warmth from knitwear?

Warmth and functionality from new Teijin knitwear collection

05/12/2023

Fibre developer Teijin Frontier has launched a new collection of seamless knitwear for outdoor sports, giving it the name Microft AR.

It describes the collection as offering warmth and comfort combined, with a high functionality. It will launch Microft AR in time for the autumn-winter 2024-2025 season and has predicted that it will sell 100,000 pieces during its 2026 fiscal year.

The clothing is made from 100% recycled polyester, using proprietary Deltapeak high-performance polyester filament yarn as the core. Teijin has said this creates a high-density loop structure to provide favourable raising and bulky heat-insulating performance, while preventing fibres from falling off.

Performance properties include sweat-absorbency, quick-drying and high breathability. The garments will also be highly compactable, folding to a small size.

Now I am seeing something new that is a contradiction in terms. Knitwear is always close fitting to the body. What does this mean? it means all of your body’s perspiration is trapped by the close knitted fabric. Initially the perspiration also gets into the fabric. Being polyester, it is not absorbed but coated by the moisture. This action is what happens with all polyester knitted garments.

The fact that they have raised the loop structure has no meaning. The fabric is close to the body and initially it will warm to the body temperature but because it also retains the moisture which will cool and as it does it will absorb the heat causing a chilling effect.

They are misleading with their statement; “Performance properties include sweat-absorbency, quick-drying and high breathability.” Since the fiber used is polyester it cannot absorb any sweat. So long as the garment is being worn quick-drying just doesn’t happen particularly if it is your first layer of clothing. breathability is immaterial since vapor isn’t going anyplace.

Keep in mind that Teijin is going to be marketing these garments in the “autumn-winter 2024-2025 season”. So, you know they are aiming to sell them as winterwear.

Here you have one more large company desiring to make a mark in the market with an insulated product by virtue of a yarn being knitted in a manner for insulating purposes. Considering the volume, they are talking about “100,000” pieces they better get started.

If people buying these garments read the information labels carefully, they will learn from use the garments are no different than all of the other polyester close knit garments on the market.