Eco-Engineering – Polartec, LLC is the world leader in eco-friendly, recycled-content synthetic fabrics and we continue to invest heavily in this category. In 2008 more than 20% of our total production will be recycled content fabrics and we now offer recycled options in every one of our product lines including Polartec® Power Dry®, Polartec® Power Stretch®, Polartec® Thermal Pro®, Polartec® Wind Pro®, Polartec® Power Shield®, and of course Polartec® Classic. Our recycled content Polartec® Classic fabrics have been adopted by some of the largest fleece programs in the world and we are already planning for an even bigger year in 2009. Every garment made of these fabrics saves a significant amount of energy and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with production. Aigle, Berghaus, Eider, Lafuma, Lowe Alpine, Patagonia, Prana and Quicksilver all have recycled content Polartec® fabrics in their lines.

Polartec® Hardface® Technology – Polartec® Hardface® Technology, a surface fusion polymer that dramatically increases durability and water repellency of any fabric, is now being applied to a broader range of fabrics in response to its popularity with Polartec® Wind Pro®. Marmot will have a new full zip, lightweight jacket made of Polartec® Power Stretch® with Hardface® Technology. Others, including Westcomb, are using Polartec® Hardface® treated Polartec® Power Shield® in their soft shell lines. The North Face is introducing three new styles of Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® Technology including the updated Blackhawk and Ladyhawk in a lightweight version with stretch and the Whitecomb in a very warm, herringbone style. And Arc’teryx adds the new Nomad Hoody to their extensive line of garments made of Polartec® Wind Pro® with Hardface® Technology, made of an extremely warm and tough version of the fabric.

Polartec® Power Shield® – 2008 represents a major update to the Polartec® Power Shield® line with new fabrics and more momentum in the market than ever before. Patagonia has a new performance soft shell called the Spindrift and a lifestyle jacket, the Intermediary, in a new version with recycled content. Arc’teryx has updated their classic Gamma SV and Gamma MX with new styles of Polartec® Power Shield®. The Arc’teryx Hercules and Griffon jackets made of highly breathable Polartec® Power Shield 02™ have been hot commodities this season and will continue into Fall 2008. Marmot is introducing The Andromeda Jacket using a new Polartec® Power Shield® with a custom interior fabric that has the Marmot logo knit into the fabric. For the true technical customer, Polartec® Power Shield® offers a highly compelling balance of air flow (to move moisture away) and wind resistance. In dynamic, real world situations, the Polartec® Power Shield® design outperforms both full film and single woven options.

Wool – Mountain Hardwear, Arc’teryx and Marmot all have Polartec® Power Dry® with Wool in their base layer collections this year. This Polartec® product is unique in the market because the inner surface is all polyester and the outer surface is a wool / poly blend – so it’s not itchy and wicks moisture quickly away from the skin. And in insulation, Lowe Alpine is introducing a new Polartec® Thermal Pro® cable knit style featuring a unique renewable wool and polyester blend.