ANDOVER, Mass. — JUNE 13, 2018 — Polartec has introduced the upgraded Polartec® Power Fill™ insulation, now made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. This best-in-class fill insulation led the industry when it was introduced with 80-percent recycled content just one year ago, and now has reached this sought after milestone more quickly than previously thought possible. Long a leader in sustainable fabrics, Polartec has now upcycled over one billion post-consumer plastic bottles into hundreds of fabric styles and category-creating platforms.

Polartec Power Fill is warm, lightweight package insulation that is hydrophobic, fast-drying, and highly compressible. Polartec Power Fill is made of proprietary hollow fibers that are bonded together through a process that reduces environmental impact, while simultaneously providing superior insulating properties, durability and hand.

This unique process also results in a more stable layer, removing the need for disposable scrims, stabilizing agents, or carriers used by some competing insulations. Unnecessary scrims add weight and may not be made from recycled content, possibly skewing warmth-to-weight ratios and recycled content measurements. By eliminating the need for a wasteful scrim, Polartec Power Fill is warmer for its weight, reduces cold spots and aesthetic changes from migrating fibers, and opens up countless design possibilities.

“Finding sustainable solutions is a core objective of our science of fabric,” says Gary Smith, Polartec CEO. “We’re proud to have ‘cracked the code’ required to produce premium quality insulation from 100-percent PCR materials.”

100-percent recycled Polartec Power Fill is currently available in 80 and 100 g/m² weights, with the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification. Polartec Power Fill products are currently available from customers Bight Gear and Triple Aught Design, with product also planned from Blackyak, Crazy Idea, Giro, Goldwin, Millet, P1G-Tac, Reusch and Samas.

Posted June 13, 2018

Source: Polartec

TOLLAND, Conn. — June 13, 2018 — 3-D has been the topic of conversation in the industry for many years. The promise of time savings and value generation are substantial, but to date the challenge has been ease of use and how to address the needs of different users in an integrated way. “At PI Apparel New York, Gerber will present an end-to-end 3-D platform strategy and host a panel discussion covering the needs of users from creative design through pattern making, product, e-commerce and merchandising platforms as well as educators who support the fashion value chain,” stated Bill Grindle, chief marketing officer, Gerber Technology.

Integration is the key to truly realizing the promise of 3-D. “Today, there are a variety of great solutions to support different stages of the supply chain, but they are all just point solutions, addressing individual user needs but not delivering on the full opportunity 3-D can bring to our industry,” said Mary McFadden, executive director CAD product management at Gerber. “For 50 years, customer feedback has been a central part of our product development and our 3-D platform strategy is directly driven by the needs of our customers.”

At PI Apparel New York, Gerber will host a panel of experts to discuss 3-D — from educating the future fashion leaders through the entire product development and supply chain. Panelists will include:

• Steve Frumkin – Dean, Fashion Institute of Technology;
• Amnon Shalev – CEO & founder, Virtuality.Fashion;
• David Macy – vice president of Product, Avametric;
• Pep Torres – innovation manager, Happy Punt;
• Christian Harris – 3D product owner, Gerber Technology; and
• Karsten Newbury – senior vice president & general manager, Gerber Technology.

Posted June 13, 2018

Source: Gerber Technology