Polygiene: Changing the DNA of Outdoor Clothing

Good outdoor wear should always be comfortable, long-lasting and perform to a high standard. But what if the fibres of our garments could be infused with technology that allows them to be more hygienic, odour resistant and longer lasting?

Since 2006 Swedish company Polygiene has been doing just that. Creating anti-microbial and anti-bacterial technologies that are added to the fibres of products, minimising the build-up of particles that cause bad odours. In turn, this reduces the need for washing with harsh chemicals, saves water and ultimately increases the lifespan of a piece of clothing. To date, Polygiene has used its innovative science to create three freshness properties which can be applied to clothing. Its OdourCrunch, StayFresh and ScentMaster technology use eco-friendly materials to focus on odour control. What better feature for high-performance outdoor clothing than one that allows it to be worn multiple times before losing freshness?

How Does Polygiene Fabric Technology Work?

OdourCrunch™ technology incorporates naturally modified silica particles added to fabric using a patented process. Once the silica particles are attached to the fabric, they work on attracting the molecules that make up the bad smells, breaking through their outer layer and causing them to collapse or ‘crunch’. This leaves the modified silica ready for round two! Meaning if the silica particles are present on your garment, this innovative odour protection will keep working for the entire lifespan of the product.

StayFresh™ is a technology that uses silver chloride, a chemical that occurs naturally in soil and water. These silver chloride particles create a hostile environment for odour-causing bacteria, so much so that they don’t even have a chance to reproduce. Like the OdourCrunch technology, StayFresh is bound to the fibres of the garment during the last stages of manufacturing, this means not only does it keep its anti-microbial properties permanently, but the process also does not use any additional energy!

ScentMaster™ is a technology that’s less microbially based and works more as a built-in deodorizer for items. The clever process through which Polygiene applies this uses 3mm water-soluble pellets that contain a chosen organic fragrance. The ScentMaster pellets are added slowly during the manufacturing process to ensure a long-lasting scent and once opened the fragrance of a product can last for up to six weeks.

Uses for Adventure

These handy, innovative features are great on any item. But this technology comes into its own when it’s applied to outdoor wear. Imagine a base layer you can wear for an entire weekend camping without bad odour or hiking socks that eliminate bacteria by themselves. Not to mention the extended life that the anti-microbial feature promotes. Who wouldn’t want their clothes to allow more wear before they need to be washed and degrade slower over time?

Outdoor Products Featuring Polygiene

While all these technologies are great for consumers, they all play into the Polygiene mission to turn consumables into durables and give products longer lives. The properties that these treatments give clothing only get more and more useful when tested on adventures. It’s due to this that a growing number of outdoor brands like Rab, OEX and Montane are utilizing Polygiene technology to make their clothing perform better for longer. Follow the link below to browse our growing range of Polygiene enhanced products