Turkish owned polyester producer Advansa says its Thermocool polyester brand with cooling properties is now successfully established in the market just two years after its launch. The company says that more and more knitters are signing up to become licensees in order to be able to offer garment manufacturers access to the high-tech fibre for their collections.

Drawing on its industry experience in multi-channel fibres and functional fabrics, Advansa says it designed Thermocool with multifunctional characteristics, to provide not just evaporative cooling in order to keep the user cool and comfortable when hot and perspiring, but also thermo-buffering, when cold and shivering.

ECO version

Advansa claims that Thermocool fabrics reduce the impact of exposure to external temperatures, keeping the user warm and thermo regulated. “The body is kept at a comfortable temperature level whatever the outside temperature or the physical intensity of the wearer’s activity,” says Advansa.  For customers concerned about the impact of polyester on the environment, Thermocool is also available in an ECO version that uses a polymer made from renewable resources, such as corn, instead of traditional petrochemical derivates, the company adds.

Speaking after last week’s A+A Safety & Health at work show in Dusseldorf, Silvia Toledo, Market Manager Advansa said:  “It is becoming more and more interesting for workwear and corporate wear applications. Leading knitters and weavers are supporting us in our efforts to respond to the market’s requirements with new product developments; they are offering garment manufacturers various styles in fabrics to provide multifunctional garments according to the needs of the wearers.”

Cool knits

In terms of knitted fabrics, the existing single jerseys and piqués are now being augmented by more and more blended and bonded fabrics, Advansa says.  Circular and seamless knitters Eschler Textil from Germany, Sintex from Czech Republic, A. Sampaio and Gulbena from Portugal, Pontetorto from Italy, Sofileta from France and Fieratex from Greece have all used Thermocool in their recent or current collections.

Other users of the fibre include Flotats, Lurbel and Isoral from Spain and Barco Tekstil from Turkey and Orneule Oy from Finland is finding the perfect combination for body temperature regulation, offering single jersey and piqué fabrics, Advansa says. Several Asian manufacturers have also developed jersey and pique fabrics with Thermocool, including Unique Way, Joinfair, Textile Tech, Helun Knitting and Shanghai Challenge.

Cool sportswear

In the sports arena, Advansa says that Germany’s New Wave Sportswear brand has seen the advantages of the specially designed Thermocool fibre with multi-functionality: evaporative-cooling and thermo-buffering, reducing the exposure impact with external temperatures, protecting the user from temperature changes, especially in demanding Rowing Regatta Competitions. During the World-Cup Regattas and Championships, the German national rowing team was equipped with functional T-Shirts from new wave with fabrics being supplied by Eschler.

Advansa says that in running, leading brands are also benefitting from Thermocool’s unique properties: “Leading running gear brand ASICS has seen in the new and revolutionary ECO garments that have been specially designed for them, the perfect material for their new running performance apparel collection as it offers a step forward in functionality and a new overall understanding of how the body reacts during exercise. ASICS is the first running company in the world to incorporate such technology in their range.” Advansa adds.

Other well-known brands in the sportswear market, TAO, Medico and Glenmuir Golf, have all introduced Thermocool into their collections. Advansa says, choosing the right functional clothes for exhausting and long lasting competitions is highly important for athletes as the garments need to provide evaporative-cooling and thermo-buffering.