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Perfection takes time. It takes dedication. It takes a commitment to detail. It takes focus sustained over decades. Which is why Swany is considered one of the world’s biggest names in ski and snow gloves. The brand has been at the center and forefront of the US glovemaking industry for more than a century, and its fascinating story encompasses kids’ crazes, Olympic athletes, and NASA technology.
Through it all, the brand has continued to develop groundbreaking cold-weather hand protection that offers exceptional performance and outstanding durability. Its immensely popular ski gloves are worn by members of the National Ski Patrol and the Professional Ski Instructors of America, as well as ski and snowboard athletes and serious slope-lovers the world over.
At Polygiene, we admire Swany’s desire to produce products that are considered the best on the market. It won’t settle for good gloves. It strives to design and manufacture the best gloves on the mountain. And, in many Swany products, Polygiene technology is a crucial part of making that happen.
Able to trace its origins back to 1893 and a family-run New York glove manufacturer named Elmer Little & Sons, Swany has a long and storied heritage in the US. Working predominantly with leather, the company built a reputation based on forward-thinking design and exquisite craftsmanship. Later in the 20th century, when the Japanese Swany Corporation decided to launch a US arm and introduce its color-changing Freezy Freakies gloves, it wanted to grow operations by acquiring local craftsmen. Elmer Little & Sons was the perfect opportunity.
When Swany America brought Elmer Little & Sons into the fold, it also made Bill Dzierson, a direct descendant of Elmer Little himself, head of the US business. And Bill had a dream. Recognizing a gap in the market for high-quality, durable skiing gloves, Bill wanted Swany to produce the world’s greatest ski gloves. Over the following decades, that is exactly what it did. Swany gloves were worn by Olympic skiers registering speeds of 138 mph and breaking world speed records. They were adopted by ski instructors across the nation. They became the go-to ski glove for professionals and amateurs alike.
In 1992, Swany’s ongoing drive for improvement led it to incorporate NASA finger joint technology into its gloves. Today, the company stands at the peak of the ski glove industry, and its Sport Utility Crossover Glove remains one of the most popular designs on the ski slopes.
“It’s common that we hear from our consumers, ‘I’ve had my Swany gloves for 15 years.’ We build our gloves to last, and partnering with Polygiene ensures the life of the gloves isn’t limited by the user’s stinky hands.” Todd Givnish VP of Sales
“It’s common that we hear from our consumers, ‘I’ve had my Swany gloves for 15 years.’ We build our gloves to last, and partnering with Polygiene ensures the life of the gloves isn’t limited by the user’s stinky hands.”
At Polygiene, we appreciate brands that aim high and dream big. We also enjoy working with partners that recognize textile technology research, development, and innovation are the factors that enable manufacturers to continuously improve products and stay relevant.
Our values align with Swany’s in so many ways. When Bill Dzierson made the switch to ski gloves, he wanted to develop a product that was built to last, best in its class, and delivered unbeatable value for the user. This design ethos was a rejection of fast-fashion consumables and a big thumbs up for high-quality, performance-oriented, durable design. And that’s Polygiene all over.
Polygiene additive technologies are leading the way when it comes to delivering advanced odor control performance and facilitating a shift towards longer-lasting, more environmentally friendly apparel and equipment. The fact that a brand as committed to design excellence as Swany is integrating our solutions into its gloves is a testament to the power of Polygiene protection.
Cold-weather activities involve temperature extremes that are difficult to control and regulate. Swany gloves are extremely effective when it comes to keeping your hands warm. While this is exactly what you want out on the mountain, it can provide odor-causing bacteria with a fertile environment for growth. A little sweat and a little warmth and gloves can start to smell pretty funky, pretty quickly.
Polygiene prevents this from occurring. By inhibiting the growth of bacteria, Polygiene keeps Swany gloves fresher for longer, so users can wear them day in, day out on the slopes without having to worry about unpleasant smells. Our solution is based on skin-safe and environmentally-friendly silver ion technology – the perfect match for a brand whose products are used in spectacular natural landscapes that require preservation.
By reducing the need for frequent washing and keeping bad smells at bay, Polygiene StayFresh also reduces the gloves’ overall environmental impact. Fewer washes means less energy, water, and detergent are consumed, and that products last longer. So Polygiene doesn’t just protect against smelly ski gloves, it also results in a more durable and eco-friendly product.
Polygiene StayFresh is integrated into the following Swany products, among others.
Learn more about Swany.
Learn more about Polygiene Freshness technologies.
