Polartec®, Milliken & Company brand and leader in the creation of innovative and sustainable textile solutions, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 edition of the Apex Awards. The annual design award celebrates brands and designers who embody the “Made To Go Beyond” claim. The winning garments, selected from hundreds of proposals and designed to improve the lives of those who wear them, represent the pinnacle of durability and functionality in the fields of sport, lifestyle and performance.
The Polartec® Apex Awards highlight innovative projects that look beyond existing ones and create authentic products. The 2023 winners are:
Indyeva Satu Polartec® Isothermal Skirt
With its elegant style and thanks to the Polartec® Thermal Pro™ fabric, the Satu Isothermal skirt is a fashionable and functional travel companion for outdoor adventures. The technical skirt fabric offers exceptional durability, pilling resistance and heat without impacting the weight of the product. The innovative insulation materials of Thermal Pro™ make the skirt the ideal choice for the winter season while maintaining a light and fashionable look.
The jury's verdict: The Indyeva Satu Isothermal skirt shows a creative use of technical fabrics, broadening the choice for outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to give up style.
Santini Cycling Adapt Multi
Santini is the first cycling brand to introduce Polartec® Power ShieldTM to the market, recently improved with BiolonTM, a plant-based Nylon membrane. The Adapt Multi Jacket is a versatile and weatherproof bike jacket that offers the fit and feel of wearing a jersey garment, ensuring thermal balance in different weather conditions thanks to Power ShieldTM, a breathable and waterproof fabric. The full range of the Adapt Multi Jacket made from plant-based Power ShieldTM will be available from autumn 2024.
The jury's verdict: Santini's iconic Adapt Multi combines intelligent design and next-generation plant-based weather protection fabric, without any compromises.
Spoonflower Polartec® Fleece
Spoonflower offers Polartec® 200 Series Fleece fabric digitally printed in the USA using water-based inks. This high-loft, pill-resistant and durable fleece can be printed with the customer's design of choice or from over 1 million designs by independent artists available in the Spoonflower marketplace. Spoonflower requires no minimum purchase, allowing customers to order just the quantity needed for a home sewing project or business need. Polartec® 200 Series Fleece is easy to sew, making it a great choice for both DIYers and businesses.
The jury's verdict: We love Spoonflower's print on demand. No overproduction, only creative and tailor-made fabrics that offer enveloping and responsible comfort.
Nike ACG Wolf Lichen Caps
This lightweight Polartec® AlphaTM midlayer offers the versatility you need to tackle any day. It's loose enough to wear over a base layer, yet still comfortable under a jacket or vest, its stretch Polartec® AlphaTM fabric is ultra-soft and airy, helps regulate body heat, and dries quickly.
The Jury's Verdict: Nike ACG makes sports-specific products with some appeal, and this hoodie ticks all the boxes for fit, plus it uses recycled materials.
Trangoworld TRX2 Hybrid LT Pro Jacket
A technical mid-layer jacket designed for the most demanding outdoor and mountain activities, the Trangoworld TRX2 Hybrid LT Pro Jacket uses Polartec® AlphaTM, a superior insulation system for extreme temperature variations, combined with the revolutionary Polartec knit construction ® Power Air™ that encapsulates air to retain heat, while reducing microfiber shedding, to produce a technical garment for high-performance activities.
The jury's verdict: Trangoworld has used several sustainable and cleverly placed Polartec® fabrics to enhance the mountain experience.
Millet Trilogy MXP Power Wool™ Suit
This Polartec® Power Wool™ one-piece suit was developed in collaboration with top Millet athletes to provide an insulating first layer for use when climbing the highest peaks and exploring extreme cold destinations. Polartec® Power Wool™ uses a hybrid design with a soft, odor-resistant merino wool base and a highly durable synthetic exterior. The advanced knit construction places each individual fiber where it maximizes its potential, making the perfect base layer for outdoor excursions.
The jury's verdict: All-in-ones are trendy for a reason: there are no cold spots. A sport-ready mid-layer that offers continuous protection for high-altitude activities where reliable warmth is key.
Senchi Designs Alpha 60 Hoodie
The Alpha 60 Hoodie is the lightest, most breathable and packable active insulated fleece on the market. A minimalist, ready-to-use fleece that offers a simple, efficient design without bulky or unnecessary additions. The very basic middle layer offers everything an adventurer could need and nothing superfluous. Great for high-performance activities in warmer conditions or as an extra layer for added warmth in colder temperatures. Polartec® AlphaTM fabric offers an ultra-light, high warmth-to-weight ratio with natural moisture resistance for incredibly quick drying. The jury's verdict: a hoodie that has thought of everything: made from recycled fabric, it is light, warm and packable. We loved this multipurpose jacket.
Acronym J117-HL
The J117-HL hoodie sets new standards in physical comfort, support and adaptability. The key to this approach is Polartec® High Loft™ fabric, both technical and sensual, a semi-mesh fleece with remarkable thermal properties. It is comfortable and elastic, but also light and compressible, characterized by the best warmth/weight ratio of all Polartec fleece fabric technologies, ideal for use both stationary and on the move.
The jury's verdict: Acronym's J117 represents the perfect balance between style and functionality. We loved this very comfortable approach for perfect convenience both in the city and in the mountains.
rabbit Fuel n' Fly 4”
Stay incredibly dry with Rabbit's Fuel n' Fly 4″ Shorts, made with Polartec® Power Dry™ and Fresh Face™ technologies. Incorporating two Polartec® innovations, the premium moisture-wicking fabric features a metal-free, mint-based deodorizing solution in the lining, great for comfort and odor control. The bluesign® certified mint extract oil used in Fresh Face™ technology is easily renewable, highly sustainable and biodegradable. The performance lining is made with an elastic waistband that maintains comfort when running for a long time.
The jury's verdict: High-performance lined shorts deserve a place in the closet of every discerning runner. Using the latest Polartec® technologies, an innovative solution has been found to solve an age-old problem.
Mountain Martial Arts, MMA Polartec Power Grid Zip Hoodie 2
Made from Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric, this comfortable full-zip hoodie offers exceptional warmth, making it the ideal companion for various outdoor sports. The innovative Power Grid™ fabric pattern not only improves the breathability of the garment, but offers superior flexibility, ensuring freedom of movement during intense activities. Designed with the needs of outdoor enthusiasts in mind, Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric effectively wicks away moisture, keeping you dry and comfortable even during the most demanding physical efforts.
The jury's verdict: We loved this hoodie from Mountain Martial Arts for its technical features and stylish appeal. Definitely an essential item in the wardrobe of the most demanding outdoor/urban warrior.
Ciesse Piumini Race Jacket
The Race Jacket by Ciesse Piumini, an anorak-style windbreaker designed for adaptability to different climates, represents the pinnacle of performance and sustainability. Made from Polartec® Power Shield™ fabric featuring a certified plant-based membrane derived from 48% non-food, non-GMO plant biomaterials, the jacket ensures breathability and water repellency, while reducing the impact on the environment. Thanks to the laser-cut Ciesse Piumini logo and internal heat-taping that accentuates the advanced capabilities of the Polartec® Power ShieldTM membrane, this limited edition windbreaker represents the perfect synthesis of cutting-edge technology, functionality and environmental awareness in outerwear.
The jury's verdict: We loved the modern aesthetic of this windbreaker that uses Power ShieldTM, the most advanced weather protection fabric with plant-based content.
Arc'teryx Kyanite Crew Neck Pullover Women's
Versatile, comfortable, efficient. The Kyanite is the sweater you use for climbs when it's cold, for days on skis when it snows, for hikes and to face the cold when you slip out of your sleeping bag after spending a night under the stars. This award-winning product, made of Polartec® Power Stretch™ Pro, is designed to offer a comfortable, relaxed fit and to promote unrestricted freedom of movement, thanks to the four-way stretch fabric and the abrasion-resistant nylon surface. Inside, the garment is brushed to ensure thermal efficiency and exceptional softness. Worn as a midlayer or on its own, Kyanite is a great choice for tackling any mountain adventure.
The Jury's Verdict: In an effort to extend the life of our apparel as long as possible, Arc'Teryx took an iconic Polartec® fabric and incorporated it into a much-loved design for a garment you'll want to last a long time time.
Each winner of the 2023 Apex Awards is recognized as a forward-thinking partner who embodies Polartec® innovation and inspires other brands to go further with each company's innovative projects. Each winner receives the coveted Malden Wizard trophy to celebrate their winning designs, as well as marketing support from Polartec®. The Apex Awards also include a category called “People's Choice” – voted by the public via Polartec® social platforms – whose winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
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