Outdoor Retailer, Salt Lake City, UTAH
Words, Judith Ecochard
Images, J. Ecochard and Courtesy of Companies
Performance wear/gear always demands the most from textile companies. Often driven by military needs, active lifestyler types always crave what will keep them dryer, warmer, cleans easier, is flame resistant, etc…
And feels great too.
POLARMAX® is celebrating its 25th year Bday with a launch of tees and the PMX cotton apparel treated with TransDRY moisture management technology.
Developed in conjunction with Cotton Incorporated, the “wicking cotton” new line of tees ($44.95 short, $49.95 long ) and the PMX line of base layer styles…are super comfortable…like cotton. And sport cool graphics.
But these separates are treated with the patented moisture management technology TransDry that wicks away moisture from the skin to the surface of the fabric for easier evaporation. And less static and/or yech wet cling to the skin…virtually eliminating why we hate wearing cotton to work out in…or wear while snowboarding (we get too cold in all that sweat drenched stuff).
FYI: TransDRY lasts more than 50 washings.
BONUS: An eye for the eco ---all yarn and knitting machines, sewing and warehousing are within a 15-mile radius of offices in North Carolina (carbon footprint), packaging initiative using recycled/re-tasked packaging printed with soy-based ink.
SHIPS Spring 2010
INFO: POLARMAX
A lot of fabrics that are tech savvy…are made with environmentally damaging, harmful solvents. Heck, even non-organic “natural” fibers require plenty of pesticides to produce or are inhumanely ‘harvested.’
GE…a conglomerate…introduced a new greener PTEE (Polytertafluoroethylene or Teflon) at OR...for eVent’s waterproof product line --- built from PTFE membranes using an application process with “super critical” CO2--- that reduces VOC air emissions compared to the current ePTFE treatment process..
Collected from a local ethanol plant that usually lets the CO@ evaporate into the air, the resulting PTFE film is applied to textiles…making them a significant higher waterproof performing treatment…---more durable and breathable too via Direct Venting™ Technology.
INFO: eVent
Thinsulate™ Supreme Insulation Type XT-S is acclaimed for its superior warmth and lightweight, no bulk, comfort properties.
New for 2010 is the fusion of this 3M fabric with the antimicrobial odor control of X-Static® a Silver Fiber® technology that’s a layer of pure silver permanently bonded to the fiber surface…that naturally inhibits odor causing bacteria.
The result: is a textile that’s ideal for outdoor apparel and heavy use work wear that’s pricey to clean, and military or NASA astronauts who clearly have jobs far away from laundry facilities.
INFO: THINSULATE
GORE TEX® fabrics have been keeping us dry since, like middle school days.
Exactly what it is ---is--- and we quote from the website:
GORE-TEX® fabrics are created by laminating our GORE-TEX® membrane to high-performance textiles, then sealing them with an innovative solution for guaranteed waterproof protection.
Since it’s genesis some 30 years ago, Gore-Tex® has been used in hundreds of outerwear and footwear items…
AMAZING: Gore-Tex® “controls the whole process”…with tremendous amount of lab, systems, and field testing for waterproof, windproof and breathability finesse--- for every item that sports that hangtag.
And the company will replace, repair, or refund the purchase price of any Gore-Tex® item if a buyer of is less than satisfied with the performance of said item.
No matter who made it.
WOW…considering the list of brands that use GORE-TEX®!!!
Arc'teryx Alpha SV Glove Glove with Gore-Tex® Pro Shell
FYI: Gore-Tex® has a variety of technologies that increase garment functionalities ...like a patent-pending internal backer fabric to >breathability and < weight...comfort mapping technology, delivering warmth where we need it, and extreme wet weather construction---that can't be used by apparel makers...a minute too soon.
WE COVET: The Burton Snowboard Olympic Uniform…made with GORE-TEX®.
INFO: GORE-TEX®
REEBOK and NFL Licensed Outerwear
Words, Judith Ecochard
Images, J. Ecochard and Courtesy of Companies
Performance wear/gear always demands the most from textile companies. Often driven by military needs, active lifestyler types always crave what will keep them dryer, warmer, cleans easier, is flame resistant, etc…
And feels great too.
POLARMAX® is celebrating its 25th year Bday with a launch of tees and the PMX cotton apparel treated with TransDRY moisture management technology.
Developed in conjunction with Cotton Incorporated, the “wicking cotton” new line of tees ($44.95 short, $49.95 long ) and the PMX line of base layer styles…are super comfortable…like cotton. And sport cool graphics.
But these separates are treated with the patented moisture management technology TransDry that wicks away moisture from the skin to the surface of the fabric for easier evaporation. And less static and/or yech wet cling to the skin…virtually eliminating why we hate wearing cotton to work out in…or wear while snowboarding (we get too cold in all that sweat drenched stuff).
FYI: TransDRY lasts more than 50 washings.
BONUS: An eye for the eco ---all yarn and knitting machines, sewing and warehousing are within a 15-mile radius of offices in North Carolina (carbon footprint), packaging initiative using recycled/re-tasked packaging printed with soy-based ink.
SHIPS Spring 2010
INFO: POLARMAX
A lot of fabrics that are tech savvy…are made with environmentally damaging, harmful solvents. Heck, even non-organic “natural” fibers require plenty of pesticides to produce or are inhumanely ‘harvested.’
GE…a conglomerate…introduced a new greener PTEE (Polytertafluoroethylene or Teflon) at OR...for eVent’s waterproof product line --- built from PTFE membranes using an application process with “super critical” CO2--- that reduces VOC air emissions compared to the current ePTFE treatment process..
Collected from a local ethanol plant that usually lets the CO@ evaporate into the air, the resulting PTFE film is applied to textiles…making them a significant higher waterproof performing treatment…---more durable and breathable too via Direct Venting™ Technology.
INFO: eVent
Thinsulate™ Supreme Insulation Type XT-S is acclaimed for its superior warmth and lightweight, no bulk, comfort properties.
New for 2010 is the fusion of this 3M fabric with the antimicrobial odor control of X-Static® a Silver Fiber® technology that’s a layer of pure silver permanently bonded to the fiber surface…that naturally inhibits odor causing bacteria.
The result: is a textile that’s ideal for outdoor apparel and heavy use work wear that’s pricey to clean, and military or NASA astronauts who clearly have jobs far away from laundry facilities.
INFO: THINSULATE
GORE TEX® fabrics have been keeping us dry since, like middle school days.
Exactly what it is ---is--- and we quote from the website:
GORE-TEX® fabrics are created by laminating our GORE-TEX® membrane to high-performance textiles, then sealing them with an innovative solution for guaranteed waterproof protection.
Since it’s genesis some 30 years ago, Gore-Tex® has been used in hundreds of outerwear and footwear items…
AMAZING: Gore-Tex® “controls the whole process”…with tremendous amount of lab, systems, and field testing for waterproof, windproof and breathability finesse--- for every item that sports that hangtag.
And the company will replace, repair, or refund the purchase price of any Gore-Tex® item if a buyer of is less than satisfied with the performance of said item.
No matter who made it.
WOW…considering the list of brands that use GORE-TEX®!!!
Arc'teryx Alpha SV Glove Glove with Gore-Tex® Pro Shell
FYI: Gore-Tex® has a variety of technologies that increase garment functionalities ...like a patent-pending internal backer fabric to >breathability and < weight...comfort mapping technology, delivering warmth where we need it, and extreme wet weather construction---that can't be used by apparel makers...a minute too soon.
WE COVET: The Burton Snowboard Olympic Uniform…made with GORE-TEX®.
INFO: GORE-TEX®
REEBOK and NFL Licensed Outerwear