Sri Lankan textile producer MAS Holdings has launched Fluid Channeling Fabric, an innovative material developed by its innovation division, Twinery. This knitted fabric is designed to absorb and move moisture away from the skin while keeping a quick-dry feel.

Unlike coated fabrics or layered designs, this technology is built directly into the fabric structure. It uses a mix of water-repelling (hydrophobic) and water-absorbing (hydrophilic) yarns to draw sweat and liquids away from the body, helping to prevent visible sweat marks.

The material’s potential uses range from performance wear, outdoor gear, and uniforms for the military and firefighters, to intimate wear. It also has applications in healthcare, such as post-surgery garments and bedding. Chathuranga added that the technology could even be used for items like car seats or public transport upholstery to keep surfaces dry.

The fabric works in two main ways, either with the hydrophobic side against the skin, pushing moisture into valleys where it is absorbed, or with the hydrophilic side against the skin, wicking moisture away quickly. In both cases, the design promotes evaporation while keeping the outer garment dry and comfortable.

For menstrual wear applications, the valleys in the structure channel liquid to the back layers, keeping the surface that touches the skin dry. “The idea is to make the wearer feel more confident,” Chathuranga said.