The New York Times magazine recently published an article, “The Evolution of Fleece, From Scratchy to Snuggie”, which takes a historical look at the product category Polartec invented.

Polartec fleece products are now more lightweight, warm, functional, versatile and durable than ever. And we keep working to make them better.

The Evolution of Fleece, From Scratchy to Snuggie

By HILARY GREENBAUM and DANA RUBINSTEIN

Published: November 25, 2011

Even in the heyday of the polyester age — during the height of John Travolta and white bodysuits — when people wanted to stay warm, they still wore wool. And that venerable material had its downsides. It was notoriously itchy. When it got wet, it stank. And moths liked to eat it.

By the late 1970s, however, Malden Mills, a Massachusetts textile maker that specialized in baby bunting, began experimenting with polyester’s outdoorsy potential. Under the direction of the mill’s owner, Aaron Feuerstein, a team of engineers wound superfine polyester yarn into a dense fabric resembling terry cloth, only lighter. After its fibers were brushed, the fabric’s volume greatly increased; they also provided insulation and could wick water away.

In 1981, through an unusual collaboration with Yvon Chouinard, owner of a little-known mountaineering outfitter called Patagonia, Feuerstein introduced his invention to the burgeoning sportswear market. “We had the finest technical group, engineering group and research group in the textile industry,” recalls the father of fleece. “We built performance into the fabric. We were so proud of what we did.”

“GAP HAD IT TO THE MAX”

The first-generation fleece, called Synchilla (as in synthetic chinchilla), was used in Patagonia’s seminal Snap-T pullover (1985), which was subsequently made famous by family ski trips across the Northeast. “For many, many years,” says Rob Bondurant, vice president of marketing at Patagonia, “Synchilla was the Kleenex of fleece, if you will.”

Within a decade, however, fleece had become an inescapable element of daily life. And just as the fabric’s lightness appealed to sportsmen, its colorfulness, lack of fur and relative inexpensiveness made it, in a word, trendy. Scott Schulman, who runs The Sartorialist, a popular style blog, is reminded of the transformation that jersey went through after Chanel used it in her early collections. Before that, he says, jersey “was thought of as underwear fabric.”

Eventually, Lands’ End, L.L. Bean and others incorporated fleece in everything. “In the late ’90s, Gap had it to the max,” explains Ingrid Johnson, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology. According to Nate Simmons, director of marketing at Polartec, the successor company to Malden Mills, “It completely changed the way the world dresses for cold weather.”

COMING IN FROM THE COLD

Ever since its early days, fleece has been continuously improved. The yarn — now about as fine as cashmere — was honed to prevent the fabric from pilling and wind from blowing through. As a result, the unmistakable fuzzy material is unusually lightweight and warm — an unreasonable expectation only a synthetic could fulfill. In 1993, Patagonia and Polartec began exploring how to make fleece from recycled content. The first iterations, however, were fraught with issues; they were also scratchy. By 2006, though, they were able to make recycled fabrics at costs comparable to the original.

Beyond embracing environmental issues, fleece’s greatest impact has probably been on the eco-chic fashion industry that blossomed around it. No longer does a man, come winter, have to hide his svelte figure beneath dowdy layers of down and wool. And no longer does he have to wear it outdoors. Lands’ End, for instance, uses fleece for monogrammable dog jackets with reflective trim, beanbag covers and Christmas stockings. Of course, for $10 anyone can enjoy the Snuggie, a fleece blanket cum smock that no mountain climber ever could have imagined.

This week’s Recycled Contest Package includes the following:

A Fall 2011 Marmot Warmlight Jacket- made from Polartec Classic 200 100% PCR (post consumer recycled) Double Velour Fleece. This fabric is made from Repreve 100 yarn derived from clear plastic water bottles. The Warmlight also includes bonded zippered chest pockets, and interior zipper pocket and is Zippin™ compatible. We only have a Men’s Medium in Navy. (Sorry gals, giveaways to come for you later in the week.)

While we are celebrating recycled products, the second part of our giveaway today is a pair of Revo sunglasses. Revo manufactures the top industry-tested polarized lens on the market and 70% of their collection is made with sustainable materials. This week’s winner, along with the jacket, will receive a pair of Revo Thrives. The Thrives have Revo Polarized Crystal lenses-made from high grade optical glass, and complete with all of the Revo bells and whistles. Most importantly for today’s purposes, the Thrive nylon frame is made from 100% pre-consumer recycled high grade plastic. We think that’s pretty cool. Price is $209.

To WIN YOU MUST:1) If you haven’t already, head to the Polartec Facebook Page and ‘Like’ us. If you are so inclined, hop over to Revo’s Facebook page and show your support for their sustainable efforts as well with a “Like”.
2) Find this giveaway post on the Polartec Facebook page
3) In a comment below the post, tell us: If you could “recycle” one outdoor style from the past and bring it back into fashion, what would it be?

We will choose a winner at random on Friday April 22-Earth Day- at 12pm MST.

Disclaimer:We only have the Warmlight in a Men’s medium in Navy, and the Thrive in black with graphite lenses. No exchanges are available.

Thanks and good luck!

Just this week, we gave an APEX Award to Vaute Couture Inc., a cruelty-free and sustainable design label founded by Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, for her Vaute Coat, which uses Polartec Wind Pro® fabric. A Chicago-native, Hilgart spent eight months researching fabrics and searching for innovative manufacturers before launching her line. Needless to say, we are honored that she chose us.

Not only did the Voute Couture Vaute Coat show up earlier this year in Teen Vogue, but the El Coat was just spotted on the FOX hit, BONES, worn by the show’s star, Emily Deschanel, while playing a very fashionable forensic scientist.

While she may be studying dead bodies on the clock, Deschanel fortunately spends her free time hunting down eco-deals, and picked the El Coat, alongside Vaute Couture tank tops, as some of her favorite eco-friendly finds in this month’s Marie Claire magazine.

Polartec has never looked better. Thanks Emily and Leanne!

Meet the Designer: Check out the interview video below to meet Leanne Hilgart of Vaute Couture, learn why she started the company and see what exactly this brand new label is all about.

Company: The North Face Product: Men’s Kishtwar Jacket Hall/Booth: B6.101 Web: www.thenorthface.com

Outdoor sports can become a true challenge if the weather does not cooperate. Ice rain, snow storms, wind gusts not only batter the athletes but also his or her sports apparel. The North Face promises the perfect combination of ventilation and protection against the weather with its “Kishtwar Jacket” – thanks to the new Polartec Power Shield Pro. The materials is 99% wind-proof, the remaining percent circulates in the membrane and supports active moisture wicking. In addition the jacket’s outer material is extremely wear- and water-resistant. Jury Statement: The most prominent feature of the men’s Kishtwar jacket is the use of the new Polartec Power Shield Pro material. This new technology ensures the highest degree of breathability with optimum wind protection for outdoor sports enthusiasts. The product is perfected with a well-though-out design and extremely well finished.

	Company: Patagonia Product: W´s R3 HiLoft Hoody Hall/Booth: A1.315D / B5.110 Web: www.patagonia.com
The fleece jacket  “W´s R3 HiLoft” is one of many eco-friendly products manufactured by the Canadians (ed. note I think they mean Californians not Canadians, close enough, right?) : it is made almost entirely of recycled and recyclable Polartec materials. In addition, the light weight, warm jacket is bluesign certified. This means that the production process was evaluated to determine the use of resources, level of consumer protection, water and air pollution, and working conditions. The jury was not only impressed by the jacket , but also by Patagonia’s long-time continuing, successful overall concept. Jury Statement: For many years Patagonia has been proof that a sustainable overall concept for the entire production chain is feasible. The R3 HiLoft Jacket is no exception and impressed us with its high degree of function, well-though-out design, and excellent solutions for sustainable production.

These awards are a tremendous honor for The North Face, Patagonia and Polartec and an awesome way for us to kick-start the largest outdoor tradeshow of the year.

(P.S. If you want to completely derail your productivity for the day, surf over to the ispo Brand New awards – so many drool-worthy products).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01.13.2010 – (Lawrence, Mass. / Greensboro, N.C.) – Polartec, LLC and Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) announce a new partnership introducing performance fabrics made with REPREVE 100. REPREVE 100 is made from 100 percent post-consumer waste (clear plastic water bottles).

Polartec and Unifi have been industry leaders in the development of high performance recycled content yarns and fabrics. Collaborative efforts have grown Polartec’s recycled product line from less than one percent of total production to over 30 percent in the past four years – dramatically reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. The introduction of Repreve 100 will enable Polartec to shift much more production to recycled content by 2011. Every pound of REPREVE 100 yarn contains approximately 27 water bottles.

Andy Vecchione, president of Polartec, LLC, states, “Unifi has been an excellent partner in our quest to deliver high performance, recycled content fabrics while reducing our overall footprint throughout the supply chain. The goal has always been to use as much post consumer content as possible. We expect REPREVE 100-based Polartec fabrics will hit the consumer market in the spring of 2011.”

“In the past, limited technology presented many challenges in offering a high quality 100 percent post-consumer product,” said Roger Berrier, executive vice president for Unifi. ”As technology has evolved, we are now able to offer a first quality, 100 percent post-consumer product in the right colors and styles that Polartec requires for its fabrics.”

The transition to REPREVE 100 will be transparent to consumers except for a new hangtag and joint marketing program highlighting the benefits of Polartec performance products with REPREVE 100. The look, feel and performance of the new fabrics will be the same as virgin polyester fabrics. Every year over 21 billion plastic bottles enter the landfill, and through this partnership Unifi and Polartec hope to raise the visibility of recycling and further educate consumers to adopt more eco-friendly practices.

Aspen Skiing Company CEO Mike Kaplan

High Country News just published this powerful op-ed collaboration by Aspen Ski Co CEO Mike Kaplan and The North Face CEO Steve Rendle. Definitely worth a read:

In the summer of 2003, one of the most legendary and fearsome mountaineering routes in the world –– the North Face of the Eiger –– fell victim to climate change. An unusually warm summer melted much of the ice that makes this route in Switzerland passable. As temperatures continue to warm, this iconic passage may only exist in winter.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, aspen trees have begun dying off in huge numbers. Aspens can fall victim to many diseases, but science suggests that a warmer climate will lead to increasing tree mortality as a result of sickness, insect infestations and other pests.

The North Face CEO Steve Rendle

As CEOs of two of the most widely known consumer brands in the outdoor recreation market — Aspen Skiing Company and The North Face — it gets our attention when our companies’ namesakes start to vanish before our eyes. Although we operate different businesses, we share concern about the impact of climate change on our companies, the economy, the environment and our customers. We also agree that now is the time for dramatic action by Congress to curb greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate investment in renewable energy sources and clean technology, and encourage energy efficiency.

The effects of warming global temperatures are not theoretical. At Aspen, where our business depends on the climate, we already see a gradual increase in frost-free days and warmer nights. Milder winters mean a shorter ski season and greater reliance on artificial snowmaking, a costly and carbon-intensive practice. In short, climate change impacts Aspen’s bottom line. For the $6 billion ski industry, and the hundreds of thousands of people who make their living directly or indirectly from it, the stakes are huge.

Continue reading here.

Check out more Vaute Couture here and the Treehugger.com story here.

The Gear Junkie has a great review of the Climate Changer here.