Have you ever wondered how female patternmaking in police uniforms has evolved? To answer this question, we must first look back at the incorporation of women into Spain’s National Police force, a relatively recent development.
In 1979, 42 women entered the force as inspectors, but it wasn’t until 1984 that 53 women joined the Basic Scale and wore the uniform for the first time. This was a significant step forward, but it also brought new challenges: adapting the clothing to the female form. The need for this became even more evident with the enactment of the State Security Forces and Corps Law in 1986, aimed at promoting equality in both uniforms and services.
And today? Although there is still work to be done, the presence of women in the National Police Corps (CNP) continues to grow. By 2022, women made up around 17% of the force, with 11,839 active female officers out of a total of more than 70,000 personnel. Moreover, the Ministry of the Interior has set a goal that by 2030, 40% of new intakes into the National Police and the Civil Guard will be women.
In this context, it is essential to keep improving the uniforms. Throughout this article, we explain the importance of tailoring patterns for the female body and the work that Partenon has done over more than 25 years. Let’s get started!
The Importance of Female Patternmaking in Police Uniforms
Men’s police uniforms don’t fit the female body well, which is why it’s crucial to have a specific patternmaking process for women. This goes beyond mere aesthetics; it’s a matter of functionality, comfort, and, most importantly, safety. A well-fitted design allows female officers to perform their duties efficiently and on equal footing with their male counterparts.
In this context, female patternmaking in police uniforms provides the following advantages:
- Comfort: A well-fitted uniform offers more comfort during long work shifts, reducing fatigue and improving performance.
- Freedom of Movement: Proper design ensures that female officers can move easily in all tasks, even in demanding situations like chases or physical interventions.
- Safety: Female patternmaking ensures that uniforms fulfill their role in protecting officers. An example? A poorly fitting motorcycle suit could cause knee or back protectors to be out of place, rendering them useless in an accident. Similarly, a bulletproof vest that doesn’t account for the female body may not adequately protect vital areas.
- Professionalism: A uniform tailored to the female body helps project a more professional image, improving public perception and confidence in female officers.

Partenon, Leading the Way in Female Patternmaking for Police Uniforms
Adapting police uniforms to the female anatomy has been a gradual process, and Partenon has been at the forefront of this transformation for the past 25 years.
And how was this process? Although initially, it was an occasional demand, limited to specific garments or clients, over time, this changed thanks to the growing number of women in the force. These requests became a widespread need, and in 2012, Partenon committed to developing female patternmaking across a wide range of models.
The Design of Female Police Uniforms at Partenon
All garments are developed to the highest quality standards, ensuring an optimal finish that allows officers to work with maximum efficiency. To achieve this, we follow two key principles:
- Analysis: We evaluate both the design and the different fabrics used to create an initial pattern.
- Field Tests: First conducted internally, and then with clients, to assess how the new design performs in real-life situations and various conditions of use. These tests consider both the female morphology and different sizes, ensuring that the final result offers functionality, safety, and comfort. They are also critical for analyzing the behavior of the new design.
A Next-Generation Sizing System
Once the patterns are developed, size calculation is crucial. At Partenon, we use a custom sizing method created exclusively by the company’s R&D department, which is further enhanced by the use of physical samples during the sizing process and a barcode-based traceability system that assigns the size to the user from the moment their size is tested until the final order is shipped.
What did you think of this post about female patternmaking in police uniforms? We hope you found it helpful and that it helps you understand its evolution over the years, as well as the work Partenon has done.