Technical Fabric Library

The Sock Technical Fabric Library

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ABLETEX® is a registered trademark of Formosa Taffeta Co., Ltd.®. Abletex® is a waterproof, breathable fabric that is made by laminating an extremely thin film to a base fabric. The film ensures uniform pore size facilitating high moisture permeability without being stiff and uncomfortable.

COOLMAX® is a registered trademark of Invista CoolMax® is made of Dacron® fibers. Dacron®'s four channel fibers create a greater surface area allowing CoolMax® to rapidly move moisture away from the body to the outer layer of the fabric, where it evaporates.

COTTON is a natural fiber that absorbs moisture.

DURASPUN® is a registered trademark of Solutia, Inc.®. Duraspun® is an acrylic microfiber used in socks. Duraspun® has a soft hand, is colorfast, and wicks moisture.

GORE-TEX® is a registered trademark of W. L. Gore ® Associates. The Gore-Tex® membrane is specifically engineered to form an impenetrable barrier against wind and water while maintaining breathability.

HOLLOFIL® is a registered trademark of E.I.DuPont de Nemours and Co. Hollofil® fibers are used for insulation. Each fiber has a column of trapped air which runs through the center. This hollow core cross-section makes Hollofil® fibers thicker, fluffier, and warmer than solid-core fibers of the same weight.

INGEO® is a registered trademark NatureWorks LLC. It is the first man-made fiber derived from 100% natural, annually renewable resources such as corn. Unlike traditional petrolium based products, Ingeo® has low odor retention. It is soft to the hand and feels natural against the skin. Ingeoąs is designed to wick moisture away from the skin. When products made of Inego® come to the end of their useful life they can be returned to the earth without any negative impact on the environment.

INNOVA®, is a registered trademark of American Fibers and Yarns Co. Innova® is a filament polyolefin (polypropylene) yarn used in base layer fabrics because of its moisture-management, insulative and quick-drying properties. Innova® is a hydrophobic yarn, "water hating", meaning that no moisture is absorbed into the fiber. Perspiration moves away from the skin along the shaft of the fiber to the outside of the garment to be evaporated. Innova® polyolefin has the lowest thermal conductivity rating of all natural and synthetic fibers. Thermal conductivity is the rate at which a substance loses heat. Because of Innova's® low rating, garments retain body heat allowing the athlete cool down slowly after exercising without getting chilled.

ISOLFIL® is a registered trademark of Di Borio Fiorino & Co. Italy. Isolfil® is a 100% polypropylene worsted spun yarn made from Meraklon® fiber. Isolfil® has a low thermal conductivity keeping feet warm, and a low moisture regain coefficient keeping feet dry. It is 160 times less absorbent than cotton and 8 times less absorbent than Polyester. Isolfil® moves perspiration away from the body to the outside where moisture will then evaporate.

LYCRA®, is a registered trademark of is a registered trademark of Invista Lycra® is a man-made elastomeric fiber, known as spandex in the US and Canada and as elastane in Europe. Lycra® provides the stretch and memory allowing socks to fit like a second skin, conforming to the foot during movement.

MERINO WOOL see "WOOL"

NYLON is a synthetic substitute for silk. The fiber is knitted into socks for added strength and durability.

OLEFIN Fibers (polypropylene and polyethylene), are man- made fibers derivved from the polymerization of propylene and ethylene gases.

OUTLAST®, is a registered trademark of Outlast Technologies, Inc. The Outlast® brand represents a line of temperature regulating fibers and fabrics that contain millions of micro-thermal spheres used to create a dynamic thermal barrier that regulates the micro-climate next to the skin to maintain warmth and comfort, despite changes in outside temperature. These micro-thermal materials absorb, store, distribute, and release heat in response to the body's comfort needs.

POLYPROPYLENE is a man-made fiber derrived from the polymerization of propylene. It is lightweight and has a high thermal insulating value. Polypropylene also wicks moisture.

SILK is a natural protein fibre that is obtained from the cocoon of silkworm larvae reared in captivity. Silk does not conduct heat and is a natural thermal retainer. THERMOLITE®, is a registered trademark of Invista Thermolite® is a hollow core polyseter. The larger surface area allows for faster evaporation of sweat, by speeding moisture away from the skin to the surface of the fabric. Thermolite®'s hollow-core fibers trap air for greater insulation. Thermolite® is lightweight and warm.

THERMSTAT is an insulating material that retains heat and wicks away moisture.

THINSULATE®, is a registered trademark of 3M Thinsulate is an insulating material that retains heat and wicks moisture.

WOOL®, is a registered trademark of The Woolmark Company. Wool® is a fibre that grows on the bodies of sheep. It is one of the oldest textile fibres known to man. Wool® is a natural insulator from heat and cold. It absorbs moisture leaving a dry layer of air next to the skin. The crimp in the wool fibres makes them stand apart from each other. As a result, little pockets of still air are trapped between the fibres. This lining of air trapped inside the fabric acts as an insulator. Although wool® can absorb moisture away from the skin, it repels moisture on the outside. The scales on the outside of the Wool® cause liquid to roll off the surface of the wool® making wool® water repellant.
MERINO® WOOL® refers to they type (or breed) of sheep. There are four strains of Marino sheep... Peppin, Saxon, South Australian, and Spanish. The Saxon strain of sheep produce the finest quality of wool. Saxon wool is extremely bright and white in colour, soft to handle and fine (i.e. narrow) in diameter. These features make this wool prized by the textile industry for the highest quality and most expensive cloths it can produce.
SPORTWOOL® is a two-layer composite fabric. Next to the skin is a layer of fine Merino® wool®, coupled with an outer layer of a tough, easy-care man-made fibre. This unique combination has been engineered to actively wick sweat away from the skin and control humidity change in the skin microclimate.

X-STATIC®, is a registered trademark of Noble Fiber, LLC. X-STATIC®, a silver-coated nylon, is a natural antimicrobial, helping to eliminate foot odor, inhibit foot bacteria and fungi. The silver coating tranfers heat away from the foot during strenous activity.