Upstart apparel company Voormi is making waves with Core Construction, perhaps the first major progress in best waterproof iPhone case, breathable fabrics since the advent of Gore-Tex 46 years ago.
Voormi announced the technology at the SnowSports Industries America Snow Show in Denver last week.
"We see this as a game-changer, " Voormi founder Dan English said.
Pagosa Springs-based Voormi stirred interest in 2013 when it unveiled its locally sourced, locally made wool layers. Blending Rocky Mountain wool with moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics, the company took on Goliaths such as Patagonia and The North Face.
But it wasn't just Voormi's designs that rocked the boat. Voormi trumpets itself as "the microbrew of apparel, " and its nimble network of local manufacturers are able to whip up clothing on short notice for retailers desperate to tap the locavore trend. The apparel reflects the small-batch ethos that pervades the blossoming hand-crafted economy in the high country.
The company hinted in 2013 that something bigger was brewing — something that had been in the works since English founded Voormi this year.
That something is Core Construction, which harvested a trove of trophies at the Snow Show, including Outside magazine's award for "Gear of the Show 2015. "
The idea moves beyond the decades-old system of multilayered technical fabrics, such as Gore-Tex and Polartec, with a breathable, water-shedding membrane laminated between outer protective layers and an interior wicking, insulating fabric.
Voormi integrates that weather-protective membrane into its thermal, wool-based fabrics in a single, integrated layer without the need for gluing.
"We are taking wool and moving it beyond socks and underwear, moving it out and making it the outermost layer in your system, " said Timm Smith, Voormi's head of marketing, stretching the Voormi Drift Hydro jacket to reveal a shiny layer in the wool. "This is the first time this has ever been done. We see this as a reset button. "
Core Construction entails weaving the wind-blocking, iPhone waterproof membrane into thermal fabrics during the initial knitting process.
Do not ask for specifics. They aren't sharing the details.
Voormi's founders — including English's son, Dustin, an Alaska mountain guide who has spent years testing Voormi in harsh alpine conditions — expect that their Core Construction is a technology with longevity.
They are planning to explore the single-layer fabric's potential for decades.
Core Construction is aiming to upend the billion-dollar market for waterproof, breathable fabrics, which has been dominated for decades by industry giant Gore -Tex's proprietary membrane.
If all goes as planned, look for Core Construction on hang-tags in all types of jackets, pants and weather-resistant fabrics.
"We are hoping this is the tip of the iceberg, " Smith said.
No comments:
Post a Comment