a sucker is born every minute

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT LIKE NO OTHER? OR GOING FROM THE REDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME!

Last week I saw an article in the Specialty Fabrics Review about a company unknown to me that is capable (in their minds) to produce fibers that will do a multitude of things. I called them and spoke with the founder and ceo of the company; David Gray. He was quite engaging but in my opinion not very bright with respect to what his company is selling. What attracted me in the article was the discussion of moisture management.

The following quote is from their web site/

“MedTextra™ has been engineered to retain a comfortable level of self-moisturizing, which is vitally important in the effective delivery of active ingredients to the body based on the principles of hygroscopy.{I researched the word and could not find it in the dictionary, but I did find hygroscopic which means attracting or absorbing moisture from air]. Hygroscopy refers to the ability to absorb moisture from the air. Nature has many examples of the effectiveness of this process – from the nasal cavity of the camel to the great coast redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirens) growing along the Pacific coast of North America. In biomimicry, we as engineers apply the principles from nature so that in MedTextra™, water is processed from its natural environment of the body and epidermis and then used to moisturize and help to optimize the delivery of active ingredients to the body. [How were they able to do this, read on].

This smart fiber [how did the fiber get smart?They are just using the term since it has become an often used term in the textile industry] has unique characteristics so that it acts like a “water battery,” [wateris a new term that I have yet to hear or read in the textile industry]drawing water from the skin and balancing it with the moisture in the air, [now that is also a new action never before known] holding what is needed and releasing the excess [How does it know to do this, because is it smart]. MedTextra™ effectively creates a self-moisturizing fabric [according to what David Gray told me they DO NOT MAKE FABRIC but make fiber that they will sell to you so you can have it blended with whatever yarn you chose to blend it with. They also have other fibers that do other things that you want the fiber to do. Quite remarkable their ability to accomplish this] that promotes the skin’s absorption of active ingredients while providing moisture management, air filtration, and the ionic mobility of delivering various chosen topically applied materials. This is done in a way that is almost imperceptible to the wearer [now we are hearing or reading that they admit the wearer of the garment will not know that they are experiencing this action, just like the emperor’s new clothes]without creating a wetness sensation that would lead to wearer discomfort. This unique ability allows fabric using the technology to provide real health and wellness benefits without compromising tactile qualities or comfort”. [Wow a new “technology” that is going to provide one with real heath etc.]

When I spoke with David Gray and asked him how his fiber could manage moisture initially I did not let him answer. I gave him an example of the body giving off moisture while he and I were talking, but if we then got involved in a vigorous activity how could we manage to control the involuntary action of our bodies giving off considerably more moisture. He was stumped and spoke of the scientists who are professors who work for him could better address my question. So far no one has called me.

I believe he also has fiber that will keep you warmer if it is blended into the yarn and then woven into fabric. I began to realize I needed chest waders and a shovel when communication with David Gray. But he is only following the vast number of people who work in the textile industry that live in a dream world.

Maybe there are a mass of people who fit the description applied by P.T. Barnum; “a sucker is born every minute”.