Winner | Textiles | 2017
E‑soft-shell

Electrically heated clothing which makes it possible for us to stay pleasantly warm in winter has long been a dream of the textiles industry. Projects in this field have hardly made it beyond the development and trial phase hitherto. But now Schoeller Textil has created E-soft-shell, a material that makes this utopia a reality. E-soft-shell is a laminate consisting of bi-elastic tissue, machined lining and a functional corkshell coating. The heating technology is integrated with the fabric in a diamond-shaped geometrical pattern. It is based on metallic yarns, making it possible for the material to be evenly heated at standard voltages. The fabric is designed to be sold off the roll, and can be cut up without affecting the embedded technology. It is suitable above all as clothing for outdoor activities or motor cycling – but applications in the fashion or wellness worlds could also come into consideration.
Comments of the nominators
An exemplary textile development that meets high technological standards, and could have considerable economic potential. E-soft-shell has an impressive lightness and elasticity, is surprisingly thin and promises to be very comfortable to wear. This textile clearly extends the possibilities of garment design in both functional and aesthetic respects.
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