“Smart” clothing emerged as a trend several years ago as many manufacturers started to focus on creating textiles that make our lives easier. This led to the introduction of fabrics that tackle body issues such as sweating – see dry fit and antimicrobial textiles – or incorporate intelligent technology that does everything from regulating body temperature to collecting data using vital signs. This trend has now taken a new turn as wellness and self-care have come into the spotlight following the Covid-19 pandemic. More brands are experimenting with what industry insiders are calling “well fashion”, specifically clothes that function like wearable skincare, with the added benefit of improving skin problems or promoting better health. Many people look at fabrics for their aesthetic appeal, but when you realise that certain fabrics touch our skin 24 hours a day, you start to question whether it’s good for us or if it’s doing it more harm than good,” says Kenneth Lau, a textile manufacturer and founder of Hong Kong-based Comfiknit. “We worry about what we eat and drink, and even the products we apply on our skin, but what about the clothes we wear?” he adds. Comfiknit – the name both of Lau’s brand and its fabric – recently launched a functional T-shirt for sufferers of a chronic skin condition known as atopic dermatitis. The fabric uses technology to remove sweat and maintain optimal moisture levels to allow for a balanced PH level so the skin stays healthy and strong. Its properties have been verified by several research institutes, including the graduate school of biomedical sciences at Nagasaki University in Japan. “We don’t incorporate anything into the fabric,” says Lau. “We use the natural properties of the fabric to ensure that it functions like drugs or medicine. Our three-layer knit works in a specific order and sequence, creating the right environment for the skin to be at its best. The function is permanent and properties everlasting.” For one thing, many of these brands offer only a small range of clothing, with much of their attention focused on loungewear and/or activewear rather than everyday fashion. Scaling up production in response to demand is another potential challenge, although the bigger test will be whether customers will buy this type of clothing in significant numbers. However, Hinds says: “Fashion infused with ingredients to heal is more niche but has the potential to have a decent market size. “What’s interesting is if this technology could become a gold standard that other brands can utilise, just like how Polartec became a way to make fleece or Gore-Tex is used by many companies. “By offering added wellness benefits, we are elevating clothing from a baseline level, which makes it all the more desirable.”   (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post