We see many products that are waterproof but bioengineers at the University of California, Davis are developed a new fabric that can form excess sweat into droplets that drain away. In other words this could lead to fabric that is actually “sweat proof.” The new textile microfluidic platform utilizes hydrophilic (water-attracting) threads stitched into a highly water-repellent fabric, which can literally suck droplets of water from one side of the fabric, propel those droplets along the threads and expel them from the other side. This in turn could leave the fabric dry against the skin. Video after the jump
Tag: fabric
SIA: Coffee Beans To Heat Up in Winter
Sometimes it takes a cup of coffee to get moving in the morning and sometimes a cup of coffee can be used to warm up. But what about using the coffee beans, not for drinking but for clothing? We’ve seen recycled bottles turned into clothes and we’ve seen bamboo used for bicycle jerseys, but now California sports clothing company Virus is on to something different with its StayWarm line that uses “Coffee Char,” or coffee charcoal to produce fabric.
The company showed off its new line of garments at last week’s SIA Snow Show in Denver, and in addition to providing UV shielding and anti-odor properties, the clothing should help wearers stay warm. Unlike bamboo, which provides a breathable fabric, Coffee Char can be used to trap heat close to skin, making for an excellent base layer when the weather outside is frightful.
Virus Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Keeping warm with recycled coffee beans]
Gore(Tex) in 2011
We heard that Gore-Tex will roll out a new fabric that the company says will be the most breathable waterproof material yet. The new Gore-Tex Active Shell won’t actually make it to shops until about a year from now, but it should prove to be the wait.
This new technological breakthrough in fabric shouldn’t be confused with the already on the market “Windstopper Active Shell” either. The Gore-Tex Active Shell will do much the same, but dare we say even better. According to reports it will provide a combination of lightness and breathability so it can function as a shell for cyclists and runners alike, and thus can be used in more “minimalist” garments. Additionally it will be ultra-lightweight enough that it will be good for climbers and hikers where every ounce counts. The key to getting the weight down required Gore to change the very construction, thus limiting the thickness of the layers and more importantly reducing the amount of glue used in the process.
Now the only thing to do is get through the next nine to 10 months and then try it out. We’ll keep you posted.