An Introduction to Techwear by Rocky Li August 13, 2019 An Introduction to Techwear Words Rocky Li

Date August 13, 2019

Share The influence of techwear within the greater fashion industry is growing each year. The appeal of forward-thinking clothes that provide both utility and comfort is obvious, but the term techwear and all it entails can be intimidating to understand. A good place to start is to define the term itself. Techwear is clothing for everyday life with special fabric, construction and properties that allow for breathability, movement, water-resistance and comfort. There's way too much to unpack about techwear in this space alone, so consider this an introduction to the essentials.

What Is Techwear? The main appeal of techwear clothing is that it can make life easier, whether it's being able to carry more stuff on a weekend trip or to stay dry in a downpour. Below are some of the major benefits that techwear items provide. Water Resistance and Other Enhanced Properties One of the main advantages that techwear provides is its water repellency. Everyone hates getting caught in the rain and techwear offers a comfortable and practical solution to this problem. The modern wave of technical garments owe a lot to the development of Gore-Tex. In 1969, co-inventors Wilbert L. Gore and Gore's Son Robert W. Gore discovered a method of stretching Teflon into a "thin, porous membrane" that was able to repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through. The material is designed to be a lightweight, waterproof fabric for all-weather use particularly on outerwear. Gore-Tex remains the standard in water repellency and has the most brand recognition amongst the major waterproof textiles. Some notable competitors to Gore-Tex include eVent, HyVent (Developed by The North Face) and H2No (Proprietary to Patagonia). Gore-Tex has further diversified its brand by releasing variants of it's popular textile, including Paclite and Windstopper (which is an insulating wind-breaking layer for colder temperatures). Outside of water repellency there are dozens of synthetic fabrics which can offer differing properties including, but not limited to: stretch, odor resistance, abrasion resistance, and reflectiveness.

Range of Motion and Comfort While most pants and garments are cut to standard patterns, techwear challenges convention by designing patterns with the movement of the human body in mind. Anatomical design takes these factors in mind and a common construction method to achieve this is by using articulated joints, usually through darting at the knee or inner elbow. These allow the wearer to move freely without the fabric fraying or pulling at key points. Acronym has gone to the extent of showing martial arts movements performed in its garments in some of the its product videos. Of course another aspect of comfort beyond movement is breathability. In techwear terms this means letting sweat and heat escape so the wearer doesn't feel clammy in the garments. It isn't enough for a jacket to keep the wearer dry on the outside, it should allow the wearer to stay at a comfortable temperature while wearing it. Carrying Capacity Now that we often carry multiple devices and their respective chargers with us, techwear items are often well-considered with the storage they supply. Whether through simple designs such as zippered pockets, or more elaborate solutions such as removable modular attachments. The combination of the waterproof fabrics and well-designed carrying capacity mean that you can carry more and worry less. Bags and backpacks often benefit from useful details such as laptop sleeves and inner pockets/compartments.

Key Categories Within techwear, there are key categories of items that every brand will produce. Outerwear Jackets are probably what come to mind first when you think of techwear. These are split into two types—hardshell and softshell. Hardshells provide the most weather protection and are fully windproof, waterproof and breathable. They provide a versatile outer layer that wearers can layer underneath. In heavier downpours and snowy conditions, hardshells are the way to go. Softshells have a DWR (durable waterproof coating) that repels light precipitation—like snow or drizzle—and for winter sports. Softshell jackets often emphasize comfort, breathability and movement (compared to the crunchy texture of hardshells) but don't provide the level of environmental protection that hardshells do. Mid-Layers Mid-layers generally serve the function of keeping the wearer warm underneath a shell. These can take many different forms from down vests to hoodies to insulating shirts and fleeces. Some pieces will have removable mid-layers and liners that can be swapped in and out of shells, usually through some type of zipper or buttoning system. Base Layer Base layers are all about moisture wicking. They are intended to be right against your skin and keep you dry. You are probably familiar with these layers from their athletic wear equivalents—Nike DriFit and adidas Climacool come to mind. Pants While techwear pants haven't caught on as much as shells have, they are a growing segment of the market. Even denim giants Levi's put out a moisture wicking "commuter" pant for biking that allows free and easy movement while on the go. Pants in this segment usually bring about a mix of water repellency, breathability, stretch and extra or deep pockets. Acronym has brought some interesting features to its pants including a modular system allowing wearers to add and remove pouches for even more carrying capacity. Footwear and Accessories Nike and adidas have both been pushing the envelope when it comes to innovative forward thinking designs. All the major sneaker companies have experimented with everything from knit materials to sock liners and water resistant materials. The Nike ACG line has designed sneakers and boots with outdoors activities and function in mind. Techwear accessories have also evolved to help a person carry their everyday items. Bags will have compartments for smartphones, laptops and iPads. Durability and ease of use is top of mind for designers working on bag and belt designs.