Brunt Workwear in North Reading, Mass.

One of the fastest-growing brands in apparel and footwear isn’t in fast fashion or athleisurewear. It is a company making safety-compliant workboots and water-resistant cargo pants.

Brunt Workwear sells footwear and clothes to tradespeople such as mechanics, builders and electricians. It tinkers with toe boxes, sponsors ranchers for bull-riding events and uses fabric that is more flexible to accommodate preferences for more functional fits.