Swiss partners convince Under Armour of the benefits of coldblack
26/04/2012
According to the Swiss companies, the new collection was launched in March and is already “creating a sensation” in the US sports market.
Light-coloured textiles reflect both visible and invisible rays of sunlight, while dark ones absorb them. But coldblack finishing technology significantly reduces the absorption of heat rays by darker-coloured clothing, with greatly improved heat management, reliable protection from UV rays and a much wider design colour palette for athletes who participate in outdoor competition as the principal results. In addition, coldblack contains only bluesign-approved components.
Under Armour has adopted coldblack in its sports apparel ranges for men’s and women’s running, golf, and training apparel categories.
Across all user organisations, a total of 144 separate coldblack formulations have been developed since Clariant and Schoeller launched the idea in 2008. Applications include 100% knitted and woven polyester fabrics, as well as blends with elastane and polyamide in an extensive range of colours.
In addition, an antimicrobial finish manufactured by Sanitized AG and distributed worldwide by Clariant, will provide freshness, performance and wearing comfort within the ranges.
On announcing the new partnership with Under Armour, Clariant’s global head of apparel, Brad McClanahan, said: “We are very excited to team up with Under Armour and work closely with Schoeller on this project, which once again demonstrates the value-adding power of Clariant as a technology provider when our experts are involved from the early stages of development.”
For his part, the chief operating officer of Schoeller Technologies, Hans Kohn, said the interest of Under Armour underlined the positive benefits of coldblack, which he said can bring “new levels of functionality to the sports apparel market”.
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