The award-winning products were exhibited at the HighTex Forum of Keyhouse during Munich Fabric Start last week. © Munich Fabric Start

The winner of this year’s Innovation Award presented by Munich Fabric Start is Becker Tuche from Aachen. The company received the award for a new product development combining wool and Cordura with spandex – super lightweight and highly functional.

The woven fabric features high abrasion resistance despite its low weight, as well as very high water vapour permeability. Preferred areas of application are light outdoor styles, as well as streetwear and corporate fashion.

“I am very pleased with this Award. For more than a year now we at Becker Tuche have looked into mixing various clothing segments from fashion, sportswear/outdoor, Corporate Fashion and workwear. Against this background the Wool Performance series combines classic wovens in wool and wool blends with such functions as wind breaking and waterproofing well-known from sportswear. The result is an individually coordinated quality portfolio fit for many applications. In response to the strong interest we are currently developing other fabrics made of wool/Cordura with technical functions,” said Peter Recker, CEO, Becker Tuche.

Lightweight and sustainable

The runner-up was Soorty Enterprises, winning the second place with an extremely lightweight, recycled and water-repellent denim in a Tencel/nylon blend. Rain Shield convinced the jury with its elegant look in addition to numerous properties such as fast-drying finish, water-repellence, thermal insulation and shape retention. Furthermore, the denim boasts a super soft hand and is finished with a discreet shine.

Munich Fabric Start presents the HighTex Awards for innovative high-tech and sustainable product developments. © Munich Fabric Start

“At Soorty we are convinced that developing innovations is a fundamental responsibility. We are engineers by conviction and attach great importance to working restoratively and regeneratively. The product lifecycle starts with a design and its optimisation. This is how we develop products that “sound out” the limits of responsibility and benefits,” commented Salman Moten, Sr. Manager Marketing & Business Development-Denim, Soorty Enterprises.

“Rain Shield is characterised by a GOTS-certified surface treatment and bears the Bluesign seal thereby complying with the strict ecological and toxicological requirements. Rain Shield is a combination of Tencel and Repreve, recycled from post-industrial waste.”

Innovative and functional

With Hyperlight 3Layer and the associated continuous development of innovations and functional materials Mectex by Manifatture Italiane Scudieri came in third. The Italians are known for their high-tech developments in the sports and outerwear segment. As is the case with a reflective, heat insulating fabric that glows in the dark or an ultra-lightweight material with a graphene membrane that is both water-repellent, antimicrobial and breathable.

“We are pleased to be among the winners of the HighTex Award of the Munich Fabric Start. Our development standards, especially the award-winning Nexflow Graphene and Noxflow Combo Fluo / Aluminium articles, stand for our domain of technically highly developed and trend-setting innovative materials in the segments active wear, technical clothing and accessories for extreme sports. In addition, our fabrics offer a high utility value and optimal wearing comfort,” said David Head, Export Manager at Mectex by Manifatture Italiane Scudieri.

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