Introduction
Summers are becoming increasingly hot, leaving millions of people struggling with unbearable heat. However, clothing brands such as Bearbottom and LifeLabs CoolLife have taken upon themselves to develop innovative fabric technology that can keep you cool in the scorching heat.
The Need for Cool Fabric
With the human-caused climate crisis leading to hotter summers, experts predict that 2023 will witness not only record-breaking temperatures but also a rise in heat-related mortality. As we face this concerning future, researchers and manufacturers are working diligently to find ways to adapt, specifically through the development of cooling clothing.
Brand Innovations: Keeping You Cool
Bearbottom Clothing has introduced clothes made from recycled polyester, nylon, and spandex, which are treated with graphene, a carbon compound known for its excellent heat-conducting properties. The founder and CEO, Robert Felder, explains that this characteristic allows the fabric to wick away body moisture and heat, ensuring a cooling effect for the wearer. The Cabana Matching Set from Bearbottom Clothing is an excellent example of clothing treated with graphene, providing effective heat dissipation.
Aside from graphene treatments, other manufacturers employ different techniques to create cooling fabric. LifeLab’s CoolLife products, for instance, utilize polyethylene fabric that enables effective escape of body heat, resulting in a temperature reduction of up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit for the wearer, as stated on the company’s website. NanoStitch, on the other hand, employs customized fabrics made from Lycra® fiber and super-micro polyamide yarn. These materials make the fabric extremely lightweight and breathable, allowing body heat to radiate away, delivering a cooling sensation.
However, the most impressive advancements in cooling fabric technology can be found in the products created by Mission. Mission implements HydroActive™ technology that utilizes evaporation to cool items up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit below the average body temperature. To achieve the cooling effect, the wearer must wet the clothing article, such as a hat or cloth, and then wring it out before putting it on. The dampness facilitates rapid evaporation, significantly cooling the wearer. These innovations from Mission hold great promise in keeping individuals cool, even in extreme heat.
China’s Metafabric: A New Breakthrough
Researchers in China have made significant strides in cooling fabric technology. Guangming Tao and his team developed an award-winning “metafabric.” The fabric consists of a mirror-like component that deflects the sun’s rays, while the breathable fabric exchanges human body heat for cooler air, functioning akin to an air conditioner. In fact, this metafabric can cool the skin temperature by up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike previous cooling fabrics, this material has a similar thickness to conventional fabrics used in clothing, making it more practical for everyday use.
Demonstrating the cooling fabric’s effectiveness, researchers conducted an experiment by having a graduate student wear a shirt made partly from commercial cotton fabric and partly from the metafabric. After sitting in the sun for an hour, the student’s skin temperature was recorded on both sides of the body. The side covered in the metafabric was found to be significantly cooler, with a temperature 4.8 degrees Celsius (approximately 9 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than the side covered in cotton fabric. This breakthrough holds immense potential and could benefit not only athletes and construction workers but also individuals in various other professions who frequently face extreme heat conditions.
Tao and his team are currently collaborating with commercial partners to scale up the production of the metafabric for mass distribution. This development could pave the way for its incorporation into daily life, enabling people to stay cool and comfortable when temperatures soar. Moreover, the metafabric could find applications in various industries, including tents, canopies, and even car covers.
Conclusion
Cool fabric technology is revolutionizing the way we tackle unbearable heat. Brands like Bearbottom and LifeLabs CoolLife are leading the charge with their innovative clothing options that provide effective cooling. Additionally, Mission’s use of evaporation and China’s breakthrough metafabric offer even more advanced solutions. With ongoing research and development, we can look forward to a future where staying cool in hot climates becomes easier and more accessible than ever before.