KTC X GARMENT REPORT JOVICA SPAJIC, ROVANIEMI 300

KTC X GARMENT REPORT 3

ROVANIEMI 300

Within our KTC X division, we analyse the limitations of technical apparel and push the boundaries by exploring new ground for materials and construction in cooperation with expert users – our athletes. With Jovica Spajic, our Ultra Marathon athlete, we spent 10 months to nail down a garment system to beperfect for ultra-running in the harshest winter conditions.

The given garment requirements posed a challenging split between polar expedition with trail running, with high insulation and weather protection on one side and with light-weight and bulk-free construction on the other. Providing sufficient warmth while avoiding overheating and the accumulation of moisture posed the largest challenge during all phases. From material development through garment construction and for the concept of layering.

From the unusual set of requirements, a layering system consisting of 13 different pieces – from next-to-skin all the way down to down-insulated shell styles– took shape. This allows fine-tuning depending on conditions and the level of physical strain.

Winter Ultra-marathon ‘ROVANIEMI 300’ in cooperation with KTC X athlete Jovica Spajic from Serbia.

KTC X PROJECT

FOREWORD

KTC X - GARMENT REPORT Baselayers

ROVANIEMI 300

NOTES: For the crucial next-to-skin climate control, fibres with supreme abilities to handle moisture were chosen: Silk, Merino Wool and Polypropylene. By layering them, a push-pull effect was created moving the sweat actively away from the skin to the outside of the Baselayers. Our Merino-Polyester blend – a fabric from the ‘Janerino’ collection from the technical knitter Evertex Fabrinology Ltd., provides additional light insulation with its brushed Merino back side.

PARTNER LINKS: Evertex Fabrinology Ltd.: https://www.evertex.tw/

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Core Styles Core Styles

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NOTES: Four styles made with air-permeable fabrics and a new water repellant finish are the base of insulation during the phases of high cardio and the key to the excellent climate management of the garment system. Only the use of the continuous fibre insulation CONTUR from Climashield® - which combines 4-way elastic proper-ties with a very low tendency for fibre migration - allows the use of the air-permeable material on jacket, pant and vest.On the jacket and pant, waterproof hardshell fabric is positioned only in strategic zones providing a good level of weather protection while excess heat and moisture can constantly be released through the air-permeable areas. The new encapsulating water repellant EMPEL™ technology from Green Theme Technologies Inc. – a water-free and solvent-free polymerisation process - provides both fabrics with a permanent and supreme water repellency.

NOTES: The second jacket among the core styles is using a material from the new category ‘woven fleece’ – a double-weave with a back side brushed to a high-pile, giving the fabric an amazing combination of face durability, softness and warmth retention known from knitted fleece fabrics. Our choice of woven fleece from Premiere Fashion Corp offers light-weight, stretch and a soft hand feel while the densely-woven face side provides super high abrasion resistance. Also this fabric is using the new encapsulating water repellant EMPEL™ technology.The vest acts as a versatile core insulation and positions the air-permeable woven fabric and continuous fibre insu-lation in the center torso with the woven fleece zoned in Hybrid construction.

PARTNER LINKS: Climashield: http://climashield.com/en

Green Theme Technologies Inc.: https://greenthemetek.com/

PARTNER LINKS: Premiere Fashion Corp.: https://www.premiere1.com.tw/the-comapny

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Ultimate Insulation

ROVANIEMI 300

NOTES: The same light-weight and stretchy 3L Hardshell material with EMPEL™ DWR treatment, as outer shell, is combined with interior elastic quilting using a novel down-proof material from the supplier Freudenberg, that is highly air- permeable and elastic. With down-proof materials always being non-stretch and very dense (low or no air-permea-bility), this new and not yet commercialised fabric with a revolutionary construction allows for a drastically extended comfort range for a down garment, preventing the wearer from overheating.

PARTNER LINKS: Freudenberg: https://www.vilene.com/

Weather Protection

ROVANIEMI 300

NOTES: The great light-weight 3L Hardshell fabric for our jacket and pant are supplied by TDI Textile Co., and is also equipped with the new EMPEL™ DWR, for an outer layer of exceptional wind and weather protection. Ergonomic shaping plus the stretch of the fabric provide the ultimate range of motion.

PARTNER LINKS: TDI Textile Co.: http://www.tditex.com.tw/

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The valuable feedback from training, and now the race from our athlete,provides us with precious insights to further hone and optimise this garment system and work on compelling future concepts. Having our athlete win the race motivates us even more to strive harder to provide novel solutions to material and garment construction!

CONCLUSION

KTC X - GARMENT REPORT

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KTC X GARMENT REPORT JOVICA SPAJIC, ROVANIEMI 300