Waterproof fabrics are growing in popularity as
outdoor sports continue to thrive around the world. Several performance fabric
manufacturers have been leading the textile industries desire to improve the
usability and performance of fabrics. As consumers and the industry require new
fabrications the textile mills have been stepping up to meet the demand. One
such company that has been achieving grand milestones is Pertex.
The concept of the fabric that became Pertex was an idea of
Hamish Hamilton, who some 30 years ago discovered that moisture would move along
the microscopic capillaries within a woven fabric, spreading over a larger
surface where it quickly dried.
Hamish brought his idea to Perseverance Mills Ltd, a
Lancashire textile manufacturer specializing in very lightweight, tightly woven
synthetic fabrics used in dot matrix printers for the rapidly growing data
processing industry.
The Pertex brand was born and, with it, garments such as the
Buffalo Double-P system that was the forerunner to what we now know as
‘soft-shell’. Hamish claimed that the (Double-P) Pertex / pile system would
protect against 1/2” / hr rain fall and up to 50 mph winds.
It was in the mid 1980’s that Rab Carrington began to use
Pertex for the shell of his down clothing and sleeping bags, replacing the much
heavier fabrics that were used at the time. The company soon discovered that
Pertex was not only lighter, but it dried more quickly, was softer, allowing the
down to loft to its maximum and was comfortable against the skin. It was these
attributes that led Pertex to become the recognized leader in high performance
fabric technology.
Their heritage of staying true to their British roots for
over thirty years has led them on a path of continuous innovation to deliver the
best end-use focused fabrics in the business. It is because of this dedication
to innovation and excellence that the Pertex brand is now partnered with the
most prestigious brands in the outdoor industry.
Here are a few examples of what this fabric manufacturer has
to offer:
Pertex Shield represents a
fusion of technically advanced face fabrics with a breathable microporous
waterproof coating. With the focus on durability, Pertex Shield combines wind
and water protection with excellent comfort, by reducing condensation build-up
within the garment. Water proof – 10,000 mm. Breathability (MVTR) – 7,000g
(A1) The values for breathability (MVTR) are shown as an indication of the
technology and are largely dependent on the construction and fabrics
used.
Quantum GL is possibly
the most advanced fabric they have ever made so far. It is the natural
evolution of their award winning Pertex Quantum fabric. Precisely woven
using incredibly fine 10 denier or less yarns, these nanolight at less than 25
g/m2 (0.75 oz/yd2).
Equilibrium is
lightweight and soft which allows full freedom of movement and yet is strong and
robust, making it suitable for rigorous use. It has a comparable low weight and
packing volume.
Find out more details about fabrics mentioned above and other
options from their website at http://www.pertex.com/
You can learn more about fabrics at the FabricSearch.org
website (which is a site owned by Apparel Search).
Learn about
performance fabrics here on Apparel Search in our fashion industry terms
section.
Thank you for taking the time to read our textile industry blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.