Outfitting Women in Mining

Women in mining continuously push boundaries to prove their intelligence, work ethic and ability to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Plenty of women have gained an industry-wide respect as they climb corporate ladders to land positions of power. Thanks to guiding mentors, a motivation to move forward, and supportive coworkers challenging stereotypes, women have finally begun to make a mark in the mining industry.

Still, there are hurdles along the way. A challenge that most women in mining face is, surprisingly, improperly fitted clothing. Though it seems to be a simple enough problem to solve, poorly fitted clothing regularly pains women working in the field. Women on job sites are forced to wear men’s boots, pants and shirts. These women are left feeling uncomfortable each day; discomfort makes work in any industry difficult. Alongside feelings of discomfort are emotional pressures to “fit in,” as well as an underlying safety issue—loosely fitted clothing is dangerous for workers in high-risk positions.

Tiga Workwear was born from the ideas of two women living and working out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Their goal is to help women feel comfortable and protected working in a predominantly male industry. “Being the only woman working at some of these operations, there’s enough to worry about without having to worry about what you wear,” chairwoman and co-founder, Alison Farrell, explained. “You want to fit in and look like you’re meant to be there.” Farrell, and her co-founder Susan Rubin, have worked at mining and energy sites around the globe, which usually entails working in remote locations. “I’ve always found it difficult to find women’s workwear—particularly boots,” said Farrell. Only men’s boots are available to the workers onsite. “While they do have smaller sizes, they are not designed for women,” she said. The men’s boots that women wear are often too large, forcing many women to wear multiple pairs of socks just to help the boots stay on their feet. Despite the steadily growing number of women in mining, appropriate clothing remains a problem.

Tiga Workwear helps outfit women in mining with safe, comfortable and stylish work boots. Cofounders Susan Rubin and Alison Farrell are the masterminds behind the design. — Photo courtesy Tiga Workwear

While some women feel good in pink work boots, others chase after only a proper fit. Women in mining want to look like they belong and to be able to demonstrate their expertise alongside their male counterparts.

Aside from looking the part, Tiga Workwear designs and develops boots that meet industry standards. The company spent an entire year researching and developing a composite toe safety boot that is both CSA-approved (Canada) and ASTM-compliant (United States). These high-quality boots are sold online only, but are shipped to some of the most remote areas in the world. The boots contain no metal, therefore are lighter weight than standard steel-toe boots, and more resistant to the cold. Tiga Workwear offers women in mining a balance between style and fitted protection.

“Safety first, last, and always!” Farrell stressed.

The key to success for a woman in the industry is balance: a balance between blending in and showing your personality. “You don’t want to stand out, but you still want to represent the fact that you’re a woman, and you’re an individual,” Farrell said. Tiga Workwear’s high-end boots balance style, strength and comfort designed for women.

Both Rubin and Farrell had worked in the mining industry for years before launching Tiga Workwear. Tiga provides women’s apparel built by women: “We understand what women want,” Farrell said. The goal is not for female workers to stand out for style, but for their strength in a position. “You want to be noticed for doing your job properly,” Farrell said.

For now, Tiga Workwear is focused on its carefully crafted women’s work boots, but has plans for the future. “We would like to produce work pants and shirts for women,” Farrell said. 

These key wardrobe pieces have always been difficult to source in female sizes. Tiga’s work boots are suitable for all positions in the trades and construction—all women deserve to feel comfortable, protected and stylish while on the job.

Connect with Tiga Workwear to join the conversation of outfitting women in mining, or to grab
a pair of boots for yourself. If your company is interested in setting up a corporate partnership to
supply safety boots for female employees email [email protected].

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