Nike and Levi aim to introduce smart clothes and intelligent textile concept

Nike and Levi are on a new journey to introduce the fashion world with the trend of experimenting with new fabrics. They aim to introduce the concept of ‘smart clothes and intelligent textile’ which is a measure to make use of trash and recycle it in such a manner to be called a treasure trove of every individual’s wardrobe.

Nike proudly claims to have diverted two billion plastic bottles from landfills into people’s wardrobes. Recycled polyester promised superior performance and environment.For each pair of jeans, Levi’s promised eight bottles off the planet.

Recycled polyester is one of the countless new-age synthetic textiles to have been received by the fashion industry. Viscose, polyester, neoprene, radiation-safe fabric started in 1950s, when lycra hit the market, is innovating by the day.

Neoprene makes it to the list of the latest darlings of the fraternity. Worked on by designers and happily worn by the wearers. The fabric that styles, endures and holds well, all at the same time. It is being used and experimented with by the likes of Hemant and Nandita, Gauri and Nainika, to the comparative newcomers like Karan Berry and Leon Vaz, while presenting their line at Jabong Stage of the Lakme Fashion Week last year.

The collection, under their label, Karleo, comprised pieces crafted in the ubiquitous georgette, crepe-de-chine and were further embellished with the help of crystals, gemstones, acrylic and neoprene. Same year, at the Winter Festive edition of the week, designer-duo Amrita Khanna and Gursi Singh, under the label, Love Birds, took an avant garde take on functional fashion with fabrics like cottons, satins, along with neoprene and mesh.

Use of organic materials needs to blend or at least co-exist with reinvented technologies.

There’s yet another fabric that claims to lessen the effect of harmful radiations. Nehal Mehta, founder, House of Napius, talks about the latest to hit the market, radiation-safe fabric.

She said that science of fashion has always appealed to the senses, and the sensibilities. It’s a technology that earlier existed in upholstery and linen, we thought of extending it to wearable fabrics.

It minimizes the harmful radiations from cellular networks and computer screens and so many other sources. To begin with, we are focusing on the radiation- safe maternity wear.If the debate over safety, climate, energy, water; bio-diversity can enter the billion dollar fashion industry, nothing like it.

On the other side remains the political rhetoric over organic fabrics and Indian handlooms.

Harkirat Singh, managing director, Aero Club, before talking about Woodland’s Pure Green collection said that the textile industry has new technologies that use specialised ways to produce materials based on the need, cost and climatic conditions of a particular market. Khadi and other organic fabrics have always co-existed in the industry

He stresses on the needs for newer synthetic fabrics. The products in question have high quality wicking properties, are very helpful during long distance trekking and outdoor activities. He adds that they are completely safe, skin friendly and ensure a non-biodegradable waste like PET bottle is recycled for development of useful products.