Editing Fencing (section)

===Protective clothing===
Most [[personal protective equipment]] for fencing is made of tough [[cotton]] or [[nylon]]. [[Kevlar]] was added to top level uniform pieces (jacket, breeches, underarm protector, lamé, and the bib of the mask) following the death of [[Vladimir Viktorovich Smirnov|Vladimir Smirnov]] at the 1982 World Championships in [[Rome]]. However, Kevlar is degraded by both [[ultraviolet light]] and [[chlorine]], which can complicate cleaning.

Other ballistic fabrics, such as [[Dyneema]], have been developed that [[Puncture resistance|resist puncture]], and which do not degrade the way that Kevlar does. FIE rules state that tournament wear must be made of fabric that resists a force of {{convert|800|N}}, and that the mask bib must resist twice that amount.

The complete fencing kit includes:

;Jacket
:The jacket is form-fitting, and has a strap (''croissard'') that passes between the legs. A small [[gorget]] of folded fabric is sewn in around the collar to prevent an opponent's blade from slipping under the mask and along the jacket upwards towards the neck. Fencing instructors often wear more resistant kit, as additional protection from the frequent hits an instructor endures.
;Plastron
:A plastron is an underarm protector worn underneath the jacket. It provides double protection on the side of the sword arm and upper arm. There is no seam under the arm, which would line up with the jacket seam and provide a weak spot.
;Glove
:The sword hand is protected by a [[glove]] with a gauntlet that prevents blades from going up the sleeve and causing injury. The glove also improves grip.
;Breeches
:[[Breeches]] or [[Knickerbockers (clothing)|knickers]] are short trousers that end just below the knee. The breeches are required to have 10&nbsp;cm of overlap with the jacket. Most are equipped with suspenders (braces).
;Socks
:Fencing socks are long enough to cover the knee and feature padded reinforcement at the shin level to protect the part from hits.
;Shoes
:Fencing shoes have flat soles, and are reinforced on the inside of the back foot, and in the heel for the front foot. The reinforcement prevents wear from lunging and protect the foot from hits (used in épée fencing).
;Mask
:The fencing mask has a bib that protects the neck. The mask should support {{convert|12|kg|lb}} on the metal mesh and {{convert|350|N}} of penetration resistance on the bib. FIE regulations dictate that masks must withstand {{convert|25|kg|lb}} on the mesh and {{convert|1600|N}} on the bib. Some modern masks have a see-through visor in the front of the mask. These have been used at high level competitions (World Championships etc.), however, they are currently banned in foil and épée by the FIE, following a 2009 incident in which a visor was pierced during the European Junior Championship competition. There are foil, sabre, and three-weapon masks.
;Chest protector
:A chest protector, made of plastic, is worn by female fencers and, sometimes, by males. Fencing instructors also wear them, as they are hit far more often during training than their students. In foil fencing, the hard surface of a chest protector decreases the likelihood that a hit registers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025|reason=Statement appears arbitrary and requires corroboration}}
;Lamé
:A lamé is a layer of electrically conductive material worn over the fencing jacket in foil and sabre fencing. The lamé covers the entire target area, and makes the registration of the hits by the scoring box possible. In épée fencing the lamé is unnecessary, since the target area spans the competitor's entire body. In sabre fencing, the lamé's sleeves end in a straight line across the wrist; in foil fencing, the lamé is sleeveless. A [[body cord]] is necessary to register scoring. It attaches to the weapon and runs inside the jacket sleeve, then down the back and goes out to plug into the scoring box. In sabre and foil fencing, the body cord connects to the lamé as well in order to create a circuit to the scoring box.

<gallery caption="Elements of protective clothing" mode="packed" heights="155">
File:Fencing jacket.jpg|Jacket
File:Fencing glove.jpg|Glove
File:Fencing plastron.jpg|Sous-Plastron
File:Fencing knickers.jpg|Breeches/<wbr>Knickers
File:Fencingmask.jpg|Mask
File:Chest protector.jpg|Chest protector for women
</gallery>

Traditionally, the fencer's uniform is white, while an instructor's uniform is black. This may be due to the occasional pre-electric practice of covering the point of the weapon in dye, soot, or coloured chalk in order to make it easier for the referee to determine the placing of the touches{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}. As this is no longer a factor in the electric era, the FIE rules have been relaxed to allow coloured uniforms (save black). The guidelines also limit the permitted size and positioning of sponsorship logos.