What Leo Workwear does

Leo Workwear, trading as Leo Textiles Limited, is a privately held UK manufacturer of high-visibility safety workwear, headquartered in Barnstaple, Devon, and in continuous operation since 1981. The company designs and sells ISO 20471-certified hi-vis garments organized across a layering system (base, mid, outer, lower body, waistcoats), with a flagship EcoViz line that combines 70% GRS-certified recycled polyester with 30% DuPont Sorona plant-based polymer and uses heat-applied segmented chevron reflective tape. Auxiliary lines include UV-U-SEE (specialized UV visibility) and a dedicated women's range featuring hijabs, maternity expanders, and modesty tunics.

The business model is B2B and trade-focused: the company's e-commerce site operates with a trade login/registration system, MOQ-of-1 and box-quantity ordering (typically 10 units), and direct shipment from a single UK distribution point. Pricing is not publicly displayed; trade-account pricing is granted on registration, with a billing cadence implied monthly. Public revenue, headcount, and ownership details are not disclosed. Marketing reaches the market through the website, a newsletter, and social channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo), while institutional credibility is reinforced through ARTSM and BSIF memberships and SGS and GRS third-party certifications.

Strategic positioning centers on sustainability credentials layered onto compliance-grade safety workwear, with recycled zippers (YKK Natulon) and detachable mono-material buttons to support circular-economy claims. The company has no disclosed external investors, no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no public funding rounds; operating geographies are domestic UK only. Customer concentration and named logos are not disclosed, leaving the trade-account base largely opaque from public sources.

Name

Leo Workwear

Legal name

Leo Textiles Limited

Website

https://leoworkwear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leo Workwear is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of ISO 20471-certified high-visibility safety workwear, selling its EcoViz sustainable line (recycled polyester and Sorona polymer) plus women's and UV-visibility ranges to trade and corporate buyers via a B2B e-commerce platform from Barnstaple.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Visibility Safety Workwear

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (315250)

SIC

Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Workwear, Uniform & Protective Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAH), Workwear, Uniforms & Safety Apparel Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAC)

Keywords

• High-visibility workwear
• Safety clothing
• Recycled workwear
• Reflective apparel
• Industrial workwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnstaple

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Workwear Garment Sales: One-time sale of high-visibility workwear garments including trousers, jackets, polo shirts, and safety clothing. Products are sold with minimum order quantities and box quantities to trade customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leo Workwear manufactures and sells high-visibility safety workwear garments including trousers, jackets, anoraks, polo shirts, t-shirts, base layers, and waistcoats, organized around its EcoViz sustainable line built on 70% recycled polyester with Sorona plant-based polymer and heat-applied segmented reflective tape. Products are certified to ISO 20471 Class 1 and Class 3 and to 50 wash cycles, and are sold via a B2B trade login system with minimum order quantities and box-quantity packaging. The company also offers a specialized women's workwear range and the UV-U-SEE line for UV visibility applications.

Product overview

Leo Workwear is a UK-based workwear company specializing in high-visibility safety clothing. The product portfolio is organized around its core EcoViz sustainable workwear line, which uses recycled polyester and Sorona plant-based materials combined with reflective tape technology. The company offers a complete workwear range organized by layering system: Outer Layer (jackets, coats), Mid Layer (softshell jackets, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, bodywarmers), Base Layer (thermal garments), Lower Body (cargo trousers, stretch trousers), and Waistcoats/Vests. The EcoViz brand represents the flagship technology featuring 70% recycled materials certified to 50 wash cycles, while the UV-U-SEE line addresses specialized UV visibility needs. Products like WINSFORD and WINSWELL cargo trousers, HAWKCOMBE and HAWKRIDGE stretch trousers, and various outerwear pieces (BOWDEN, EASTLEIGH, WESTLEIGH, CHERISTOW) make up the core range, with dedicated women's collections featuring specialized fits and modesty options. All products integrate high-visibility reflective elements meeting ISO 20471 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EcoViz EcoViz is Leo Workwear's core sustainable high-visibility workwear line featuring recycled polyester fabrics and Sorona plant-based polymer materials, incorporating heat-applied reflective tape for visibility and certified to 50 wash cycles. Flagship sustainable high-visibility workwear line built on 70% recycled polyester (GRS certified) and 30% Sorona plant-based polymer with heat-applied reflective tape certified to 50 wash cycles.
• UV-U-SEE UV-U-SEE is a specialized workwear line featuring UV visibility technology for enhanced protection in outdoor working conditions. Specialized workwear line with UV visibility technology for enhanced outdoor worker protection.
• WINSFORD Leo EcoViz Lightweight Polyester Stretch Cargo Trouser Men's cargo trousers made from 70% Stretch EcoViz recycled polyester and 30% Sorona plant-based polymer at 215gsm, featuring heat-applied segmented chevron reflective tape, YKK recycled PET Natulon zip, and certified to ISO 20471 Class 1 and 50 wash cycles. Men's high-visibility cargo trouser with Stretch EcoViz recycled fabric, segmented chevron reflective tape, and ISO 20471 Class 1 certification.
• WINSWELL Leo EcoViz Women's Lightweight Polyester Stretch Cargo Trouser Women's cargo trousers featuring lightweight stretch fabric with EcoViz recycled materials and heat-applied segmented chevron reflective tape, available in sizes 6-26. Women's high-visibility cargo trouser with Stretch EcoViz recycled fabric and segmented chevron reflective tape, available in sizes 6–26.
• HAWKCOMBE Leo EcoViz High Performance Ballistic Stretch Trouser High-performance ballistic stretch trouser from the EcoViz line featuring advanced stretch materials for optimal freedom of movement in demanding work environments. High-performance ballistic stretch trouser engineered for freedom of movement in demanding work environments.
• HAWKRIDGE Leo EcoViz High Performance 4X Stretch Trouser High-performance 4X stretch trouser with EcoViz technology providing maximum flexibility and visibility for workwear applications. High-performance 4X stretch trouser offering maximum flexibility and high-visibility for workwear applications.
• GEORGEHAM Leo EcoViz COOLMAX High Performance Sleeved Polo Shirt Performance polo shirt incorporating COOLMAX technology for moisture management and comfort, featuring EcoViz high-visibility reflective elements. Performance sleeved polo shirt combining COOLMAX moisture management with EcoViz high-visibility reflective elements.
• CHERISTOW Leo EcoViz 4K Women's Baffle Lined Anorak Women's anorak jacket with baffle lining and 4K waterproof rating from the EcoViz line, designed for female workers requiring visibility and weather protection. Women's baffle-lined anorak with 4K waterproof rating and EcoViz high-visibility for cold, wet outdoor work.
• FORDA Leo EcoViz Performance+ Dual Colour T-Shirt Performance+ dual colour t-shirt from the EcoViz line offering enhanced visibility through dual-tone design with reflective elements. Dual-colour Performance+ t-shirt with EcoViz reflective elements for enhanced visibility workwear applications.
• EASTLEIGH Leo EcoViz 10K Performance Breathable Anorak Breathable anorak jacket rated at 10K for waterproof performance, featuring EcoViz technology for high-visibility work applications. Breathable anorak with 10K waterproof rating and EcoViz high-visibility features for demanding outdoor work.
• WESTLEIGH Leo EcoViz 10K Performance Breathable Overtrouser Breathable overtrouser with 10K waterproof rating and EcoViz high-visibility features for layering over work clothing. Breathable 10K waterproof overtrouser with EcoViz high-visibility features for layering over base work clothing.
• BOWDEN Leo EcoViz Performance+ Softshell Jacket Performance+ softshell jacket from the EcoViz line offering wind and water resistance with enhanced stretch properties for active work. Performance+ softshell jacket with EcoViz stretch fabric providing wind and water resistance for active outdoor work.
• Women's Workwear Range Comprehensive women's workwear collection including hijabs, anoraks, jackets, sweatshirts, softshell jackets, bodywarmers, coveralls, polo shirts, t-shirts, modesty tunics, cargo trousers, stretch trousers, overtrousers, waistcoats, sleeved waistcoats, and maternity expanders. Specialized women's workwear collection with proper fits and items such as hijabs, modesty tunics, and maternity expanders for female industrial workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified to 50 wash cycles - durability of reflective properties and garment integrity

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YKKcoreTechnology or IntegrationYKK provides recycled PET Natulon zippers and mono-material buttons for Leo Workwear garments. The mono-material buttons are designed to be detachable during the recycling process, supporting circular economy initiatives.
• EcoVizcoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoViz is the proprietary recycled polyester technology used in Leo Workwear products. EcoViz recycled polyester contains 70% recycled materials and is certified by GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
• SoronacoreTechnology or IntegrationSorona plant-based polymer from DuPont is used as a key material component (30%) in Leo Workwear's Stretch EcoViz fabric, providing stretch properties while reducing environmental footprint.
• SGScoreTechnology or IntegrationSGS certification body provides third-party verification and certification services for Leo Workwear products. Multiple SGS certification marks appear on the website footer.
• Global Recycled Standard (GRS)coreTechnology or IntegrationGRS certification for recycled content verification in EcoViz yarns used in Leo Workwear products. Certifies that materials meet recycled content standards.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Projob Workwear: Scandinavian-focused workwear brand with hi-vis and functional outerwear sold through trade channels. Comparable product mix to Leo but with Nordic distribution emphasis.

Direct peers

• Portwest: Ireland/UK-headquartered manufacturer of workwear, hi-visibility clothing, and PPE with global distribution. Most direct comparable to Leo given overlapping ISO 20471 hi-vis range and B2B trade model.
• Scruffs: UK workwear brand focused on tradespeople, with comparable stretch and lightweight trouser offerings and trade distribution. Closely aligned on target buyer and product positioning.
• Mascot International: Danish workwear manufacturer selling through B2B trade to European markets, with comparable breadth across trousers, jackets, and hi-vis segments. Direct competitor in stretch workwear and B2B trade.
• Snickers Workwear: European workwear brand focused on tradespeople with strong stretch-fabric and trouser categories. Comparable to Leo on functional men's workwear, stretch fabric technology, and B2B trade distribution.
• Pulsar (Pulsar Lifesaving Equipment): UK-based manufacturer of hi-visibility clothing and PPE sold through trade channels. Direct peer in the hi-vis sub-segment with comparable certification and B2B trade model.

Broad incumbents

• Arco: UK-based safety equipment distributor and manufacturer supplying PPE, workwear, and hi-vis products to industrial buyers. Overlaps with Leo's hi-vis category as part of a much broader safety catalogue.
• Dickies: Global workwear brand owned by VF Corporation covering trousers, outerwear, and hi-vis products. Comparable end markets to Leo but operates at broader scale across both consumer and B2B channels.
• Helly Hansen Workwear: Norwegian workwear and offshore/PPE brand offering hi-vis and outerwear for industrial and maritime customers. Comparable in functional outerwear and safety standards, with broader international scale.
• 3M Personal Safety Division: Global PPE and safety equipment giant whose workwear and reflective materials compete in the hi-vis category. Comparable on safety certification but operates with vastly broader portfolio and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZV9Yhl3L_EPokqgepA05Wg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leo-workwear
• Instagraminstagram.com/leoworkwear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Leo Workwear