Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/875036
Are there other technologies or textile innovations you'd like to try in the future? "Eco is very important to us and we've started to explore some recycled yarn options that allow us to choose the region where the plastic bottles are collected to then be repurposed into polyester. GoldFusion is in fact eco-friendly and the technology solution is safe enough to drink!" Wearable technology comes in so many forms. Would you say what you create in apparel is wearable technology? "Quite literally we have yarn technologies that people wear, so in some ways Rhone is wearable tech. There is a fabric that we are utilizing for Spring 2018 that will really open eyes as to what a piece of clothing can do for performance." Keith Nevin, Senior Designer, RYU Apparel Where do you find ideas for technology in your garments? "Technology ideas are solution based – how to solve a problem or make a garment work better, for example. Solving specific needs comes from wearing our clothes, working out in them, jumping on a bike, sitting at our desks, etc. Head office, store staff, brand connectors and customers give us feedback on everything from sports bras to backpacks." Tell me about a couple of your favorite material technologies employed in your garments. "Innovating on the everyday gets us excited – things like developing lighter-weight warp knits but still maintaining a powerful spandex stretch/recovery, and replacing traditional encased elastics in garments with a Powermesh layer." How important are materials and technology to men in choosing a garment? "The materials and technology must speak for themselves, as men primarily still want something that looks good on the hanger and feels right in the hand. Gone are the days when a man was impressed with extra technology hangtags/booklets swinging from garments in-store. Technology is still secondary when choosing a garment." Are there other technologies or textile innovations you'd like to try in the future? "We are always looking for ways to eliminate seams, reduce stitching and make clothing look cleaner. For example, using engineered materials where you can change up denier across the garment to allow for high-abrasion areas or more breathability. This body mapping is normal in seamless programs, but has only just started being incorporated into other areas of production. This works both by making open width fabric 'smarter' and reducing waste (and extra manufacturing steps). We're also curious to utilize ultrasonic seaming to replace traditional stitching." Wearable technology comes in so many forms. Would you say what you create in apparel is wearable technology? "Wearable technology can be something as simple as a cleverly placed iPhone pocket to an anti-bacterial finish on raw materials. The idea where bits of hardware/soft- ware were incorporated into garments never worked. Clothing needs to adapt to our lives; make us look good, feel empowered, incorporate our external media and be ready to go from stationary to full gallop." O textileinsight.com September / October 2017 ~ Textile Insight • 55 Left to right : Strongbody Apparel; RYU Ethos Pullover and Everywear Jogger; Rhone Sequoia Air Pullover with Gold Fusion technology; Rhone Commuter Pant; RYU Vapor Crew Neck Tee.