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Local Dallas company Be Seen has launched a line of performance apparel that is stylish, comfortable and highly reflective. When training outside, one of the key safety rules is to Be Seen. Until now, all hi visibility clothing resembled a traffic cone. Be Seen’s products have safety at their core, without skimping on style or performance.
Company co-founder, Eric Fenstermacher, never fails to remind his new wife and co-founder, Lisa, to “Be Seen”. He makes sure this term of endearment is the last thing she hears before going on a run, or a ride, or a quick trip to the grocery store on her bicycle. Both are competitive age-group triathletes living in Lakewood, and spend significant time training on the roads around North Texas and White Rock Lake.
Eric and Lisa would like to bring stories of accomplishment to the forefront. They founded Be Seen with the vision of having the broader community embrace the reminder to be seen by those around you. Through education, awareness, and a line of highly visible performance apparel, Eric and Lisa promote their message of road safety. Unfortunately, most athletes who train on the road have heard tragic stories from teammates and fellow athletes relating to road accidents and injury. In 2009 there were 630 reported bicycle/motor vehicle fatalities in the US. Another 51,000 reports of injuries to a cyclist involved in a traffic accident were noted, but may be grossly underreported.
As a safety conscience and fashion conscience athlete, Lisa has always struggled to find gear that meets both needs. The couple put their heads together and developed a reflective running shirt that doesn’t look out of place at the grocery store.
At the heart of Be Seen running shirts is a highly reflective element. Large designs on all sides of the garment brightly reflect vehicle headlights and other ambient light. Be Seen apparel uses 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective material for maximum visibility in low-light conditions. The designs on Be Seen apparel are comprised of thousands of tiny, powder-like glass beads that return light back to its original source. The reflective material meets ANSI high visibility standards and is the same used in police and fire fighter uniforms. At a 24-hour mountain bike race last month, Sol Frost of Austin Bikes asked, “Whoa... is that shirt battery powered?!” Eric and Lisa are happy to report that Be Seen reflective running shirts do not require batteries.
The performance of the shirt material is also important for athletes who train intensely in the Texas heat. Be Seen hi viz performance tees utilize 100% micro polyester fabric created from high filament yarns that do not absorb wetness. Made from sweat wicking fabric, moisture moves quickly to the surface where it evaporates. The result is a dry, comfortable garment with no cold, sticky, or clammy feeling. Be Seen performance apparel also has anti-microbial properties for long lasting freshness. Elizabeth Meraz of Playtri Dallas was one of the first triathletes in the area to “be seen” in the apparel. She “just LOVES the shirts. They are super soft and fit perfect!”
Be Seen apparel can be found at Oak Cliff Bicycle Company, at the upcoming White Rock Marathon Expo, and online at the Be Seen store.
About Be Seen
Be Seen (beseenforlife.com) was founded in March 2010 by Eric and Lisa Fenstermacher. As competitive age group triathletes living in Dallas they appreciate the need to be safe and aware on the roads. Athletes must exercise heightened awareness around dawn and dusk when most training is done during the hot Texas summer. Be Seen was founded to promote road and training safety. To encourage athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to wear highly visible and reflective apparel, it must look good and perform well. Be Seen products achieve the three core goals of promoting and practicing safety, being attractive, and performing to a high standard throughout a rigorous training schedule.
At Be Seen, the environment, a healthy lifestyle, and supporting the local community are important factors in the decision making process. Where possible, best environmental practice is followed and supplies are sourced locally. The couple is also active in the athletic community, and if they aren’t racing you can find them cheering on anyone that is out there participating.
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lisa[.]beseenforlife.com 
