Making Sense Of Technical Fabrics

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If you’d asked most people a few seasons ago whether they’d want a sweatshirt made from a surfer’s wetsuit, the answer would have probably been a firm no. But now it’s a different story, such are the charms of performance fabrics, which can often be as good-looking as they are practical.

Chalk it up to the rise of athleisure or a greater demand for functional pieces, but designers from the high-end to the high street are in a scramble to go high-tech.

With that, of course, comes a load of new jargon to get a grip on. Don’t know your Gore-Tex from Al Gore? Here’s a rundown of the the smart textiles making waves in wardrobes.

Neoprene

Neoprene (also known by its non-technical name of ‘that squishy scuba material’) has been enjoying life on land in recent seasons, but it’s certainly no fish out of water in stylish men’s wardrobes.

Resistant to heat and weathering, waterproof and an able insulator, the earliest version of the fabric was developed as an alternative to rubber during World War I.

In its most fashion-friendly guise, raw neoprene has been foamed and as a result contains air pockets that ensure it’s an excellent insulator while remaining lightweight.

Best for: Insulating sweatshirts.

Men's Neoprene Clothing

scotch & soda Neoprene Sweater - Click to buy PUMA X Trapstar Sweatshirt - Click to buy ASOS Backpack In Scuba With Contrast - Click to buy ARKK COPENHAGEN Raven low-top neoprene trainers - Click to buy

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex sprung to life as part of a happy accident in 1969 when Wilbert L. Gore and his son stretched a heated rod of polytetrafluoroethylene too quickly. Like neoprene, it’s microporous (9bn pores per square inch to be exact) and prides itself and on being waterproof, windproof and breathable. The crucial difference is that it’s much thinner.

How does it work? Modern versions of Gore-Tex boast a porous membrane which is enclosed in high performance lining and outer textiles. This means in cold, wet weather you’ll be well-insulated and warm, but if you’re getting hot and sweaty, the fabric will allow moisture to pass through its membrane and away from the body.

It’s this combination of water repellency and sweat-releasing technology that makes Gore-Tex so indispensable in all weather conditions.

Best for: All-weather jackets that can resist wind, rain and expel sweat. Take that temperamental British weather.

Men's Gore-Tex Clothing

HERNO Black GORE-TEX shell coat - Click to buy ARC'TERYX Anertia GORE-TEX Full-Grain Leather Gloves - Click to buy Under Armour GORE-TEX Paclite 1/2 Zip - Click to buy CLARKS ORIGINALS GORE-TEX DESERT BOOT - Click to buy

Rubberized Cotton

Rubber and cotton don’t seem like the most harmonious couple on paper, they sound like a sticky, hairy mess. When in fact, the fabric has been bolstering men’s wardrobes for generations.

The brainchild of Charles Mackintosh (yes, the father of the mac), rubberized cotton was initially used for the iconic raincoat, but brought with it a sticky touch and strong smell. Fast forward a couple of hundred years and rubberized cotton is now just as rainproof but won’t leave a residue on your fingers.

Modern versions involve bonding flexible rubber to a cotton base. The result is rain-resistant fabric with a lightweight yet structured feel.

Best for: No prizes for guessing: raincoats.

Men's Rubberised Cotton Clothing

STUTTERHEIM Stockholm burgundy rubberised raincoat - click to buy belstaff WEYBRIDGE JACKET - click to buy A.P.C. STEFAN BACKPACK - click to buy hunter Original Top Clip Backpack - click to buy

HeatTech

Now that your phone can practically make your bed remotely, it stands to reason that clothing too should come equipped with high-tech wizardry. Step forward HeatTech, high street retailer Uniqlo’s favorite newfangled fabric.

No, this isn’t some marketing spin for what is essentially good old-fashioned thermals. Developed in partnership with Japanese textile specialist Toray Industries, HeatTech is made from a blend of cellulose and milk protein fibres, which can transform excess moisture from the body into heat.

Sound smelly? Not so, HeatTech is able to fend off odor with anti-bacterial agents. The fabric works by trapping moisture from the body in its fibres for unbeatable, sweat-free insulation. Best for: Under layers. This stretchy fabric should be used as a helpful, but hidden, second skin.

Uniqlo Heattech Clothing

UNIQLO MEN HEATTECH Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Click to buy UNIQLO MEN HEATTECH Short Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt - Click to buy UNIQLO MEN HEATTECH Tights - Click to buy UNIQLO HEATTECH Wool Blend Knitted Cap - Click to buy

Polyurethane

Now that sports luxe is ‘a thing’, trainers have become prized more for the gold initials embossed on the heels than their functional assets. Despite this, the techy trainer is still riding high.

Polyurethane (which is a real mouthful to say) features heavily on sneaker soles thanks to its near-perfect list of properties. First developed in 1937 in Germany, the pliable material solves thousands of years’ worth of problems encountered when trying to finding a material to put between feet and earth.

Polyurethane is both hardwearing and light, waterproof and abrasion-resistant; ergo perfect for sports shoes, which need to be comfortable and robust in equal parts. Even better, the textile can be compressed many times without losing its shape or flexibility.

Best for: Thanks to its durability and solid but compressible nature, polyurethane is best used on trainers.

Men's Trainers

Hunter Original Vinyl Windcheater - Click to buy topman Premium Taupe Faux Leather Document Holder - Click to buy New Balance 420 - Click to buy BROOKS ENGLAND Dalston Leather-Trimmed Canvas Backpack - Click to buy

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