PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series. © PrimaLoft

PrimaLoft, a leader in advanced material technology, has introduced PrimaLoft Next, a brand new, innovative textile platform that combines the thermal advantages of insulation with the versatility of fabric.

PrimaLoft Next is designed to provide freedom for the design of garments that deliver lightweight warmth and breathability, without the bulk. The PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series is the first collection within this platform and will be on display at Outdoor by ISPO in Munich. Early adopter of the new innovation is the German outdoor brand Schöffel, having first products available on retail beginning summer 2020.

“PrimaLoft Next was created to meet the demands of designers and consumers striving for individuality within a sea of sameness,” said Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft. “It is a hybrid solution that leverages the benefits of insulation with the flexibility of fabric, inviting experimentation by designers seeking to break away from the standard look of insulated apparel.”

Freedom of design

An increased resistance to fibre migration enables greater flexibility to pair with open structure fabrics, and its durability allows for dyed options that provide unique colour opportunities, the company says. Uninhibited by restrictions in fabric pairings or quilting requirements, designers can experiment with colours, textures and silhouettes to create distinct designs. In addition to pairing with shell and liner fabrics, next-to-skin and stand-alone applications are also possible. This year’s jury of the Outdoor by ISPO Textrends panel have honoured PrimaLoft Next as Top 5 in the category Fibres and Insulation.

For consumers, PrimaLoft Next will result in all-season garments that deliver lightweight warmth when at rest, and extreme breathability when active. Aesthetically, apparel featuring PrimaLoft Next products will allow consumers to choose from a much wider array of unique styles, while providing high levels of performance, the manufacturer concludes.

Mimicking animal fur

The PrimaLoft Evolve Series, available beginning summer 2020, is the first product family under the PrimaLoft Next platform. Modelled after the structural benefits found in nature, the Evolve Series leverages biomimicry to engineer a unique series of products that emulate biological processes. Mimicking properties found in animal fur, the products in this series are constructed with fibres of differing lengths and thickness to create natural highs and lows in the material.

Schöffel’s jacket. © PrimaLoft

This produces open structures designed to maximise airflow when on the move, and air entrapment when at rest, for optimal thermal performance. The result is a thermoregulating system that behaves like multiple layers, without the need for layering. The Evolve Series will be available in both natural or dyed options, as well as in four different constructions of varying weights and textures.

Schöffel, a German brand with a discerning focus on the most innovative fabrics and techniques, has signed on as an early adopter of the PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series. “For our customers, we are always looking for functional innovations that meet our high standards as a quality leader. The features of PrimaLoft Next Series immediately convinced us, and we are pleased to bring this novelty to the market in sophisticated products as the first global brand,” commented Günther Herrmann, Head of Product, Marketing and Sales at Schöffel Sportbekleidung.

Reducing environmental impact

PrimaLoft has prioritised reducing environmental impact and consistently strives to diminish its footprint. As such, the PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series includes options utilising 58-71% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series is also bluesign and Oeko-Tex certified.

Comprised of 100% polyester, the PrimaLoft Next Evolve Series may be chemically recycled for use in a circular economy. Circularity, or a circular economy, is an economic system aimed at minimising waste and re-capturing usable resources for reuse within the system, thus eliminating the need to introduce fresh, natural resources and creating a closed loop. The chemical recycling process breaks down polyester to its basic components so that it can be rejuvenated into a new high-performance material without compromising its original integrity.

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