Focus on coatings: Mills and chemicals suppliers see growing demand
Although included in mills’ presentations for while, at the recent Kingpins Amsterdam event there were a growing number of companies offering coated fabrics, suggesting to Inside Denim that interest in the more dimensional look and feels has been increasing.
Serdar Demircioglu, sales manager of Kaiser, which distributes Dystar’s chemicals, told us: “Coatings were definitely one of the highlights at Kingpins. What’s interesting is that the trend is now shifting from fabric coatings to garment coatings. Brands are increasingly looking for visual effects and tactile finishes that can be applied directly on garments after washing, offering more flexibility and creativity in design.”
The company has developed Lava Fin FRC, a garment coating agent that doesn’t require pressing and creates a metallic or shiny finish without additional energy use or heavy resin systems.
At Artmill, part of Pakistan-based Artistic Milliners, coatings have been popular for a couple of years but demand is growing, according to Maria Gerogiana Ciubotaru, VP of R&D. The company had two coated fabric offerings: one that offers a leather-look, activated by rubber balls in the machine, while the other one requires pressing to acheive. “These have been developed after listening to our customers,” added Ms Ciubotaru, “and we’re presenting sustainable innovations that they can use.”
Italian chemicals company Officina39 unveiled Marvel Metal Laser, a development within its Marvel Coating range. From the reptilian textures of Marvel Crack to the vintage look of Marvel Pull-Up and the shiny Marvel Paint, these coatings offer new creative possibilities, said the company.
Similarly, a new development that is under wraps until PV Denim show in Milan (November 26 and 27): Adriano Goldschmied is teaming up with Turkish mill ISKO through his Daily Blue Denim for a coated fabric with a supersoft handfeel. Moonskin Denim is described as “a new vision redefining denim’s identity”.
Image: Officina's Marvel Metal product in action
