designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) work wear clothing for industrial workers and military/defense personnel. The product portfolio includes men's and women's FR work wear, FR rainwear, hi-vis FR garments, FR head and face protection, and related accessories, built on proprietary FR/AR fabric technology originally developed to protect American troops.
Product overview
DRIFIRE is a high-performance FR/AR (flame-resistant/arc-rated) work wear brand that offers a comprehensive portfolio of protective clothing. The core offering is the DRIFIRE FR/AR Clothing line, which includes men's and women's work wear, rainwear, hi-vis work wear, head and face protection, and accessories. The product line is built on advanced fabric technology designed for industrial and defense applications. The same technology used to protect American troops abroad is adapted for industrial workers at home. The product family spans multiple categories including standard FR work wear, high-visibility FR garments, FR rainwear, and protective accessories like cooling neck gaiters and hoodies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DRIFIRE FR/AR Clothing High-performance flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) work wear clothing line designed for industrial workers and defense personnel, featuring advanced fabric technology that combines comfort and protection in hazardous work environments.
- Men's FR Work Wear
Companies that use DRIFIRE
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DRIFIRE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DRIFIRE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NSA (National Safety Apparel)coreDRIFIRE is a brand portfolio under NSA (National Safety Apparel), which operates multiple protective apparel brands including DRIFIRE, ENESPRO, NSA High Heat Industrial, and Wild Things. The company structure shows DRIFIRE as an integral brand within the NSA family of safety apparel brands.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DRIFIRE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Carhartt: Carhartt is an established workwear incumbent with a growing FR/CAT 2 portfolio serving the same industrial worker base as DRIFIRE. While broader than FR-only, Carhartt competes heavily for shelf space and end-buyer mindshare in the trades and industrial segments.
- Ansell: Ansell is a global PPE manufacturer with overlapping industrial protective apparel and chemical/FR garment offerings. As a broader incumbent, it competes with DRIFIRE on enterprise safety buyer RFPs across multiple PPE categories.
- DuPont Nomex: DuPont's Nomex and Kevlar brands define the underlying FR fiber technology used across much of the FR apparel industry, including DRIFIRE's products. DuPont competes at the fabric and brand level with both Nomex-branded garments and fiber licensing programs.
- Honeywell PPE: Honeywell's Personal Protective Equipment division offers FR garments and broader industrial safety solutions (e.g., Salisbury, North). As a broad safety incumbent with significant R&D and global distribution, it competes with DRIFIRE for enterprise industrial safety contracts.
Direct peers
- National Safety Apparel (NSA): NSA is DRIFIRE's parent company and direct sister-brand operator, also producing FR/AR workwear (NSA High Heat Industrial brand) and electrical safety PPE (ENESPRO). As the portfolio parent, NSA is the closest internal comparator and frames DRIFIRE's strategic positioning.
- Tyndale Company: Tyndale is a leading FR apparel management program provider serving oil & gas, utilities, and petrochemical customers with managed FR clothing rental and purchase programs — directly competing with DRIFIRE for the same industrial FR buyer.
- Lakeland Industries: Lakeland manufactures a broad range of protective apparel including FR garments, chemical protective clothing, and disposable wear, with overlapping industrial worker end markets and a comparable global safety apparel manufacturing model.
- Bulwark Protection: Bulwark is one of the most recognized FR/AR workwear brands in North America, offering men's and women's flame-resistant garments, hi-vis FR, and outerwear — directly competing with DRIFIRE on product category, spec-driven industrial buyers, and distribution through safety distributors.
- Westex by Milliken: Westex (a Milliken brand) is one of the leading FR fabric manufacturers (Indura, Ultrasoft, DH) supplying the FR apparel industry. It competes with DRIFIRE at the fabric layer and via licensee garment programs in the same industrial channels.
Emerging players
- Ariat International: Ariat has expanded from western/work boots into FR workwear and work apparel for industrial and ranch customers, increasingly competing with DRIFIRE in the men's FR workwear category and in western/energy industry channels.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DRIFIRE social profiles
Digital presenceDRIFIRE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DRIFIRE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
DRIFIRE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DRIFIRE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DRIFIRE
What does DRIFIRE do?
DRIFIRE designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) work wear clothing for industrial workers and military/defense personnel. The product portfolio includes men's and women's FR work wear, FR rainwear, hi-vis FR garments, FR head and face protection, and related accessories, built on proprietary FR/AR fabric technology originally developed to protect American troops.
Is DRIFIRE a public or private company?
DRIFIRE is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DRIFIRE founded?
DRIFIRE was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DRIFIRE based?
DRIFIRE is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does DRIFIRE make money?
One revenue line is on record: FR/AR Clothing Sales.
Who are DRIFIRE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Carhartt, Ansell, DuPont Nomex and Honeywell PPE. Direct peers are National Safety Apparel (NSA), Tyndale Company, Lakeland Industries, Bulwark Protection and Westex by Milliken. Ariat International is listed as an emerging player.
Does DRIFIRE have an API?
No public API is recorded for DRIFIRE.
What industry is DRIFIRE in?
DRIFIRE's product category is Protective Workwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAALAD, Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel, with a secondary code of IMAOAFAH, Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories). Its NAICS code is 315 and its SIC code is 2320.