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W hen it comes to textiles today it's all about creating product that is best for the athlete and best for the planet, too. In the past these factors ran on two separate and distinct tracks of textile development — one steered toward elevating functionality in textiles, while the other progressed by focusing on organic materials. What's driving innovation now is the ability to make apparel and footwear from fabrics that are functionally sound as well as environmentally responsible, giving rise to a new category of textiles known as Eco Performance. It's Only Natural Growing concerns about the state of the environment at large, and the impact tex- tiles have on these issues, has prompted a resurgence of interest in natural fibers and we're seeing a slew of new functional wools and cottons enter the market. Tencel, made from wood pulp, is another natural fiber gaining traction for sportswear for its so feel and performance properties. One nat- ural fiber stealing the spotlight right now is hemp. e fiber is similar to cotton, but has greater strength and abrasion, antimicrobial properties and UV resistance, according to growers. Another good example of the "function meets nature" textile trend is Under Armour's new Rush performance apparel. e fabric features Celliant, a textile ingredient that improves performance and energy return. e technology combines a blend of nat- ural minerals that absorbs the energy the body emits and reflects it back into tissues and muscles, promoting more speed, more strength and more stamina. Tackling the Plastics Problem Synthetic materials have long been a mainstay in active sportswear thanks to polyester's ability to wick, cool and dry super-fast during sweat soaked workouts. But with the ocean plastics pollution crisis making headlines there is growing interest within the textile community (and amongst consumers) to innovate synthetic textiles — polyesters in particular — in ways that don't sacrifice performance, yet won't end up polluting waterways and/or add to over- flowing landfill waste. Laundering polyester garments contributes to the plastics pollution problem. According to recent reports on micro-fiber pollution, the number of individual fibers that can be rinsed off a single synthetic (polyester) garment and end up in the ocean is 1900. Recycled polyester made from plastic water bottles has become a go-to material across categories in recent years, with efforts to recycle nylon following suit. Cost concerns, in addition to doubts about functionality, no longer hinder the acceptance of recycled IN THE MARKET B Y E M I L Y WA L Z E R What's Next in the Active/Outdoor/Sports Textile Scene Top Textile Trends Under Armour Rush Apparel features Celliant textile technology. 10 • Sports Insight May/June 2019 sportsinsightmag.com