Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/144260
BLACKHAWK! Women's Strenia Top #2 Plenty of Women's Apparel There is a small amount of gear available for women relative to what is available for men. And much of it is outdated or never worked to begin with. There are numerous companies that make men's uniform pants and have been doing so for many, many years. Conversely, companies are just now starting to make a uniform pant just for women or adjusting the cut of the traditional women's pant. The original women's uniform pant had an extremely high waist that was neither functional nor comfortable. The abnormally high waist affects one's holster draw and the cut of one's ballistic vest. Ballistic vests are measured from the top of the pant waistband to the bottom of your neck. Most women's vests end up being cut way too short, dangerously short in fact. The ballistic vest is another category that is severely lacking in options for women; only a handful of companies are addressing a women's ft. Anatomically, women are much different than men and therefore require gear that is made specifcally for them. Thankfully, uniform companies are starting to pay attention to these issues. #3 Females are a Small Market According to a study done by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) titled "Women in Law Enforcement, 1987–2008", women comprise almost 20 percent of law enforcement in the United States alone. That market share is plenty for any company to invest some research and development dollars into quality products for women. And those numbers don't include international or military. #4 Women are Too Hard to Fit Women's bodies can defnitely run the gamut as far as shapes and sizes, but if the fashion world can do it, so can uniform companies. Sizing charts and patterns are already in existence; there is no need to reinvent the wheel. #5 Women Want Their Own Gear Functionality, ft and form—in that order—are what women want when it comes to gear, not style and aesthetics. Above all else, the gear must function as intended to especially when it comes to lifethreatening situations or training for such situations. Try it once; if it fails, it will never be used again. BLACKHAWK! Women's Tactical Handbag Fit is extremely important and affects functionality. Take the women's uniform pant from approximately 10 years ago with a very high waistband as an example. When going to draw your weapon, you end up in a very unnatural and strained position due to how high the holster sits on the waist. Fit affects functionality. "Form follows function" is a famous quote by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright referring to the structures he built—they needed to work frst and then he made them look good. The same goes for gear. Make it function and then work on the aesthetics. It isn't a bad thing to want to look good in your gear—it just shouldn't be one's frst priority. Although most people will agree that if you look good, you feel good. BLACKHAWK! Women's Apparel BLACKHAWK! recently debuted their full women's line at the SHOT show in Las Vegas. Aysha Webb, frearms instructor and jazz singer, is the brand's spokesperson. BLACKHAWK! was started by former Navy SEAL, Mike Noell, after he experienced equipment issues during his deployment in Iraq. His pack failed in enemy territory and he vowed to return to the U.S. and manufacture quality gear. He did just that and has been doing so since 1994. With that same thinking, it makes sense that BLACKHAWK! would address the lack of women's tactical gear. Larry Hart, senior product line manager for BLACKHAWK! conducted many focus groups that were inline with the common misconceptions noted earlier. "Many women related they had to modify men's garments to make them work," Hart said. "We wanted to create a line that offered options women could not get from the men's line in nice, comfortable fabrics that accentuate a women's body." The line is ambitious for BLACKHAWK! who has only carried men's apparel up until now. The marketing for the new tactical line states: "The BLACKHAWK! Women's Apparel line is designed to meeting the unique needs of today's tactical woman. We have thoughtfully combined the functionality and performance of our men's wear with the cut, ft and features needed by our female customers to help them perform at their best." The line includes on- and off-duty clothing and gear including belts, bags and other accessories and even workout gear and boots. Some of the standout products are the lightweight www.lawandordermag.com 47