Invista’s Cordura brand, the so called ‘go-to fabric’ for durable, high performance gear and apparel, will show a wide array of fashionable, functional workwear designs along with inspirational garments created by winners of the Work ‘N Mode contest at Expoprotection 2014 in Paris, this week. 

Fabric and design innovations using Cordura Classic, Denim, and NYCO fabrics and unique designs with stylish functionality will be showcased.

“Increasingly, workwear is about more than just function alone,” said Cindy McNaull, Global Cordura Brand and Marketing Director. “Our Work ‘N Mode competition for fashion students at the L’Atelier Chardon Savard is an exciting way to get fresh minds thinking about the most creative ways to integrate fashion and function into work apparel using Cordura brand fabrics.”

 Rethinking traditional garments

The Work ’N Mode contest, hosted by Cordura brand for the students at the L’Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris was aimed at getting contestants to reinterpret and re-imagine work clothing for men and women using a broad range of performance fabrics from the Cordura fabric collection.

This integration of fashion and function encourages future designers to bring technical and fashion elements together into work clothing by freely and creatively rethinking the traditional garments, the company reports.

Finalists garments from the Work ‘N Mode contest will be on display in the Cordura brand stand along with sketches and design portfolios.

Professional work clothing

Alongside the Work ‘N Mode contest designs, the Cordura brand will feature a selection of branded professional work clothing that is said to demonstrate the versatility of Cordura fabrics for a wide range of protective and performance work apparel uses. Featured items include:

• Blaklader’s latest craftsman trouser designs (1960 and 1961) featuring Cordura NYCO fabric
• Dunderdon’s stylish P60 and P49 work jeans featuring hardwearing Cordura Denim fabric
• Ursuit Professional Redq Diving Suit with a rugged Cordura Classic fabric exterior

Featured Cordura Fabrics at the stand will include:

• Cordura Classic fabrics – new fabric constructions and textures for workwear garment reinforcements from mills such as Dae Huyn, LeeJo, CF Weber, Sasytex, Huamao and Dong Jin.
• Cordura NYCO fabrics – durable, comfortable, light weight constructions and styles with durable water repellent finishes suitable for next to skin work apparel from Penfabric, Malaysia.
• Cordura Denim fabrics – rugged, hardwearing work denims with stretch and thermoregulation capability from Artistic Milliners, Pakistan, and the latest styles from Arvind, India.
• Cordura Combat Wool fabrics – comfortable supple fabrics with the aesthetics of wool and the durability of nylon from Chang Ho, Taiwan and Chia Her Industrial, Taiwan.

High performance fabric

With leading brands including Lycra, Coolmax, Cordura, Stainmaster and Antron, Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibres.

The company’s Cordura fabric, known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, is a primary ingredient in many high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear and performance apparel.

www.cordura.com