Apparel companies that want to adapt to the world of lean manufacturing and incorporate more performance fabrics into their collections should take note of the latest release from CoolVisions.
The maker of the first dyeable polypropylene staple fiber has introduced a dyeable polypropylene filament with a cool, silky hand, produced in Thailand by parent company Indorama Ventures.
The filament debuted earlier this year in a collection of functional, weft-knit fabrics created by Taiwanese textile manufacturer Da Fon International that are breathable and moisture wicking, and which currently appear in Santo’s Win-Fit 2016 performance line.
“Today there is a demand for more sophisticated functional fibers with appealing aesthetics, ease of handling and a sustainable profile,” stated Susan Lynn, global sales and marketing manager of CoolVisions dyeable polypropylene and U.S. marketing manager for FiberVisions. “Our new dyeable filament, currently available as 70/72 POY and textured versions, brings these desirable qualities to the table, along with polypropylene’s inherent properties such as moisture management and low moisture regain, thermal regulation, durability, bleach and stain resistance, and improved coverage at a lower weight.”
The filament is offered in two versions: CoolVisions Standard, suitable for light to medium dyes, and CoolVisions Dark, which achieves deeper shades with less dyestuff on dark colors. The company said that both products deliver 2A wash fastness with the use of high energy disperse dyes. Indorama Ventures recently doubled its capacity for the dyeable polypropylene filament, with plans to expand to 150 and 300 denier versions, too.
Lynn said a number of outdoor and activewear brands are developing fabrics using the dyeable polypropylene filament which will be showcased at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market next month.