News

World’s first virus-protected clothing is Swiss-made

World’s first virus-protected clothing is Swiss-made

Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss textile technology company HeiQ Materials has collaborated with five innovative textile manufacturers to create the world’s first garment that protects its wearer against viruses. All components of the “Just 5” jacket are available individually for each apparel or home textile brand to create their innovations.

World’s first virus-protected clothing is Swiss-made

HeiQ, a winner of the Swiss Technology Award and Swiss Environmental Award, launches HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment that was tested effective against coronavirus.

Solution for a normal life

For the project, HeiQ Materials teamed up with 2A-Nygard, Coats, Windtext Vagotex, and Sitip to create the jacket. The product is a “super team of the five most innovative companies in our industry”, said Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ. “Every brand can now easily take parts from these suppliers to create their own 100% virus-protected garments.”

The multi-functional and fashionable jacket would be the ideal clothing solution for resuming normal life by protecting both the wearer and the environment, the Swiss maker said. All the components of the “Just 5” jacket have been developed by leading companies in textile innovation. The treatment does not protect the wearer or others against food-borne (or disease-causing) bacteria. But the jacket sets up a highly effective barrier to shield the wearer from spoiling contaminants in the surrounding.

Unique technology

The Swiss antimicrobial fabric technology “Viroblock NPJ03” of HeiQ (see picture) was originally developed to treat face masks registered by Swiss Medic as a medical device. It consists of a unique combination of vesicle and silver technologies designed to inhibit the growth and persistence of bacteria and viruses.

The HeiQ vesicle technology targets lipid-enveloped viruses, such as coronavirus, providing rapid virus deactivation, while the HeiQ silver technology inhibits the replication of both bacteria and viruses. Respirator masks treated with the same technology have been authorized by the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration. HeiQ is a world leader in textile technology innovations.

Technological partners

The zippers of the jacket are self-sanitizing zippers from 2A-Nyguard. They will restore their usability in just 5 minutes after every touch. 2A is a pioneer in zipper production in Europe since the 1930s, now a leader in sustainable and innovative solutions for textile fasteners. The ProtectV–Sewing thread from the world’s leading industrial thread company Coats add anti-microbial and anti-viral properties to every stitch.

The elastic, warp-knitted fabric of Sitip for the extendable cuffs of “Just 5” shields the hands when touching potentially contaminated surfaces. Warp-knitting is a fabric technology that prevents the yarn from laddering after a tear and Sitip is a world leader in this. The breathable, water-repellent and wind-resistant fabric of Windtex Vagotex is a leader in lamination and processing of technical fabrics for sports- and footwear.

The CEO of HeiQ Group, Centonze, said, “I am thrilled and looking forward to the launch of HeiQ’s first commercialized high-tech garment. More importantly, any brand can now simply take parts from these suppliers and make their own, 100% ‘virus blocking’ garments!” A crowdfunding campaign has started on Kickstarter. Finished jackets are expected to be available by the end of autumn.

Text: SCCIJ with material of HeiQ

LATEST NEWS

RECENT NEWS

  • 2024
  • +2023
  • +2022
  • +2021
  • +2020
  • +2019
  • +2018
  • +2017

Sign up to our weekly newsletter to keep up-to-date with our latest news

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR