Arvind Limited is the latest textile manufacturer to embrace antiviral fabrics.
The Indian textile manufacturer announced a partnership with Swiss performance textile company HeiQ that will bring antiviral shirting and suiting fabrics, readymade garments and face masks to India. The garments will be sold under the brand Intellifabrix.
The featured antiviral technology, HeiQ Viroblock, is one of the world’s first technologies proven to be effective in laboratory testing against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It’s proven to actively inhibit viruses and kill them upon contact, reducing the possibility of transmission through clothing. Bacteria and viruses can otherwise live on textile surfaces for up to two days.
“The world is facing an unprecedented crisis due to COVID-19,” said Kulin Lalbhai, Arvind Limited executive director. “In this context, we are committed to keep our customers safe and that is why we have tied up with HeiQ to bring its revolutionary Viroblock technology to India.”
HeiQ Viroblock technology stays active on treated garments for up to 30 domestic washes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated health and safety concerns that the denim industry has been working to assuage. Earlier this year, Arvind shifted to manufacturing PPE suits and face masks to meet the new demands of the pandemic.
Textile makers and brands are increasingly shifting their focus to protective fashion. Turkish denim mill Calik Denim recently announced a collection of antimicrobial fabrics for Fall/Winter 2021. Fabric developer PG Denim and chemical specialist Rudolf Group are partnering on a fabric collection that will offer consumers protection from infectious bacteria. And finishing companies Jeanologia and Tonello each developed sanitization chambers that can be used throughout the denim supply chain.
