Lexington, KY – March 24, 2025– Bullard, a global leader in fire safety equipment, has unveiled the first design in its Bullard Tough collector’s edition patch series—an exclusive creation by well-known Kentucky tattoo artist, Brenna McNabb. Inspired by vintage Americana tattoo culture, McNabb’s design blends the strength and resilience of emergency responders with the innovation of Bullard to create a powerful symbol of tradition and courage.

“At the heart of the patch is the rose, a timeless symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and unity—qualities and values that resonate deeply with firefighters,” said McNabb. Surrounding the rose is the iconic Bullard Fre Helmet, featuring its signature brass eagle- a long-standing symbol of courage and protection in the fire service. Subtle details throughout the patch, from the arching lines in the banner to the wave of the helmet brim and swirling smoke, capture the movement and urgency of emergency response.

“At Bullard, we’ve been designing and building PPE for firefighters for almost 90 years. As a family-owned company, we understand the deeply rooted traditions of the fire service, and we’re proud to honor that history through this meaningful, artistic design,”– Wells Bullard, President and CEO of Bullard.

The limited-edition Bullard Tough patch will make its official debut at the International Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, April 7-12. Firefighters and attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to collect a piece of this unique collaboration—a patch that fuses history, artistry, and the spirit of the fire service.

About Bullard

Founded in 1898, and the inventor of the original hard hat in 1919, Bullard is a global company ingrained in personal protective equipment (PPE) across multiple industries including Emergency Responder, Life Sciences, and Industrial Health and Safety.  With their global headquarters and manufacturing facility in the heart of central Kentucky (USA), Bullard is a fifth-generation family-owned enterprise with additional locations in Europe and Asia.  Bullard’s product lines include hard hats, thermal imagers, fire and rescue helmets, supplied air respirators, powered air-purifying respirators, and air quality equipment.  Bullard has a rich history of solving customer problems in innovative ways with high quality products.

Bullard’s vision is to advance human safety to enable long, healthy, production lives through innovative solutions.