<img src="https://insidefashionlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Materials-ISPO-report-150x150.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://insidefashionlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Materials-ISPO-report-150x150.jpg 150w, https://insidefashionlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Materials-ISPO-report-75x75.jpg 75w, https://insidefashionlive.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Materials-ISPO-report-350x350.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" width="150" height="150"> <h2><a href="https://insidefashionlive.net/downloads/2021/Materials%20Innovation%20-%20Best%20of%20ISPO%202021.pdf">Download the full report</a></h2> Functionality, performance and a higher level of creativity are being delivered in a new level of lightweight qualities aimed squarely at the activewear and outdoor wear markets. At the recent ISPO fair, a panel of judges reviewed a huge selection of materials from base layer through to insulation, second layer to street sports to identify those that stood out in the market. <h3><b>Key performance factors for the season</b></h3> Quick-dry, hydrophobic, UV+, FIR, DWR, moisture management, anti-odor, and stretch, not just from spandex but from new natural sources and also through mechanical stretch, eliminating the need for a blend. <h3><b>7 Core Observations for New Materials</b></h3> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Of note for this season is that sustainability has reached a pinnacle and can no longer stand alone as the defining characteristic of a product. Now it must take an inclusive role, becoming the norm, within the textile chain. </li> <li aria-level="1">A multitude of ingredients and processes, from water and energy saving, reduced waste, reduced home laundering, recycled protective coatings to longer-lasting products, through to biodegradable - the list of sustainable properties is endless and continues to spread. </li> <li aria-level="1">A push to 100% single fiber content is on the rise in an effort to support the circular economy (much easier than having to separate fiber blends). </li> <li aria-level="1">Bio-synthetics are creating a stir, as commercial offerings of these fibers continue to increase.</li> <li aria-level="1">Natural fabrics with performance are a feature throughout, with cotton, linen, silk, and wool favored fibers. Virgin and recycled synthetics delivered a high-level performance but being given enhanced, ‘feels like natural fiber’, touch. </li> <li aria-level="1">Performance finishes and engineered fabric construction are complementing a new generation of authentic structures in microlight finishes. </li> <li aria-level="1">This new direction in sustainability is appealing, but as with anything new - it isn’t about certification anymore it is about lab tests. </li> </ul>