Clariant and Schoeller help Under Armour develop new coldblack® sportswear collection

Muttenz, April 25, 2012 - Clariant, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Schoeller, a Swiss company specializing in innovative textile technologies, helped US-based sports performance brand Under Armour to develop its latest coldblack® sportswear collection which displays advanced UV protection and reflection. The new collection was launched in March 2012 and is already creating a sensation in the US sports market.

Light colored textiles reflect both visible and invisible rays of sunlight, while dark ones absorb both. Award-winning coldblack® finishing technology significantly reduces the absorption of heat rays, particularly by darker colored clothing. The result is greatly improved heat management, reliable protection from UV rays and a much wider design color palette for athletes who participate in outdoor competition. In addition, coldblack® contains only bluesign®1 approved components.

The benefits of coldblack® innovation are recognized by Under Armour, which has adopted the coldblack® technology in its sports apparel ranges for men’s and women’s running, golf, and training apparel categories. The US-based sports performance brand drives its mission to make all athletes better through science, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation, and is endorsed by athletes at all levels.

It is an approach that has seen the company go from strength to strength since its formation in 1996 by former University of Maryland footballer Kevin Plank, whose initial ambition was to bring to the market a superior tee-shirt providing both compression and moisture management.

Since then, a range of performance wear innovations has been rolled out, drawing on the latest developments from textile chemical and fabric innovators like Clariant and Schoeller.

Clariant and Schoeller mobilized their experts in Switzerland, Europe, the US and worldwide in order to deploy the intensive lab research, development and testing that was required for the coldblack® technology, along with close co-ordination with selected mill partners on four continents.

In total, some 144 separate coldblack® formulations have been developed to date and will be supplied for ranges that include 100% knitted and woven polyester fabrics, as well as blends with elastane and polyamide, in an extensive range of colors.

In addition, the Sanitized® hygiene function, an antimicrobial finish manufactured by SANITIZED AG and distributed worldwide by Clariant, will provide freshness, performance and wearing comfort within the ranges.

“We are very excited to team up with Under Armour and work closely with Schoeller on this project, which once again demonstrates the value-adding power of Clariant as a technology provider when our experts are involved from the early stages of development,” said Brad McClanahan, Global Head, Apparel & Interior at Clariant.

“Under Armour underlines the positive benefits coldblack® can bring in all kinds of activity,” says Hans Kohn, COO of Schoeller Technologies. “The winning combination of reflecting direct sunlight and providing UV protection brings new levels of functionality to the sports apparel market.”

Discover the coldblack® collection in pictures and videos:

coldblack range: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/cold-black

UA's coldblack commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9vl2kjIAo

UA's coldblack golf commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9vl2kjIAo

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