Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1523540
Fashion Leads When shoppers today drop a couple hundred dollars on an athleisure/active outfit, they expect to wear it everywhere. is is a change from just a few years ago, where one would never think of wearing schlubby workout clothes to lunch. With that, there is a certain expectation of both fashion and function, some of which has trickled down from the upper echelons of what some Japanese brands like And Wander and Comfy Outdoor Garment have done, described by ALLIED Feather + Down Creative Director Matthew Betcher as "driving fashion and performance in a sincere way." Interest continues to grow "as these types of garments tend to last longer and have a wider range of use, making expensive purchases more valuable for the consumer." From studio to street, FP Movement offers performance-ready activewear that reflects the power of movement. e Philadelphia, PA-based brand's new packable Iridescent Bio-Based Membrane Singin In the Rain Jacket ($298) features a plant-based (castor beans) waterproof 3L membrane powered by eVent BIO; and is fully seam sealed, has a wind-resistant finish, Velcro adjustable cuff detail, zippered front pockets and reflective details. "People from the active fashion world are seeking out technology," explained Chad Kelly, eVent president. "Just five or six years ago, no one wanted to talk about bio products. Today, all are coming around to it," he added. eVent BIO is a light, tough and flexible membrane that offers protection against wind, rain and snow in a highly breathable laminate. e 2024 Sweaty Betty x Merrell Collection is described as "where fashion meets function in a seamless fusion of style and performance." In its Merrell Moab Speed 2 x Sweaty Betty, the outdoor firm brings technical details — like abrasion-tested rubber and Lightweight FlexPlate technology — while the metallic accents and high style quotient are an ode to the fitness brand. "The Moab Speed 2 feeds into the modern culture of fast, athletic hiking pursuits with the support you need," said Merrell VP of product management, Shaun Bohnsack. Dialed-In Durability Pickleball brand Stack Athletics "has benefited from streetwear culture blending into all aspects of consumer products," but its primary focus is "technical performance products built for the courts — for getting sweaty, hard drives, big lunges and long rallies," according to the company's brand director, August Simmons. Stack's new men's Tourney Short went through multiple rounds of iterations to find the right fit in both the short and liner. e MellowMesh liner is described as "milky smooth, while giving the perfect amount of stretch, support and breathability." 20 • Textile Insight ~ Summer 2024 textileinsight.com Featherie Founder Kate Korngold Nishat x CORDURA NYCO Fabric Capsule Collection MODERN PERFORMANCE