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Fibres/​Yarns/​Fabrics

Cifra presents antibacterial and antiviral athleisure collection

Cifra’s new base layers, leggings, tops, sweaters, gloves, and helmet liners are a novelty on the international scene in terms of style, and for product and production processes.

13th January 2021

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Milan, Italy

Sports/​Outdoor, Transport/​Aerospace

Personal protection from external factors is by now essential to everyday life and the demand for functional clothing is becoming more and more pressing, reports leading Italian seamless wear manufacturer Cifra SpA. To meet the need, the Milan based company has designed and produced a new generation of garments with antiviral properties made with the exclusive Q-SKIN yarn powered by AMNI VIRUS-BAC OFF, which guarantees permanent anti-viral activity and therefore protection from the risks of contamination, the company explains.

The innovative yarn was developed in the research laboratories of the Rhodia-Solvay Group and is distributed by Fulgar, a Made in Italy leader in the sector of high-tech and eco-sustainable yarns, which has been working alongside Cifra in the creation of avant-garde solutions for clothing for several seasons now.

“This extraordinary polyamide yarn is effective against the proliferation of bacteria and the spreading of viruses, thanks to the antiviral and antibacterial agent permanently incorporated into its polymer matrix,” Cifra says.

“According to several qualified studies, viruses can survive up to at least two days on textile surfaces. The electron affinity, together with proteins present in the external structure of viruses, causes this agent to prevent tissues from becoming a host surface for viruses and bacteria, thus helping to reduce the risk of contamination. The yarn’s antiviral properties have been tested by an independent laboratory following international textile protocols found in the ISO 18184 standard (standard for determining the antiviral activity of textile products),” adds Cifra.

“The technical characteristic of this new yarn ensures that antiviral and antibacterial agents do not migrate onto the skin or into the environment. Unlike garments treated with dyeing finishes that have limited functionality and lose theirs with washing, the antiviral and antibacterial properties of Q-SKIN polyamide powered by AMNI VIRUS-BAC OFF are permanent, which is an added benefit for garments in that they remain unchanged over time, confirming the sustainability of the production process,” the Warp Knit Seamless (WKS) specialist explains.

The special, soft, and easy to wash polyamide fibre is also said to guarantee freshness and comfort, contributing to the thermal well-being of the wearer. Cifra’s WKS technology guarantees the practicality of seamless and warp-knit garments, truly unique in the sector, which is designed to offer differentiated functionality thanks to body-mapping, the company adds.

“Garments such as base layers, leggings, tops, sweaters, gloves, and helmet liners represent an absolute novelty on the international scene in terms of style, and for product and production processes.”

As always, thanks to the support of its in-house fashion design department, Cifra offers customers the possibility to customize designs according to their needs. In terms of sustainability, each garment is designed and produced in Italy with Step and Oekotex certification.

Watch the new collection video…

Cifra Antivirus & Antibacterial Collection

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