As the lines between sports and fashion continue to blur, textile technologies that deliver performance properties are becoming common in lifestyle and urban products, Schoeller Technologies reports.

In particular, denim fabrics are becoming more functional through treatments that repel water and mud. As a result, Schoeller Technologies’ durable water repellent textile technology, ecorepel, is gaining attention.

Levi’s is the first brand in the US to use ecorepel finishing technology. For its Commuter Collection, which was built with the urban cyclist in mind, Levi’s chose the ecological finish for its water and dirt repelling function.

Protective function

Ecorepel biomimics the protective function found on the feathers of waterfowl, the company reports. The environmentally sound textile finish is based on paraffin that is in honeycomb-like chains that wrap around the fibres.

This is said to reduce the surface tension of the textile so that water and mud simply run off of the textile. Ecorepel is completely free from fluorocarbons and is biodegradable, according to the manufacturer. The technology is also wash and abrasion resistant and is said not to affect the hand or the breathability of the fabric.

Denim applications

The Italian denim brand SPIDIDENIM offers motorsport lifestyle clothing featuring NanoSphere, another durable water-repellent (DWR) finish from Schoeller.

NanoSphere has been used in denims by the Dutch brand Vingino, well-known for making trendy children’s fashion. The bluesign-approved NanoSphere technology is said to provide a heavy-duty water, oil and dirt repellent textile finish based on a future-oriented nanotechnology free from PFOS and PFOA.

“Urban lifestyle and textile function – these two terms no longer have to be used independently. Our textile technologies are universally applicable, which allows us to develop an out-of-the-box look and to develop new ideas and combinations in the area of textile finishing,” said Hans U. Kohn, COO Schoeller Technologies.

www.schoeller-tech.com