Polartec improves on Alpha Active insulation
First developed for the military, Polartec’s Alpha insulation has been found useful in applications that extend well beyond professional ones and has inspired a number of similar products. At Performance Days this week, the company introduced the next generation of the popular reference. The platform now has a vastly expanded number of references, with merino wool being added into the mix.
Polartec Alpha’s unique combination of lightweight warmth, exceptional breathability, fast drying and packability has virtually become a product category in itself. Initially designed as an insulation layer or a lining, it has increasingly been used as a standalone textile, appreciated for its airy softness. The patent-pending construction of the new version makes it even more suitable as single layer material. Its structure has been reengineered “to improve the structural integrity of the fabric while maintaining the open architecture fundamental to Polartec Alpha performance,” the company said. This leads to higher resistance to snagging and shedding and makes it even more suitable for use alone.
Patagonia has had early access to the new Polartec Alpha and is introducing it in a new style launching next month. Other brands such as Ornot, Purple Mountain Observatory, Senchi Designs, Farpointe and Goldwin are also introducing it in their upcoming ranges.
Other new developments on show at Performance Days included lighter versions of Polartec Power Dry fabrics and new PowerShield with AirCore references. A novel Polartec Thermal Pro reference made from a hemp fibre blend (64% polyester, 34% hemp and 2% other fibres) is also a part of the new range, and introduces hemp to a new product category.
Photo courtesy of Polartec
