Abstract: Protective materials and protective garments make using the materials are disclosed. The protective materials include metallic mesh layers sandwiched between inner and outer layers of fabric. The mesh is joined at one or both ends to pieces of elastic material that are also sandwiched between the layers of fabric and are joined to them. The metallic meshes are woven from stainless steel fiber having a diameter of less than 0.20 mm and have a largest space between fibers of less than 0.20 mm. The meshes may be regular cut or bias cut or a combination thereof. Multiple meshes may be overlaid such that their respective warp-fiber directions are oriented at an angle of 22.5 +/?5 degrees with respect to each other. The protective material may be used protective clothing such as, but not limited to, gloves, knee and elbow guards as described in detail in the specification.

Abstract: A protective material that prevents cut and puncture injuries using two layers of metal mesh woven from 0.2 mm or less diameter wire, with apertures of 0.45 mm or less. The mesh layers are sandwiched between two, outer layers of fabric that are attached to each other, but not to the mesh. The two mesh layers are free-floating, held in place by being sandwiched between the outer layers, and can slide past each other, mitigating buckling when the material is bent. Protective gloves can be constructed using the material to cover over 60% of the glove's palm region, or cut to match a silhouette of a human hand. In another embodiment, the glove has fastenings at the extremity that loosely attaches the mesh layers to the outer fabric layers. The metal meshes can be spot glued at one or more locations to facilitate easier handling during assembly.