PRE Labs of Canada: A Leader in Body Armour Made from Performance Fabrics
With more than four decades of deep-rooted experience in the global security and defence sector, Canadian entrepreneur Brad Field has emerged as a pivotal figure in the evolution of advanced protective textiles. As the founder of PRE Labs, Field has successfully translated decades of technical insight, industry foresight, and operational leadership into a company positioned at the forefront of next-generation protective materials, at a time when global demand for lighter, stronger, and more resilient solutions continues to rise.
The global protective textiles and advanced materials market has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, driven by the growing need for high-performance body armour, chemical and biological protection, and advanced defence-grade equipment. Recognising this shift nearly ten years ago, Field identified a strategic gap where innovation, material science, and certified North American manufacturing could converge. This vision led to the establishment of PRE Labs, a company built to capitalise on the accelerating development of performance textiles and advanced material technologies.
PRE Labs’ product portfolio is firmly rooted in textile-based innovation, reflecting the broader evolution of defence and security materials. The company works extensively with ballistic fabrics such as Kevlar®, widely recognised for their high tensile strength and critical role in modern body armour systems. Alongside this, PRE Labs utilises advanced coated fabrics designed to repel both solids and liquids, enabling the development of lightweight chemical and biological protective ensembles that meet stringent operational requirements. In the hard armour space, the company leverages resin-based fabrics such as ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a material known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and increasing adoption in military and law enforcement applications worldwide.
Designing body armour that is comfortable is as challenging as designing it to stop bullets and knives. This is where our extensive knowledge of how to properly size you for a vest; how to convert your measurements into accurate armour panel shapes; and what materials to use in making the armour panels and carriers, all comes into play. We have spent years analyzing human body shapes and sizes in order to develop complex algorithms, which we use to optimize your armour panel shapes. Our algorithms also help us identify incorrect measurements so the likelihood that you will require an alteration to your armour is exceedingly low.
Field’s leadership philosophy reflects the realities of operating in a technically complex and highly regulated industry. Beyond recognising market opportunities, he emphasises that an effective chief executive must possess, or be willing to acquire, a broad and adaptable skill set. Leadership, financial discipline, strategic communication, and negotiation are not optional competencies but essential tools for navigating the demands of modern manufacturing and innovation-driven enterprises. At PRE Labs, this multifaceted leadership approach supports responsibilities that span financial oversight, talent acquisition, product development, and long-term technology strategy.
Central to Field’s success is a pragmatic understanding of organisational dynamics and risk management. He consistently highlights the importance of building teams composed of individuals with superior expertise, fostering an environment where technical excellence and informed decision-making thrive. Equally critical is an inherent willingness to take calculated risks, balanced by the agility to adapt when outcomes diverge from expectations. In an industry shaped by evolving threats, regulatory shifts, and rapid technological change, adaptability is not merely advantageous but essential.
Field also underscores the strategic value of industry knowledge as a determinant of long-term success. In sectors such as advanced textiles and protective equipment, a CEO’s ability to grasp technical challenges, competitive pressures, and emerging trends directly influences a company’s resilience and growth trajectory. An informed leadership perspective enables the development of robust strategies that anticipate market demands rather than react to them, often marking the difference between sustained success and operational failure.
Addressing broader industry trends, Field offers candid guidance to those considering careers in textiles. While globalisation has placed considerable pressure on traditional North American textile manufacturing, he notes that opportunities remain strong within specialised, high-value segments such as advanced and protective materials. These niches are characterised by high barriers to entry, minimal offshore competition, and stringent sourcing requirements. PRE Labs deliberately positioned itself within the protective products sector, where customers—particularly government and defence agencies in the United States and Canada—demand domestically manufactured products, certified materials, and raw inputs that comply with “Made in America” and North American sourcing standards.
This strategic alignment with government certification requirements and domestic manufacturing mandates has enabled PRE Labs to operate within a stable and security-focused customer base, reinforcing the company’s long-term relevance in defence, law enforcement, and emergency response markets. As geopolitical uncertainty and security preparedness continue to shape procurement priorities globally, demand for certified, high-performance protective materials is expected to remain robust.
Beyond his professional commitments, Field maintains a balanced lifestyle, dedicating time to personal interests and family, including his grandchildren. This balance reflects a broader leadership ethos that values sustainability not only in business operations but also in personal and professional longevity.
Through PRE Labs, Brad Field exemplifies how experience, technical mastery, and strategic clarity can converge to create a resilient enterprise in one of the world’s most demanding industries. His journey underscores the enduring importance of innovation-driven manufacturing, informed leadership, and strategic positioning in shaping the future of advanced protective textiles.
PRE Labs Inc.
100-2600 Enterprise Way | Kelowna, BC V1X 7Y5 | Canada
Toll-Free: 1-877-435-7360 | Phone: 1-778-753-6539
