INDUSTRY SEES CONTONOUS LAUNCHES OF ANTIMICROBIAL FABRICS…
HOW LONG THIS WILL STAY???
The disruption caused by Covid-19 in fashion industry has resulted in many proactive contributions by the industry to tackle the problem. Be it fashion, production, clothing, retail, fabrics or fibres all are bound to see a big paradigm shift. With people around the world becoming more cautious about health and safety there is a new opportunity for medical textiles.
“HeiQ’s Viroblock NPJ03 technology has been there for many years. It is not a new technology, only thing is that now they have got it tested against COVID-19 and they have received that certificate”
Rajendra Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO, Donear Industries.
A novel solution by textile and material innovation brands seems to be the antiviral fabric. While for many years antifungal, anti-bacterial, anti odour finishes were normally seen in textiles and apparels, now the focus is on antiviral fabric that can prevent users from getting infected. Since we wear, sleep and sit on fabrics all day; fabric is a very important part of everyone’s life and thus a fabric with additional properties is the need of hour. In a changed world, will we see more functional fabrics that include things with antiviral and antibacterial capabilities.
What was once a requirement predominantly for the medical profession is now set to cross into the general apparel sector—and beyond. Offering protective garments and accessories within the fashion sector makes perfect sense, as it does for the décor industry. Traction is growing, and it is about to become big business.
HeiQ Viroblock
In Switzerland, in the last month, HeiQ launched HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antibacterial textile chemical compound that is added to the fabric during the final stage of the textile manufacturing process. This patent pending formulation claims to have strong antimicrobial effects against bacteria and enveloped viruses.
It is also suitable for washable fabrics, because the treatment remains effective for up to 30 gentle washes. It has been tested to ISO 20743 for rapid antiviral effect. In a much-admired move, HeiQ has offered FOC licenses for this product to the textile finishing industry to help fight COVID-19 via antiviral fabrics.
Textile Companies In India Launching Antiviral Fabrics
Donear Industries, the Mumbai-based company, in collaboration with Swiss firm HeiQ, launched a range of anti-viral fabrics under the brand Neo Tech that kills covid-19 virus within 30-minutes. “HeiQ’s Viroblock NPJ03 technology has been there for many years. It is not a new technology, only thing is that now they have got it tested against COVID-19 and they have received that certificate,” says Rajendra Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO, Donear Industries.
He adds that they were already producing and supplying anti-viral fabric for some years. “Coincidentally, our company was working on such types of product pre-COVID-19 times also. We were exporting to a medical textile company in the USA and also supplied to several State police departments of India. Once its efficacy was determined against COVID-19, we ramped up the production for Indian market,” says Agarwal.
Avinash Mane, Commercial Head – South Asia, Lenzing
Siyaram’s, another textile brand in men’s fashion is ready to launch anti-viral fabric in the market soon. “The fabric is ready. We are yet to hit the market, so once trade channels start it will be available on the shelves,” Gaurav Poddar, President and Executive Director, Siyaram Silk Mills. The company is in the process of getting the fabric certified. It has, however, not clarified if by claiming that the fabric is ‘anti-viral’ it means that the cloth can resist coronavirus.
Arvind Ltd. has partnered with Swiss textile innovator HeiQ Materials AG and Taiwanese speciality major Jintex Corporation to manufacture HeiQ Viroblock. It claims to be one of the first textile technologies in the world to be proven effective against covid-19 in the laboratory. The textile technology, which will be introduced under Arvind’s Intellifabrix brand, tested successfully for antiviral properties against viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had shared that, “current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Kulin Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Limited said, “In a very short period of time we will introduce into the Indian market fabrics that will provide best-in-class viral protection and are fashionable at the same time.”
“In a very short period of time we will introduce into the Indian market fabrics that will provide best-in-class viral protection and are fashionable at the same time.”
Kulin Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Limited
Carlo Centonze, chief executive, HeiQ Group said, “HeiQ Viroblock is a special combination of our advanced silver and vesicle technology that has been proven effective against the human coronavirus 229E and SARS-CoV-2, causing covid-19, with 99.99% reduction of virus in 30 minutes. It is a safe, hypoallergenic and patent pending technology.”
Lenzing India and Ruby Mills Ltd have come together to present H+ Technology™ – for an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal fabric. H+ technology’s efficacy has been tested and the findings successfully indicate that viruses and microbes won’t survive on the surface of the fabric that’s been treated with it – thus helping to arrest the spread of the virus.
Lenzing India and Ruby Mills have invested considerable time to put together a range of sustainable fabrics that has anti-viral and anti-microbial properties and doesn’t compromise on hand-feel, breathability and finish – which makes H+ technology fabrics unique. H+ Technology™ also works across a wide range of pure as well as blended fabrics. H+ Technology™ with LENZING™ ECOVERO™ and TENCEL™ means performance to finish on sustainable fibers.
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Gaurav Poddar, President and Executive Director, Siyaram Silk Mills.
Avinash Mane, Commercial Head – South Asia, Lenzing commenting on the development, said “Through this partnership with Ruby Mills, we aim to provide our citizens with the best possible protection through high-quality and sustainable products. We are working towards breaking the barrier that fabrics and textiles are carriers of diseases and viruses. Rishabh Shah, President, The Ruby Mills Limited commenting on the development, said “Most anti-microbial finishes have significant limitations – they become ineffective after multiple washes, and they hamper the fabric’s comfort and hand-feel. In our continuous pursuit for perfection and quality, we developed H+ Technology™ fabrics, by extending our processing expertise and know-how to ensure that the protection lasts wash after wash and the hand-feel, breathability and colour are not compromised.”
Creators of H+ Technology™, The Ruby Mills Limited are known for fabric quality, consistency and innovation since 1917.