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.
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 world 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.
Fast forward to now, and Pertex is also making strides in
regard to fabric that is abrasion-resistant. Outdoor industry clothing brands
will premiere a new CS10 technology from Pertex for Fall 2016. Fabrics with
CS10 technology are said to have more than twice the abrasion resistance of
fabrics made with traditional circular filimant yarns.
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.
Below are a few of the other fabric selections they
market:
Based on the original Pertex fabric, Pertex Classic remains the
benchmark for durable yet lightweight shell fabrics. It provides excellent
weather protection with a highly water repellent finish and windproof
construction.
Pertex Microlight is well
balanced, providing lightweight weather protection whilst remaining durable and
abrasion resistant. Its softness allows down and synthetic insulation to fully
loft.
Pertex Quantum uses incredibly
fine yarns, precisely woven to provide a very lightweight yet strong and durable
fabric. Its softness allows down and synthetic insulation to fully
loft.
The degree by which a fabric is able to withstand loss of
appearance through surface wear, rubbing, chafing, and other frictional
actions. You can visit the Pertex website to learn about which of their fabrics
is helpful to clothing manufacturers in regard to
abrasion-resistance.
Read more articles all about fabric here on the Fashion Blog.