more nonsensical developments

MORE SMART CLOTHING

Formosa Taffeta targets “next evolution” in smart thermal clothing

Taiwanese textile specialist Formosa Taffeta Co. (FTC) has unveiled a new smart thermal clothing technology which is targeted at the hiking, outdoor and leisure markets.

It has been designed to allow the wearer to have more control over their temperature. This is achieved through a heating module attached to the garment, which can be controlled via Bluetooth from a smartphone.

The wearer is able to choose their desired temperature and the smart technology will ensure that this temperature is maintained within the garment. It will begin heating when the temperature drops and will stop heating once the pre-set temperature is reached. If the connection to the smartphone is lost, the temperature previously selected will be maintained.

“FTC’s launch of this smart thermal technology utilises advanced electronic printing techniques which is the result of two years’ collaboration with Dupont,” said James Lee, president of Formosa Taffeta. “We expect this new technology to bring momentum that would drive this industry into the next evolution.”

The company has said the key components of this technology are a “unique” membrane made by FTC and conductive circuits developed by DuPont’s Intexar smart clothing technology brand.

FTC has revealed it has already completed work on an automated production line which will allow the technology to be produced on a large scale.

The technology will be officially launched at the forthcoming ISPO exhibition in Munich (January 28-31, 2018).

Remarkable technology? Various companies are working on “smart” (?) electrical heating technology so unsuspecting techie consumers can waste their money on this stuff.

First of all I do not care what they claim about their technology it will not work for very long doing whatever they claim it will do. These companies do not understand you cannot fool the human body with this nonsense. Electrically heated socks and gloves have been around as far as I know since the 1960’s. If they were so good they would still be around today and of course there would be several companies making them, but they aren’t around except I think you can get them from the oldest mail order catalogue company in the country Hammacker Schlemmer.

The whole reason that this activity is taking place is to reduce the weight of insulated garments by adding to the garment a heating system. I recently wrote about the Army looking into this nonsense to potentially make garments for soldiers being deployed to Alaska in the winter months.

Imagine a house with walls that did not have fiberglass insulation in the walls and ceiling. Would the furnace ever turn off during the winter months? Of course not, when you have sustained cold you need as much insulation as you can get. When you are in sustained cold out in the field the clothing you are wearing must be capable of trapping and keeping the heat your body is producing for as long as possible. When you are in the arctic during the winter months temperatures in the minuses are not uncommon and if your clothing is not adequate you will freeze to death in short order, electric heaters in your clothing are useless and worthless.

So for you techies here is a new useless product for you to waste your money on.

EOG initiative takes on microfiber pollution

The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has provided details of the latest initiatives designed to address the issues of microfiber pollution as part of the Outdoor Industry Microfiber Consortium, an ongoing project involving outdoor brands and research partners.

The first stage of the project will involve the development of an infographic and roadmap towards eliminating microfibre pollution, alongside an applied research project carried out by one of its partners, the University of Leeds.

The initiative aims to create a shared understanding of the challenges presented by microfibres and to build knowledge of the factors that will play a role in finding viable solutions that the industry can implement.

As well as the University of Leeds, textile industry specialist biov8tion is also a research partner for this organisation. Major brands to be involved include Berghaus, Finisterre, Kering, Mammut, Paramo and The North Face.

Katy Stevens, sustainability project manager, has said: “We have been delighted with the proactive and collaborative response of the outdoor and clothing industries to tackle this issue head on and believe that the new projects will undoubtedly contribute to scientific understanding, communications, and the development of solutions.”

The EOG has said the new infographic and roadmap will be the first in the industry to map out the interlinked parts of the microfibre challenge. It aims to demonstrate the effect of raw materials and processes across the supply chain, as well as later examining the consumer-facing aspect of the industry.

The University of Leeds’ one-year research project will begin by validating a pilot test methodology to provide an industry standard on microfibres. This will be a vital step to evaluating fabric performance and will contribute to new materials development and innovation.

Research will then focus on building a comprehensive picture of why microfibre shedding occurs and how production and use factors can influence that. The objective will be to move the industry closer to finding ways to address the problem, through prevention, or the re-engineering of fibres and fabrics with reduced shedding propensities.

The EOG has said there are opportunities for more organisations to be involved in developing the roadmap as well as potential roles for other research and development partners from across the supply chain. More information can be obtained from the Outdoor Industry Microfibre Consortium (responsibility@europeanoutdoorgroup.com).

I consider what the EOG is doing is make work and making themselves feel important.

Fabrics like cotton and wool have been in existence for thousands of years and they also shed some of their fibre’s but the fabrics have remained together for who knows how many years. With our advanced methods of making fabrics while some fibre will shed I know the fabrics will not just keep shedding until it disappears. I also know that at some point the residue of fibre that exists on new fabric will come to an end, so no more will break away.

I also know that the use of microfiber is very small compared to the traditionally used larger synthetic fibre.

All of the major brands named are only interested in being able to state they are creating a smaller footprint because of their concern for the environment. They want to “eliminate microfiber pollution” which is a joke. Throughout the western world the number of garments sold made from fabric which is made from microfiber material might be 1 million and that is probably a high number. In order to make 1 million garments the mills would have to product 2 ½ million yards and that is a number the mills would love to see.

For those of you who believe that this is a necessary endeavour that the EOG is working on you should check the labels of all of the knit garments you find attractive to make sure they are not made from microfiber materials.