The Bulwark® brand recently earned a "Top Innovator" award for its MPU 2 base layer. Presented by Apparel magazine, the annual awards recognize businesses that excel in resourcefulness, creativity and innovation.

New for 2010, the MPU 2 (multifunctional protection undergarment) is a short-sleeved, flame-resistant shirt. The product earned praise for its innovative design, which was developed through consultations with participants in the International Lineman's Rodeo, an event for power and electrical wire safety workers. The consultations led Bulwark's Product Development Team to design a shirt with gusseted underarms, which provide ease of mobility and protect against chaffing. Made from 100 percent cotton, the MPU 2 offers a softness not typically found in flame-resistant products. It can be worn under the brand's woven shirts for increased protection against electrical arcs - a dangerous electrical breakdown of gas that presents a hazard for electrical workers.   

This year marks the second that a brand in VF Corporation's Imagewear coalition has won a "Top Innovator" award. In 2009, The Force® brand earned the award for its Enforcer jacket, a wind-proof and waterproof jacket with removable insulation that makes it versatile enough for law enforcement officers to wear year-round and meets key end-user needs of traditional styling in the day and hidden panels that provide a quick transformation for high visibility at night.