Overview
Silver reflective fabric built on a 190T polyester taffeta backing. It is the lowest-cost route to a bright, hard-wearing reflective surface, which is why it is the default for high-volume workwear and safety garments.
190T is a coarser weave than a 380T nylon, so the surface is firmer and holds its shape under a seam instead of draping. On a vest or a trouser leg that is an advantage: the panel stays flat, the edges do not curl, and the trim reads as a solid band rather than a soft strip.
Specification
- Backing fabric: 190T polyester taffeta
- Reflectivity: over 330 cd/(lx·m²)
- Width: up to 140 cm (55 in)
- Hand feel: Firm, not as soft as outer-shell fabrics
- Certification targets: EN 20471, ANSI 107, CSA-Z96
What you are actually buying at this price point
The cost sits in the backing, not the reflective layer — the same silver chemistry is used across the range. So the question is not whether this reflects less, it is what the cheaper base costs you in handling. A firm taffeta is easier to cut, easier to sew at speed and less prone to distortion in production, which is why it survives as the default on volume programmes. What it will not do is disappear into a premium garment: it feels like workwear, because it is.
Typical use
Hi-vis vests and jackets, safety trousers, uniform trim and any programme where cost per square metre matters more than drape.
It is also the practical choice where the reflective elements are numerous and small — piping, banding, hem strips — because a firm base keeps a narrow strip straight along its whole length.
What to confirm before ordering
- Target market: this grade lists EN 20471, ANSI 107 and CSA-Z96, so one grade can serve three markets — but confirm the class you need, not just the standard.
- Width and slitting: up to 140 cm, or slit to trim width.
- Stiffness tolerance: if the garment is designed to drape, this base will fight it — consider the nylon taffeta instead.
- Attachment: sewn; the firm base takes a high-speed seam well.
- Wash cycle: domestic or industrial, stated up front.
Compliance note
EN ISO 20471 requires at least 330 cd/(lx·m²) from the retroreflective material, and the over 330 grade stated here meets that floor. The standard certifies the finished garment, not the fabric — construction, background material, and the area and placement of reflective elements are assessed together.
Because this grade lists EN 20471, ANSI 107 and CSA-Z96 together, it is the practical base when one stock has to serve several markets. Confirm the required class and the destination before fixing it, since the three schemes are not interchangeable.
Related formats
For a softer, quieter premium hand on the same bright surface, see Silver Reflective Fabric on Nylon Taffeta. For stretch garments, Four-Way Stretch Reflective Fabric. Garment-level guidance at Reflective Fabric for PPE.
Samples and lead time
A4 swatches are free so your team can measure retroreflection, hand feel and colour before committing. Standard lead time is 2–4 weeks from order confirmation.
