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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Preview

The aisles of Outdoor Retailer are usually spilling over with seasonal standouts and this summer looks to be no exception. Textile companies continue to push innovation with lighter, yet, stronger, fabrics that are both durable and visually appealing. Here is just a sampling of some of the latest developments to spark your interest.

Climashield: Introduces a slim, soft continuous filament insulation with inherent four-way stretch called Contur. Designed for use in pants, jackets, gloves and footwear, Contur features breathability and AquaBan technology, which enhances moisture transfer from the body and prevents a clammy feel amidst wet conditions.

Climashield Contur is also 100 percent recyclable. “With Contur, our customers can achieve maximum levels of thermal efficiency without adding bulk or sacrificing comfort or style. The end result is outerwear that moves with the body and feels good next to the skin,” says Matt Schrantz, COO, HarVest Consumer Insulation, Inc., Climashield’s parent company.

Cordura: Has developed Cordura Denim. A unique blend of nylon and cotton provides a soft feel with enhanced durability. The nylon staple, Invista’s T420 nylon 6,6, was designed specifically to blend with cotton and offer abrasion resistance. Tagged a “Durable Denim Solution” the product launched this Spring in Europe and looks to make inroads in lifestyle end use including, according to the company, an “industrial look for the skateboarding crowd.”

Hyosung: Partners with its mills to introduce trend right fabrics for 2012. The key directions featured are Neo Nature, Connect and Reach. Hyosung creora eco H-550, MIPAN regen nylon and Regen polyester are highlights of Neo Nature direction. Also important is new cotna polyester with a cottony soft touch and built-in moisture management and quick drying performance. Featured in the Connect collection are Mipan regen and regen recycled fibers in wovens and knit blends with creora eco H-550. MIPAN fine is suited for light weight soft shells and MIPAN robic for higher tenacity performance. Additional performance fabrics include aerowarm hollow-core polyester for warmth without weight and askin polyester fabrics for UV protection. The Reach direction offers creora performance H-350 delivering targeted high compression support. In addition, aerocool or aerosilver polyester deliver quick dry moisture management in lightweight performance fabrics. Functional fabrics are quick dry, deliver moisture management and lightweight with aid the wearer in achieving new targets.

Advansa: Launches ThermoºCool Soft’Tech through its network of licensed yarn texturizing partners, Ductel and Contifibre in Europe and Duwell in Asia. Soft’Tech provides soft hand and cotton touch to performance sportswear apparel. Together with its licensed texturizing partners, Advansa has implemented the use of the latest air jet texturizing technology on fine fibers to develop a unique performance man-made thermo-regulating yarn that replicates at microscopic level the soft structure of cotton to offer a similar hand.

PrimaLoft: Debuts a re-engineered eco-insulation. The new product boosts recycling content to 70 percent without sacrificing performance. Additionally, the higher eco content provides stability to eliminate conventional scrim. Also, new is PrimaLoft yarns designed for baselayer applications.

Polartec: Ramps up its flame resistant collection for the workwear market with an expanded offering to include baselayers, insulation and outerwear. Polartec Power Shield Pro hits consumer markets this fall with about 10 brands. Additional brands will be picking up Polartec Power Shield Pro for 2011.

Concept III: Has a new resource with Charles Parsons, a privately owned company that has been developing and manufacturing specialized textile solutions for fashion apparel brands throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region since 1915. Now, working through Concept III’s network, Parson’s and Concept III look to develop a following for its Merino State fine micron premium textile collection in the U.S., Canada and U.K. outdoor markets. In addition to adhering to strict quality assurance by its own internal labs, SGS and Qualspec, every product in the Merino State collection is also tested according to stringent ‘Woolmark’ and ’Merino Perform’ specifications.

Merino State wool is only sourced from independently audited, certified non-museled farms in Australia and New Zealand. Parsons has textile-manufacturing facilities in both Australia and China. It has over 25 years experience in garment production and has manufacturing partners in China, Fiji, and Singapore. The company offers in-house design, sample and pattern making services, all geared for speed to market. Merino State Collection, made with naturally sustainable, renewable and biodegradable Merino also includes blends with other environmentally favorable fibers like bamboo, milk, hemp and organic cotton.

Gore: Will partner with Patagonia on performance technologies for 2011 product. The two companies will once again team up using Gore-Tex and WindStopper technologies in strategically selected Patagonia Alpine, Ski/Snowboard and Lifestyle outerwear to create a range of high performing products for the Fall 2011 season. Patagonia will also continue to rely on H2No technology for a complementary component in the portfolio.

The businesses also plan to collaborate on new performance materials and important environmental solutions.

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