FABRIC INNOVATION

Fabric Innovation is a huge part of my process where I can enhance quality, value and innovation. The material plays a critical part in the problem solving for the wearer. Materials can determine the quality, ease and longevity of a product.

A unique aspect of my role at Aday was to select raw materials, choose our partners, and develop proprietary fabrics. I collaborated with various partners to switch fibres and add properties to their popular fabrics.

Proprietary Scuba

This fabric became a bestseller for Aday, valued for its durability, structure, and comfort.

I developed Recycled Scuba in collaboration with Hwang Yih Textiles, utilising yarn made from 90% REPREVE® (post-consumer plastic bottles). I also partnered with Beyond Surface Technology AG, incorporating a 100% plant-based finish derived from algae to enhance sweat-wicking and fast-drying properties.

Cooling Technology

A fabric initially woven with virgin nylon, I collaborated with brrr° to develop a recycled version of their bestselling shirting fabric, maintaining the same quality and properties while enhancing its sustainability. 

The cooling technology uses embedded minerals to make the fabric 80% cooler than comparable materials, offering superior moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and UPF 50+ properties.

Technical Knitwear

I sourced and developed garments with recycled cashmere, Merino Wool,  TENCEL™, ROICA™ EF elastane, COOLMAX® EcoMade. These fibres gave unique performance properties to the knitwear such as sweat wicking, cooling and washability.

Stain Resistant Shirting

I first discovered INDUO® when they applied their stain-resistant technology to traditional cotton fabrics.

Although interested, the fabrics were too prone to wrinkling for our customers. When INDUO® launched an organic stretch cotton shirting, I quickly adopted it. The technology is not only stain-resistant but also sweat-wicking and quick-drying. The hydrophobic properties repel liquids, allowing stains to be easily removed by pouring water over them.

The first shirt we launched with this fabric sold out in two weeks.

Biodegradable Tailored Stretch

For our bestselling pants, we initially used a soft, technical knit fabric. However, it was made of nylon, and we sought a more sustainable option without compromising quality and longevity.

I collaborated with our suppliers, who were experimenting with biodegradable nylon, typically blended with natural fibers.

I proposed developing a version of our existing fabric using biodegradable nylon and ROICA™ V550 biodegradable elastane. After a year of trials and testing, we succeeded. Last year, we began transitioning to the 100% biodegradable version for our bestselling pants, which retains the same hand feel and properties as the original but biodegrades in three years in anaerobic landfills.

Stretch Linen

Linen was a fabric I always wanted to work with but it posed a problem for our customers- it was too wrinkly. I sort a linen combined with stretch, to improve its longevity, wearability and ease of care.

This linen uses less water and pesticides than cotton, is thermoregulated and is naturally breathable.