Home → Blog → Resources → COLOURizd collaboration, Upcoming Events and This Month’s Polygiene Pick
Welcome to the September edition of the Polygiene blog. This month, we got together with COLOURizd CEO and co-founder Jennifer Thompson for a deeper dive into Polygiene’s collaboration with the dyeing specialists. We also feature a review of the Montane Dart T-shirt, after it was put through its paces on a three-week cycling trip. Finally, we preview the upcoming FFF and Performance Days shows, and get a Polygiene Pick from Polygiene Head of Marketing, Rebecka Harvyl.
Last month, we brought you news of an exciting collaboration with COLOURizd, the folks behind the QuantumCOLOUR™ – a mechanical fabric coloration system that does away with water baths, wastewater discharge, and reactive chemistry. Our recent collaborative trial saw Polygiene antibacterial technologies integrated into COLOURizd’s QuantumCOLOUR™ system, enabling mills to apply pigments, binders, and Polygiene protection at the same time, in a single, streamlined process.
As promised, we’re coming back to you with further details on how this fascinating project has progressed. Recently, we spoke to Jennifer Thompson, COLOURizd CEO and co-founder, about the company’s goals, what the collaboration has achieved, why the results were so exciting, and what the future holds.
Talking to Jennifer, the passion for innovation is abundantly clear. There’s a real desire to push things forward and develop new solutions that solve concrete problems. And this desire to lead from the front is one of the most appealing and important aspects of Polygiene’s work with COLOURizd on this trial.
Read our interview with COLOURizd CEO Jennifer Thompson.
Last month, the resident Polygiene copywriter, Luke, selected the Lifeventure Silk Ultimate Sleeping Bag Liner as his Polygiene Pick, arguing it was an invaluable addition to his bikepacking sleep system. Well, Luke spent the last three weeks on his bike exploring Catalonia’s dusty forestry roads and farmers’ tracks, and has returned singing the praises of Montane’s Dart Tee. So we asked him for a quick review for the blog. Over to you, Luke.
While this wasn’t strictly a cycling holiday, my partner and I flew our bikes over to Girona with us. Partly, this was a practical and logistical decision. We were staying at three different campsites over the three weeks, needed to cart around our holiday gear, and didn’t want to rent a car. But we also did so because the area around Girona is home to some of the best cycling on the planet. And we didn’t want to miss that opportunity.
Of course, this meant deciding what to pack. When it came to clothing, we had to pack light (mainly because we had to fit the snorkels in the panniers and we are yet to cave on the question of a Kindle). For riding, I packed one traditional cycling jersey and the Montane Dart T-Shirt, as well as a pair of bib shorts and a pair of non-padded shorts.
We ended up riding a lot over the three weeks. We had taken our day-to-day, get-around bikes (or our “pub bikes” for anyone familiar with British bike categories), rather than anything fancy, because we wanted to ride them everywhere and anywhere, and we wanted to be happy chaining them up on the promenade to spend the day at the beach. We rode them to the supermarket. To museums. To secluded coves. To bars and restaurants. To bike shops when they suffered the inevitable mechanical. But we also did five or six “big days”, where we went out all day to cycle in the hills, with no other intention but to enjoy the ride.
On the first big day, I wore my cycling jersey. On the second, I wore my Montane T-Shirt. And then I wore it every ride after. It was light and loose, with a great cut that hung well and allowed for plenty of ventilation. It wicked sweat incredibly well, which it needed to in 35℃ (95℉) heat. And despite all the punishment I put it through (and thanks to Polygiene StayFresh technology), it kept passing the sniff test when I went to pull it on the next time. It made me feel more relaxed, and was perfect for the type of riding we were doing – where we might make an impromptu stop at a bar, check out a church or dive into the dark cool of a bookshop.
I wore the Montane T-Shirt whenever we jumped on the bikes to cover any real distance. The jersey lingered in my panniers back at the campsite. Over the three weeks, I washed it twice, and not once did I feel outrageously smelly in it. And I had every right to, riding in those conditions. If you are looking for a relaxed performance Tee that manages moisture well, boasts outstanding odor protection, and is ridiculously versatile,I couldn’t recommend the Montane Dart T-shirt enough.
October sees the return of two of the biggest industry events on the calendar – Functional Fabric Fair (FFF) in the US and Performance Days in Munich. The Fall/autumn editions of these enormously influential trade shows will see exhibitors focus on textiles and textile technologies designed for cooler conditions, with a particular emphasis on durable, weather-resistant fabrics, innovative insulation solutions and versatile performance textiles designed to work well in layering systems.
Polygiene Freshness technology is integrated into a wide range of cold-weather textiles and products, particularly base layers, activewear, and items where sweat and other environmental smells are likely to impact freshness. You can find it in everything from skiing tees and hiking leggings to rock climbing mid-layers and ice hockey gloves. If you want to discuss how Polygiene technology can enhance your product offering, we would love to speak with you at one of the events. We’ll have teams at both FFF and Performance Days, so feel free to drop by and have a chat or book a meeting time using the link below.
FFF Portland runs from October 26-28 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.
Performance Days Munich runs from October 13-14 at the Messe München in Munich, Germany.
Every month, a member of the Polygiene team picks a Polygiene-treated product they couldn’t do without. From favourite T-shirts to odor-resistant camping gear, these essential items are all the better for smelling fresher. This month, it’s Polygiene’s Head of Marketing, Rebecka Harvyl.
When it comes to cold-weather clothing, the first thing I reach for is my O’Neill Baselayer Bottoms. They’re just so unbelievably comfy. They’re also super-versatile. I can wear them in different contexts, for different activities, knowing they will keep me warm and comfortable, and that they will look great. The minimalist styling definitely helps in this regard, as the bottoms can be paired with almost anything.
Most importantly, they have received a double dose of Polygiene treatment and feature both Polygiene StayFresh and Polygiene OdorCrunch technology. This means they’re basically the gold standard when it comes to odor control. Couple that with the fabric’s excellent moisture-wicking performance, and you’ve got a perfect pair of winter leggings.
Andreas Grevlind
Head of Digital Marketing & Brand
