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Fabric Capsule Collection. "It's light enough to play tennis in, but also chic enough to wear out to dinner with a super so handfeel that merges the lifestyle aspect with the durability you need," said Jennyka Wassermann, U.S. marketing and development manager for Nishat Mills. e inspiration for the collection were modeling photos of Wassermann's dad from the 1960's bicycling, golfing and playing tennis; now recreated with CORDURA Advanced Fabrics. While historically customers identify CORDURA with heavyweight workwear-type canvas and twills, the new collection uses lighter weight materials. With lighter weights, CORDURA can be applied to athleisure, streetwear and fashion customers. Cindy McNaull, CORDURA Brand Business Development Director, explained that "while comfort through lighter weights, mobility, and soness have each been important in active apparel, trend indicators also suggest that consumers today are putting increasingly more importance on products that are built to last." Channeling Comfort Global manufacturer of activewear and swimwear for lifestyle and performance brands, Active Apparel Group (AAG), works with a plethora of clients including Bandier, Alwrld, Tracksmith and Title Nine. AAG Chief Design Officer Lori Oscher is witnessing the "demarcation in daily life between professional wear and activewear with consumers desiring the same performance attributes from their ready to wear as found in their activewear, including comfort, anti-odor, quick dry and thermoregulation, to name a few," the exec explained. e firm is increasingly focused on supplying comfort enhancements to clients, including anti-chafe seams and hyper evaporation technologies. Oscher said that customers are gravitating to graphene textiles, Askin cooling fabrics and UV-protecting fabrics. When it comes to handfeel, "buttery" seems to be the current buzzword. Free Fly, Lululemon and Vuori are actively promoting super- so, buttery garments. "e psychology of comfortable, 'buttery' fabrics plays a significant role in the popularity of this type of active lifestyle apparel and we need to understand why consumers are increasingly drawn to this," stated Christopher Parkes, president of Concept III textile-based product solutions. e importance of durability need not be lost. "As we look ahead with comfortable active lifestyle apparel, we cannot sacrifice quality," he said. "Designing with the highest performance standards in mind, ensuring durability and comfort for all-day wear," Featherie creates tech-savvy, trend right options for young female golfers, according to founder Kate Korngold. So, comfortable fabrics "ensure she feels great, on and off the course," while breathability and moisture-wicking proper- ties keep her competitive, the exec noted. Korngold, a teenage golfer, aimed to create modern and stylish pieces including pull-on pants with a racing stripe and polo shirt with a tulip hem. e Erin Half Zip Sleeveless Top has a mock neck and auto-locking zipper to prevent unzipping and exposing undergarments during one's swing. Korngold's favorite piece is the Primalo- filled Whitney 2-in-1 Jacket "because of how versatile and stylish it is." Zip-off sleeves (which can be stored in hidden pockets inside the jacket) transform it into a vest. A hidden zipper behind the shoulder doesn't prohibit one's swing. "is piece is perfect for early morning tee times, when it's cold, but then heats up in the aernoon," she said. e high-stretch twill Carli Skort has a compression short, plus tee holders and ball holders on the short underneath the skirt. "It is the perfect length, has stretch and is extremely comfortable," concluded Korngold. n sportstylemag.com • sportstyle July/August 2024 • 19 Nishat x CORDURA NYCO Fabric Capsule Collection

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