“Whether hiking, climbing, backpacking or making a statement with their everyday wear, today’s consumers want outdoor wear that delivers enhanced performance, comfort and protection. But they also increasingly expect brands to be eco-friendly and transparent about their sustainability efforts. With the right dye recipes and finishing chemistries from a trusted partner like Huntsman, brands can meet all of these expectations and differentiate themselves in a cost-efficient way,” said Ben Powell, commercial director-Americas, Huntsman Textile Effects.

“We are excited to bring some really exciting innovations to this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer show. These solutions make it possible for brands and their mill partners to produce garments that dry quickly, resist stains and prevent odours, with improved breathability and long-lasting good looks,” added Powell.

Huntsman will highlight the Avitera SE Fast process at Outdoor Retailer. This revolutionary technology delivers the lowest environmental impact for dyeing polyester-cellulosic (PES-CO) blends. It combines alkali-clearable Terasil W/WW disperse dyes and Avitera SE reactive dyes to cut processing time from around nine hours to just six, helping mills to reduce the water and energy required for production by up to 50 per cent and to increase output by up to 25 per cent or more. The new process also delivers outstanding wet-fastness to ensure that sportswear will not bleed or stain during home laundering or while in storage or transit, the company said in a press release.

Eropon E3-SAVE is another next-generation water-saving innovation. An all-in-one textile auxiliary for PES processing, it allows pre-scouring, dyeing and reduction clearing to be combined in a single bath and eliminates the need for anti-foaming products, which shortens processing time and further saves water and energy.

Huntsman will also present eco-friendly finishes that repel water and stains to help garments look new for longer. Continuing its long-standing relationship with Chemours, Huntsman is highlighting Teflon EcoElite with Zelan R3 technology. The industry’s first renewably sourced water-repellent finish; it contains 63 per cent plant-based materials and exceeds performance levels possible with traditional fluorinated technologies, preserving breathability while offering excellent water repellency and durability.

Another breakthrough for brands and mills is Phobotex RSY for outerwear. A next-generation non-fluorinated water-repellent finish, its performance is comparable to formulations based on per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs), delivering sustainable protection that keeps the wearer dry, even in the most demanding environments. It is a perfect combination of excellent water repellency and extremely high wash durability.

Huntsman will also showcase revolutionary antimicrobial and odour-control solutions as part of its partnership with Sciessent. Sciessent’s latest anti-odour technology, NOBO, has been specifically developed to reduce odours in natural and synthetic fabrics. It can be incorporated into virtually any fabric, making it ideal for everything from base layer and activewear tops to socks and underwear to hiking pants, chinos and hard shell jackets. It offers a cost-effective way to upgrade everyday garments.

In addition, the partners will also present Sciessent’s Agion Active X2, a next-generation odour-control solution that combines advanced antimicrobial and odour-absorbing technologies to both capture and fight odour-causing bacteria, and Lava X2, a standalone odour adsorption product and key component of Agion Active X2 that attracts, absorbs and degrades odours for long-lasting odour protection. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)