Specifying retroreflective tape for night work
Tape width, placement and backing decide how a vest performs after washing. A short checklist before you approve a sample.
Retroreflective tape is not a single material. Glass-bead tape, width and backing all change how a garment reads at night, and how it survives repeated washing. Before approving a sample, confirm the tape width against the garment class you are targeting, and check whether the tape is sewn on or applied with adhesive backing.
Placement matters as much as the tape itself. Body bands, shoulder stripes and X-back layouts each serve a different viewing angle. On road works, the rear view is the one drivers see first, which is why two-tone vests usually carry a taped X-back rather than a single waist band.
Ask for the tape lot reference with your sample. When the bulk run uses a different lot, a side-by-side check under the same light keeps the appearance consistent across the order.