Best Pacific to launch PCE index-certified fabrics

01 Jul '17

3 min read

Courtesy: Best Pacific

Best Pacific plans to debut one of the first lines of commercially available Lycra Sport Power-Comfort-Energy index-certified fabrics on the market at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show in Salt Lake City. The new fabrics leverage the recovery performance of Invista’s Lycra Sport technology and Best Pacific's high-gauge, double knitting construction.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer Show is being held during July 26-29, 2017.

The new fabrics deliver an outstanding stretch modulus and are tailor-made for the lucrative, high-growth active-sportswear industry sectors.

According to Kevin Zan, general manager of Best Pacific's sports division, the Lycra Sport Power-Comfort-Energy index (PCE), which was launched last year, has been a real game changer when it comes to designing, producing, differentiating and selling performance fabrics.

"Fabric mills everywhere, especially those in the knitted textile sector, have typically focused on physical performance to differentiate their offerings and protect margins. However, until recently, there was no scientific way to measure that performance, or for customers to easily compare one fabric with another," said Zan.

"Now, with Invista’s Lycra Sport PCE index, we can technically document and explain to customers precisely how a new fabric actually performs. That makes all the difference. It enables us to outflank competitors and win business by developing new, application-specific fabrics that allow brands to tailor products and target the most rewarding, highest-growth sectors like sportswear," Zan added.

As one of the world's biggest and most innovative integrated producers of polymers and fiber, Invista focuses on two key factors - developing innovative new products and contributing to the success of customers across the entire industrial value chain.

"Strong branding and a differentiated product portfolio are a winning strategy when it comes to achieving success in an increasingly competitive market. Through innovations such as Lycra Sport technology, and initiatives like the PCE index, we are simultaneously building up our own and our customers' capabilities to create outstanding value," said Huw Williams, Invista’s global segment director, activewear and outdoor.

Best Pacific has been working with Invista since the mill's inception in 2003, and Invista is becoming an increasingly important partner. In recent years, there are more and more collaborations between Best Pacific and Invista on fabric innovations which are being accepted widely among the world's well known sportswear brands.

"For many of our customers, including some of the world's best-known men's and women's performance sportswear brands – Invista’s Lycra Sport technology is a must-have ingredient. Some of our most important customers are now incorporating fabrics designed to specific PCE parameters in their newest products," said Zan.

Best Pacific has certainly picked a winner with Lycra Sport technology. Research by Euromonitor International, the market intelligence organisation, predicts that sportswear will continue to drive growth in the industry between now and 2021, with a CAGR of four per cent - or double the overall industry growth rate. The biggest markets will be the US, China and India, accounting for 61 per cent of global sportswear growth, in both the performance and sports-inspired categories.

"We are working closely with Invista and our customers to roll out more PCE certified commercial fabrics based on Lycra Sport technology, to take full advantage of these opportunities," said Zan. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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