INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibres offers its COOLMAX and THERMOLITE fabric technologies to cater to the performance socks category in the Indian textile and apparel market.
Known for delivering exceptional value for customers through its fiber and fabric technological expertise, INVISTA is working across the value chain from spinners to socks knitters to retail brands and thereby facilitating the development of performance socks in the country. Packed with moisture management technology and comfort, COOLMAX Socks cater to the end-consumer’s need for dry comfort and high performance.
Mr. Rohit Pal, Regional Managing Director, Renfro Europe, Asia and India states, “Renfro Corporation is the largest global hosiery company in the world. Renfro India is the market leader in domestic as well as export market in the country and has a portfolio of 10 licensed brands and exports.
“Globally Renfro Corporation and locally Renfro India lead technological innovation, selling more than 700 million pairs of socks globally. COOLMAX Socks offer to the retailers an innovative yarn with several performance characteristics and are being widely used by several licensed brands.”
COOLMAX socks are engineered from four-channel fibers that move perspiration away from the body and through the fabric for quick evaporation, thus keeping the wearer feeling cool and dry. This is the reason why COOLMAX socks are a preferred choice of sock knitters across the globe. Mr. Danny Hansotia, Director, Spenta International adds, “Moisture Management is one of the key requirements of active wear brands and COOLMAX fabric technology is a good and durable way to impart this functionality.”
A testimony to the high performance of COOLMAX Socks is that performance socks brands like Asics, Injinji Darn Tough Vermont, Fox River, Klim, Lorpen, SofSole Thorlo, Timberland etc. are using this technology.
Mr. Ravi Chamria, Director, New Horizon Knits, comments, “With COOLMAX fabric technology, we have been able to enter into performance socks market in Europe and US and the response we have received from our customers has been promising. COOLMAX socks are extremely popular in the U.S. and North America for their performance characteristics. We are constantly receiving enquiries for this product from the domestic as well as the export market and are looking forward to expanding our product portfolio with high performance COOLMAX socks.”
Fabric performance efficiency tests have shown that after 30 minutes drying time, COOLMAX fabric loses 93% of the moisture as compared to cotton that loses 50% of the moisture. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of COOLMAX socks as compared to regular cotton socks. Mr. Raj Jain, Managing Director, Bonjour comments, “COOLMAX Socks are ideal for hiking, running, cycling, golf, tennis and leisure activities. The end-consumer response for this product has been fantastic!”
Now INVISTA has brought this technology to the Indian socks industry to develop high performance products for the local as well as exports market. Andrew Evans, Managing Director, INVISTA South Asia, comments, “The performance socks market in India is currently untapped and holds immense potential for future growth. With the increase in awareness levels the consumers are demanding good quality functional products.
"We are confident that our capability to offer the smartest active wear technologies in addition to our end -to-end engagement across the value chain would definitely act as a driver for the performance socks category in the country.”
To make sure that the product is widely available, INVISTA has joined hands with a number of sock knitters in India. Some of the key names include Renfro, New Horizon Knits, Bonjour, High Street Fashion and Spenta. Mr. R.K. Sethia, CEO of High Street Fashion that has a popular in-house socks brand said, ”Domestic socks market is very price competitive, therefore COOLMAX socks have given us a differentiated platform to offer value added products to our customers”.
COOLMAX fiber in socks is generally used in blends with cotton. To feed this growing sock industry, INVISTA has joined hands with Gokak Textile Mills and RSWM over the last year to supply spun yarns of COOLMAX fiber.
A major benefit of using COOLMAX fabric technology in socks is that its properties cannot be washed away. Its performance characteristics are being recognized by the sock knitters owing to the immensely positive response from the buyers in local as well as international market.
About INVISTA
INVISTA is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications. INVISTA’s global businesses deliver exceptional value for customers through technology innovations, market insights and a powerful portfolio of global trademarks including COOLMAX fabric, CORDURA fabric, freshFX fiber, LYCRA fiber, SUPPLEX fabric, TACTEL fiber, and THERMOLITE fabric.
