Textile Insight

"With a focus on workwear, our consumer has always layered. ey may leave the house before it gets light out and then it warms up throughout the day. We are putting effort into designing more comfortable layering pieces. We have moved to more synthetic blends, added stretch and have gone lighter in weight. But the foundation of our brand is durability." — Deb Ferraro, VP global product development and technical design, Carhartt. Carhartt recently reworked its SuperDux line, which was launched in 1930 by Hamilton Carhartt's son, Wylie Carhartt, as a waterproof option for hunters and fishermen. Each piece in the new SuperDux line features Carhartt's Rugged Flex (for stretch/movement), Rain Defender and Wind Fighter technology. Styles have the look of traditional duck with either a lighter nylon fabric (35 percent weight reduction) plus 3M insulate or a nylon stretch shell laminated with a dense Sherpa. Bib Overalls feature Cordura reinforced kick panels. Climate-Sheltering Footwear "We have noticed items that have functional appeal, as well as elements of fashion, are dominating the market. is could be water- proofing or water resistance, or some type of insulation/lining, but combined with trends that you wouldn't expect to see performance features in." — Sydney Simas, VP sales and marketing, Simco Imported Shoes. e Phisis is a shoe that features a flexible knit upper that stretches for ease (wrapping the foot like a sock) when slipping on and off. Due to the technical characteristics of the yarn (100 percent recycled polyester) and its construction (double-sided knit with thermoformed resin on the sides near the sole), it has a higher repellency to water drop penetration than a conventional knit shoe. ere is a removable recycled insole, antiviral sole and the production process is zero waste. "Slides that can be worn with socks in the fall/winter/spring (and without in the summer) are seeing a rise. We also see booties that are bought in the fall and worn with a jacket and jeans, worn again in the summer with a pretty boho dress. We have started using water-resistant leathers in some boots for harsh winters, with a warmer lining. Additionally, we have vegan, knitted styles that can be worn year-round and are easy on/off." — Ayelet Lax Levy, president, Naot Footwear USA. Naot products are handcraed in Israel, using all Italian leather, even in water-re- sistant product, for the country's stricter environmental laws. The cork used is Portuguese and harvested off trees every 40 years. e Helm bootie features double zippers for accessibility, along with a padded heel cup and instep for comfort. Naot's removable, anatomic cork & latex footbed is wrapped in microfiber and leather and molds to the shape of the foot with wear. It contains a 1.5" polyurethane sole with a metal shank which is extremely lightweight, durable & abrasive to prevent slipping. n IN THE STUDIO / CROSS-FUNCTIONAL FABRICS 26 • Textile Insight ~ November/December 2022 textileinsight.com Outdoor Research Swift Air Cap Craft ADV Essence Hydro Jacket Arcopedico Phisis Naot Helm

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