what to do with water; accept it!

WATER; WATER EVERY “WEAR” AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

Ever since the gore company presented to the outerwear market place their material that never worked, does not work now nor will it ever work the companies that make outerwear have been obsessed with the idea that they need a water repellent finish on the fabrics used to make outerwear. They also want the finish put on the fabrics to not negatively affect the environment. So, in this regard they listen to any snake oil salesman that comes along who promises that he has a water repellent that is also capable of allowing the moisture from the human body out! The latest machination is from a company named Aquavent.

Aquavent is a polymer that is applied to fabrics. The polymer is basically polyester or a plastic in a powdered form that is I believe melted to a liquid form and this is applied to the fabric. So you have a polyester chemical being stuck to a synthetic material fabric causing it to become water resistant just like the dwr chemicals. The difference is that this method does not require water as the carrier for the chemical and when it cures it is melted to whatever fabric it is applied too. Because it supposedly does not clog the spaces between the yarns it remains air permeable. Hence the contraction of two words Aqua and vent to make one.

This method of enhancing a synthetic fabrics ability to shed water may be valid, however, it does nothing that will help vent vapor produced by the person wearing the jacket.

There are many chemical companies working on water repellents that are free of toxic chemicals that wash out of garments, and this method doesn’t and in my opinion big deal. I have used pure finished fabrics for years (no finishes added after dying) and because they are synthetic they naturally shed water. And of course they all want to somehow enhance the movement of sweat away from you. Unless you wear fishnets that is not going to happen! But they try to tie the two actions together.

I have come to the conclusion that water repellent treatment is of no value. I believe that stain repellent which may be the same is very necessary on fabrics used for furniture, but when it comes to outerwear it is not necessary in my opinion.

I also suspect the costs involved in this process are much higher than the standard methods of applying dwr finishes. If memory serves correct the application of dwr has a cost of maybe $0.10 per yard. Based upon the machines shown on their web site and the fact that it is only polymers that once applied to fabric and will never breakdown as in wash away they may want $0.50 per yard or more.

If the textile companies ended the use of dwr and all of the other chemicals they think are necessary on fabrics the number of people who have developed chemical sensitivities will diminish. I am convinced that chemical sensitivities are acquired when we are subjected to them often and long enough, we are not necessarily born with them. There are water repellents, bug repellents, odor repellents, fire retardants and who knows what else someone will decide we have to be protected from with a new chemical. Is it any wonder why more and more people at younger ages are developing cancers it is all the chemicals they have been subjected too.

As I write this I was thinking about the mid to late 1940’s when I was a kid. At that time the winters in the NYC area were brutal. Anyway my mother dressed us like the two boys in “The Christmas Story”, could hardly move but never go cold or wet and the garments were wool or cotton primarily. Some could have been nylon but I do not remember. The reality was I as a youth was never introduced to chemicals in my clothing; so far so good I do not have cancer.

When I was in the army I as my mates found out it doesn’t rain in the army it rains on the army. So I ask what is so wrong with getting wet. I can’t tell you how often I was wet during the six years I sailed, but it was most days. You don’t get water logged or float away you just get wet, big deal. You get wet in the shower or a swimming pool, ocean or lake.

Every person going into the bush that has purchased a garment described as waterproof and breathable gets wet, why they don’t return these garments is amazing to me but it’s their money.

All I see from this aquavent company is a company that is offering nothing of value for the consumer but will try to get a company or companies to buy into their chemical for use on fabrics they use for outerwear.