As part of its ongoing commitment to highlighting innovation and leadership within the global body armor industry, BodyArmorNews.com had the pleasure of speaking with Dimitris Koskovos, CEO of ANORAK, a second-generation Greek manufacturer specializing in protective apparel and ballistic protection systems. During our conversation, Koskovos shared insights into the company’s more than fifty-year history, its user-driven approach to product development, the challenges of modern body armor design, and ANORAK’s vision for the future of personal protection.
From the importance of ergonomics and long-term wearability to the pursuit of lighter, more adaptable protective systems, Koskovos explains why effective body armor is about far more than stopping a bullet. Above all, he emphasizes that trust remains the foundation of every product ANORAK brings to market.
ANORAK: Engineering Confidence for Those Who Serve
In an industry where discussions often revolve around protection levels, certifications, and new materials, one critical factor is frequently overlooked: whether the end user will wear the equipment for an entire shift.
For Dimitris Koskovos, that question sits at the center of every product the company develops.
“Protection is essential, but if the equipment doesn’t fit well, it’s uncomfortable, bulky, or restrictive, users will most probably avoid wearing it properly—or wearing it at all. We take this reality very seriously.”
It is a philosophy that has guided ANORAK since Koskovos and his brother assumed leadership of the family business in the mid-1990s, continuing a legacy established by their parents in 1975.
Today, the company combines more than five decades of protective garment manufacturing with modern ballistic research and development. It supplies protective apparel, body armor, and tactical equipment to military, law enforcement, security, and civilian markets worldwide.
A True Manufacturer in an Industry of Assemblers
One of the strongest themes to emerge during our conversation was ANORAK’s insistence on maintaining complete control over production. Rather than sourcing finished components and assembling them into a final product, the company oversees design, development, cutting, sewing, testing, and manufacturing entirely in-house in Greece.
“We are not just assembling imported components. We’re a true manufacturer.”
That distinction provides flexibility, faster product development, tighter quality control, and the ability to respond quickly to customer requirements. As global demand for defense and security equipment continues to grow, these capabilities have become increasingly valuable.
Koskovos also believes European manufacturing will continue to gain strategic importance. Reflecting on recent supply chain disruptions, he noted that industries across Europe experienced periods when domestic production could not satisfy demand. As a result, organizations were forced to rely on overseas suppliers.
For ANORAK, maintaining local production is therefore more than a matter of national identity. It represents a commitment to accountability, consistency, and resilience.
Designing Around the Mission, Not the Material
Unlike conventional product development, which often begins with available materials or technologies, ANORAK starts with operational analysis.
Every project begins by identifying who will wear the equipment, under what conditions, for how long, and against which threats. Only after establishing the use case does the company move into concept development, prototype creation, fit testing, and repeated field evaluations with actual end users.
This process combines engineering, material science, ergonomics, and direct operational feedback before a product enters production. For an industry increasingly focused on user-centric design, ANORAK’s methodology reflects a growing recognition that protection cannot be evaluated in isolation from human performance.
The Pursuit of Balance
Body armor development is rarely about maximizing a single characteristic. Increasing ballistic performance often adds weight. Improving flexibility can influence durability, while lowering costs may require compromises elsewhere.
Koskovos describes product development as a continuous search for equilibrium.
“The ideal product balances protection, weight, comfort, mobility, durability, and of course cost.”
Affordability remains important, but not at the expense of operational effectiveness. As he observed during the interview, inexpensive equipment may be suitable for everyday tasks. Life-saving equipment, however, demands a different perspective.
“When lives may depend on the equipment, value matters more than price.”
Ultimately, the objective is to identify the optimal balance for each specific end user instead of pursuing the lightest, cheapest, or highest-rated solution independently.
Comfort Is a Ballistic Requirement
One of the most compelling insights from the interview concerns ANORAK’s definition of comfort. The company places significant emphasis on ergonomic panel shaping, carrier patterning, weight distribution, ventilation, flexibility, and sizing. Material selection is aimed at maximizing protection while minimizing weight. However, engineering alone does not determine comfort.
Instead, ANORAK evaluates products after prolonged operational use. This distinction matters because law enforcement officers, security personnel, and military operators often wear body armor continuously for entire shifts while carrying additional equipment. A vest that feels acceptable during a showroom fitting may become restrictive after several hours of movement, heat exposure, and physical exertion.
For ANORAK, comfort is therefore not a luxury. It is a requirement for effective protection.
Learning From Professionals
Many of the company’s design improvements originate directly from end users.
Police officers, tactical operators, and security professionals provide feedback on shoulder fatigue, heat buildup, concealment beneath clothing, accessibility of duty equipment, and overall mobility. These seemingly small observations frequently become the foundation for future product revisions.
The company’s development philosophy recognizes that laboratory testing and certification establish minimum standards. Operational experience, however, ultimately determines product success.
Changing How People View Body Armor
Koskovos believes one of the industry’s greatest challenges extends beyond engineering. Body armor continues to carry psychological associations with conflict and danger. ANORAK hopes to change that perception by creating equipment that integrates naturally into professional life rather than appearing intimidating.
“It’s not about fear. It’s about preparedness and being responsible to yourself and to your colleagues.”
Drawing comparisons to helmets, gloves, and protective eyewear, he argues that ballistic protection should be viewed as another essential element of occupational safety rather than an extraordinary precaution.
The Next Generation of Ballistic Systems
Looking ahead, ANORAK continues investing in research and development.
Current priorities include reducing weight while maintaining or improving ballistic performance. This remains one of the industry’s greatest engineering challenges. Heat management is another critical area of focus, particularly for soft armor intended for prolonged wear.
The company is closely following developments in next-generation ballistic fibers and raw materials. These innovations could deliver lighter systems with improved fragmentation resistance, enhanced multi-threat protection against firearms, knives, and spikes, as well as greater concealability.
At the same time, ANORAK is expanding research into specialized fit solutions and advanced carrier systems designed to address increasingly diverse operational requirements.
Beyond Ballistic Protection
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of ANORAK’s long-term strategy is its intention to move beyond conventional armor systems.
Koskovos envisions integrated personal protection platforms that combine ballistic protection with modular capabilities and technologies that adapt to changing mission profiles. Rather than focusing solely on stopping threats, future systems will increasingly support overall operational effectiveness.
This reflects a broader trend within the defense and law enforcement sectors, where equipment is expected to function as part of a complete ecosystem rather than as standalone protective products.
More Than Stopping a Bullet
According to Koskovos, one of the public’s greatest misconceptions is that body armor is simply designed to stop bullets. The reality is considerably more complex.
“Protection is not just ballistic. It’s system performance.”
Modern armor must simultaneously address ergonomics, trauma reduction, flexibility, concealability, environmental durability, and long-term wearability. Even a vest that successfully stops a projectile may fail its user if excessive backface deformation causes injury. Likewise, poor ergonomics may discourage consistent wear.
The challenge, therefore, is not merely surviving laboratory testing. It is creating equipment that professionals choose to wear every day.
Building Trust Through Manufacturing
ANORAK’s commitment to in-house manufacturing, local production, long-term durability, and continuous refinement reflects a belief that protective equipment should inspire confidence long before it is ever needed.
“Protection is not just about passing certification tests and laboratory tests. It’s about delivering equipment that professionals can trust every single day.”
In an increasingly competitive global body armor market, innovation is often measured by lighter materials or higher protection levels. ANORAK offers a different reminder. The most advanced equipment is ultimately defined by something much simpler: whether it performs reliably in the hands of the people whose lives depend on it.
For manufacturers, procurement specialists, and end users alike, that philosophy may prove just as important as the next breakthrough in ballistic technology.
