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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2003
-- Flexible system of innovative work clothing brings safety, professionalism and comfort to professional electricians, plumbers, construction and building contractors --
Skillers Workwear introduces a revolutionary concept in work clothing: A flexible system of integrated work wear to meet the unique
safety, function, comfort and style needs of skilled professional electricians, plumbers, carpenters and construction and building contractors. Founded in 1972 in Sweden by an electrician who got "mad as hell" at the shortcomings of traditional work wear so he decided to design his own, today the company is #1 throughout Europe.
"Skillers Workwear is all about innovation," says Matti Viio, founder and president. "Skillers Workwear uniquely protects the well-being and livelihood of contractors by addressing on-the-job safety issues such as the physical strain of carrying tools as well as the stresses caused by demanding and repetitive actions. Skillers clothes are the "Tools of the Trade" of professional contractors."
These benefits appeal to both individuals and employers. More and
more small and medium size companies, as well a larger corporations are turning to Skillers Workwear to protect the safety of their workforce, enhance their professional appearance and reinforce their corporate identity.
The Skillers Story Skillers Workwear (www.skillers.com) is the brainchild of former electrician Matti Viio. From 1959 to 1972 he worked as an electrician. Technologically a great deal happened during those years - materials and tools evolved, as did working methods. But one thing never changed: work
clothing. They remained the same as in the mid-nineteenth century. Matti felt that they might have been fine in those days, but more than one hundred years of progress had changed work demands. It was clear to him that work clothes failed to fill modern requirements concerning function, comfort and design. He suggested changes to many manufactures but none of them showed any interest in the workers real needs.
In the end, Matti got "mad as hell," went home and designed his own clothes as a protest against the established work clothing industry. He wanted to show that workers have pride and know-how, and demand the same respect as all other groups in society. Matti presented his designs to clothing makers, but, was turned downed by everyone he approached. After many attempts, Matti found a small manufacturer willing to produce his first design. Other contractors who saw Matti wearing these garments on the job wanted the work wear for themselves. Matti complied and for years literally sold his own work wear designs out of the trunk of his car - in addition to working his day job as an electrician. Always improving his designs based on his conversations with and the requests of on-the-job contractors, Matti's sales grew. His promise was this: to provide quality work clothes tailored to suit the specific needs of individual tradesmen - at a reasonable price.
Now, nearly 30 years later, Skillers Workwear - known as Snickers in Europe where it is the market leader (Snickers is similar to the Swedish word for "carpenter") - is worn by hundreds of
thousands of people around the world in almost every trade imaginable. Now, for the benefit of American skilled professionals, Matti Viio has brought his entrepreneurial spirit and his innovative work wear to the U.S. market.
Skillers Workwear: A System of Better Work Wear
Skillers Workwear's unique system delivers protection, function, comfort and strength - all with a smart stylish design:
-- Protection and Safety. Addressing protection and safety issues
are the primary focus of Skillers Workwear. Designs address
the physical strain of carrying tools, and stress from demanding and repetitive actions. Skillers Workwear offers
patented lightweight, flexible, anatomical, breathable kneepads, which easily slide into the Skillers pants,
encouraging wearers to "insert & forget." Because the pad fits
into the pants workers do not have to continually take the pad
on and off, or worry about awkward, uncomfortable straps. This
makes the workers job a lot more comfortable and offers
long-term knee protection. The Skillers work wear system also
replaces traditional tool belts with the ingeniously designed
"tool vests" and provides the worker with an interchangeable
winter range for cold climates.
-- Function. Skillers' flexi-system helps workers individualize work wear to suit their own personal needs. This system of
belt, yoke, harness, suspenders and several pouches helps
workers carry the weight of tools and equipment evenly, thus
lessening the fatigue and lower back pain caused from carrying
weight on the hips. The system of pouches also works with the
garments allowing them to be interchangeable.
-- Comfort and Strength. Skillers on-going introduction of new
materials in blends of cotton, and poly/cotton proves that
work clothing doesn't need to be stiff to be strong, Skillers
garments are softer and more comfortable to wear with just as
much or even more strength than traditional work wear.
-- Smart and stylish design. Matti strongly believes that
contractors are professionals whose personal pride demands a
professional look. As a result, Skillers Workwear leads the
industry in style and design. Additionally, more and more
companies are outfitting their own professionals to both
promote the enhancement of corporate reputations and to help
to allay security concerns by customers.
Skillers Workwear's signature products include:
-- Skillers 8 Pocket Work Pants offer Holster Pockets for tools
and top-loading kneepad pockets for Skillers line of patented,
lightweight, anatomical kneepads;
-- Skillers 12 Pocket Tool Vest eliminates the stress and strain
of traditional belts and harnesses and puts all tools within
easy reach to accomplish the task at hand;
-- Skillers 14 Pocket Bib Overall combines the benefits of the
Holster Pocket Pants and Tool Vest into one garment; and
-- Skillers Flexi-System enables contractors to individualize
work wear with a belt, yoke, harness, suspenders and several
pouches that evenly spread the weight of tools and equipment,
lessening fatigue and lower back pain.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with a distribution facility in Butler, Penn., Skillers Workwear's entire product line can be easily purchased online at its web site, www.skillers.com.
About Skillers Workwear
Skillers Workwear introduces a revolutionary concept in work clothing: A flexible system of integrated work wear designed to meet the specific needs of skilled professional construction and building contractors, plumbers and electricians. Matti Viio a former electrician himself, founded the company in 1972 in Sweden when he got "mad as
hell" at the shortcomings of traditional work wear and designed his own work clothing. Thirty years later, the company known throughout Europe as Snickers, has entered the U.S. market as Skillers Workwear to bring innovative work wear to American contractors. Skillers Workwear is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. and can be reached at 617-547-7477 or at www.skillers.com
Notes to Editors:
-- Matti Viio is available for interviews
-- Product photos/images are available for publication
-- Contact: Don Goncalves, 617-681-1239 or Shelly Outwater,
617-681-1246
Note: Photos available at URL: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.061603/bb11
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