Advance Denim shows dyeing, stretch and aerogel innovations during PV
China-based mill Advance Denim introduced a host of technical innovations during its presentation at Première Vision (PV)’s Digital Denim Week (running July 5-9) recently.
Marketing team members from Advance’s Hong Kong and mainland China offices explained the latest developments, with the mill’s director of Europe, Enrico Forin (pictured), also providing comment.
New dyeing innovations included BioBlue, described as a “cleaner” and “sustainable” reducing agent and hydrogen carrier for the indigo dyeing process, which the manufacturer presented as a low-impact alternative to sodium hydrosulfite.
Advance said that, following “many years” of research, it is the only mill currently using BioBlue and that it plans to use the technology in all of its products by the end of 2022.
Botanical dyes developed alongside an unspecified local university also made an appearance, with Advance’s marketing representative describing botanicals as “infinitely” better for the environment than synthetic versions. The mill showed how it had used indigowoad leaf to create an indigo hue, for example.
Aero Tech denim, made using fibres blended with nano-grade, ultralight aerogel (a low-density, high-porosity material created by US scientists in 1931) powder and a “unique” weaving method, was further introduced as “at least 15% lighter than regular denim, with the same construction”.
Advance said Aero Tech is light, breathable and antistatic, with “excellent” moisture absorption properties and low thermal conductivity.
Finally, the mill revealed a new stretch technology, Freetech 2.0, created using three high-performance, Lycra-branded stretch fibres in the core of the yarn, which is subsequently wrapped in cotton: T400, Anti-Slip and Lycra.
Advance said that this new yarn structure means that the denim will not lose its shape after washing. Additionally, it revealed how its own tests showed Freetech 2.0 to have better recovery and easier stretch than traditional dual core and spandex/elastane stretch.
Image shows Advance Denim’s Enrico Forin during the mill’s Première Vision presentation.
