Le Col, a high-performance cycling clothing brand, expands the use of Polartec® fabrics in its range of garments with the brand new plant-based Power Shield™.
Source: press release
More waterproof, more breathable and more comfortable, Power Shield® helps take Le Col products to the next level. Using the all-new plant-based membrane, Power Shield™ is also more sustainable. It is the most performing and versatile waterproof and breathable technology in the entire range of Polartec® fabrics. Developed to reach the standard established to be able to complete a sporting expedition, performance is therefore at the forefront: the material is able to withstand heavy rain and strong winds, whilst remaining breathable.
It was a great challenge for Polartec® scientists to find a breathable and waterproof membrane that was completely plant-based. What they found is a new system that uses molecular diffusion, instead of micropores, so it can let water vapor out while maintaining a barrier against water droplets. This type of technology is not new, but it has a new peculiarity: it is a membrane capable of layering inside a technical fabric and resisting stretching, washing and wear resulting from the practice of outdoor sports. Furthermore, since it has no micropores, it cannot become clogged and lose its breathing characteristics.
The end result is the first waterproof fabric from Polartec® to exceed 20.000 mm in the hydrostatic pressure test for waterproofing and 20.000 g/m2/24h of water vapor transmission for breathability. Progress and versatility are combined with a wide range of fabrics: from stretch to bombproof, to low and high resistance knits. The all-new Polartec® Power Shield™ offers a soft touch and a barrier resistant to rain and snow, specifications that are incorruptible over time.
Le Col has been using Polartec® fabrics in its winter products for several years to offer industry-leading weather protection. High-performance materials have already been used in the Pro Bib tights and in previous versions of the winter jackets and base layers. From insulating and thermoregulating fabrics like Alpha™ and Power Grid™ to waterproof and windproof ones like Power Shield™, fabrics are used strategically by Le Col to offer the greatest benefits to cyclists and to help improve their comfort and performance. performance on the road.
The latest autumn-winter versions of the Hors Category Jacket II and Pro Jacket products, as well as the Pro All Weather Jersey and Pro All Weather Gilet, benefit from this innovative technology, applied to the products thanks to the careful attention to detail of the Le Col R&D team .
Hannah Greenshield, Product Developer at Le Col, said: “We couldn't be happier with the new Power Shield™ technology and the benefits it has brought to our product range. Not having to sacrifice performance in the search for more sustainable garments is a fantastic achievement.”
Matteo Tolio, Sales & Marketing Manager for Cycling International at Polartec® said: “We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Le Col, one of the first brands to use our new Power Shield™ technology. As a brand with a strong focus on sustainable performance innovations, we are delighted to be able to live up to these high standards and support Le Col in creating industry-leading cycling clothing.”
