But for millennia humans have been slipping five-fingered coverings over their hands for warmth, fashion, or protection—and sometimes, an intriguing fistful of all three. And gloves have played an outsized role in everything from English royal rituals to early 20th-century medicine.

Gloves help keep your hands clean and lessen your chance of getting germs that can make you sick. Wear gloves every time you touch blood, bodily fluids, bodily tissues, mucous membranes, or broken skin. You should wear gloves for this sort of contact, even if a patient seems healthy and has no signs of any germs.

Wearing protective gloves means safeguarding hands from contact with potentially hazardous, contaminating or infectious agents; it is no coincidence that these items are used on a daily basis in practically all sectors, from cleaning to industry, and to the hospital/healthcare sector.

Typically, they help protect our hands against scrapes and scratches. More specialized gloves help protect us from cuts and others against chemicals or contaminants. But gloves are much more than that: They actually help us work faster and better, thanks to amazing new designs and materials.