Breathability is the ability to carry moisture generated by the body to the outside. If breathability is low, heat is trapped by the fabric and this can lead to discomfort or, in extreme cases, to heat-stroke. Unlike many other fabrics which block the body's normal perspiration process or only handle it for a limited period, our fabrics manage the flow of moisture from perspiration so as not to destabilise the body's natural temperature controls and keep the skin dry. When there are high levels of physical effort, our fabrics are able to collect sweat (in its liquid form) and move it away from the skin along the surface of the fibres towards the exterior of the fabric, thereby releasing it into the atmosphere extremely quickly and efficiently.

Knowing the thermal resistance of fibres or their capacity to transmit heat combined with their breathability means we can understand whether or not a fabric is able to control body temperature. Our winter garments feature a high thermal resistance which insulates the body from adverse climatic conditions and ensures continuous breathability and therefore proper moisture management. Conversely, our summer collection features a low thermal resistance and this allows rapid dispersal of heat towards the outside of the garment and excellent breathability.

We test our garments against the strictest military standards by subjecting them to numerous abrasion tests. Using our innovative materials and our own production techniques means we have been able to produce more durable products and also maintain a garment's original appearance. A Forcetek fabric has an average period of use which is 4 times longer than a traditional fabric, ensuring a long-term saving both in terms of environmental impact and financial outlay.

This refers to a particular test performed on a fabric which measures its resistance to being torn, an unwelcome event for any technical fabric. One test measures the force required to produce a predetermined tear in a sample piece. All our fabrics are tested for tear resistance to ensure consistent quality throughout our various production processes.

Pilling is when fluff and small balls of fibre appear to form during use and maintenance of a garment, giving it the appearance of ageing. This is normally considered a characteristic of a poor quality product. We manufacture and test our fabrics to ensure that no pilling forms even after many washes and frequent use. During our tests to ensure compliance with European standards, our garments are scoured by a machine until they reach the standard threshold of 20,000 cycles to ensure no visible pilling is produced. A shirt made using traditional materials would already show this defect after only 5,000 cycles.

Quick drying is very important for various reasons such as a feeling of comfort for the wearer. In fact, a fabric which absorbs moisture without dispersing it and which remains humid for a long time can produce a lowering of body temperature and thereby discomfort. Our technical fabrics have this feature and ensure very short drying times.

European standards describe the method for determining dimensional variation in a textile, garment or other fabric item when subjected to an appropriate combination of set washing and drying cycles. Our fabrics are tested using this method in order to ensure the absence of any dimensional variation during use and washing.

The term "stability" is used to describe the degree to which a colour is able to resist fading as a result of various conditions and methods of use to which the fabric is subjected. Colour can lose its original appearance following exposure to sunlight, and through the effects of sweat, friction and washing. Our fabrics respond very well to this test thanks to our high-quality dyes which allow the garment to maintain its original colour unaltered over time.

We incorporate silver ions into all our fabrics and this makes them naturally anti-bacterial without the use of chemical substances which are harmful to human health. Silver ions do not just prevent the formation of bacteria and unpleasant odours, but they also eliminate bacteria deposited on the garment through contact. In our severe laboratory test conditions, colonies of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are deposited on the fabric. These two dangerous bacteria are very harmful to human health. After 24 hours incubation, the silver ions produce a reduction of 75% to 100% in the introduced bacteria. To ensure increased safety, this treatment is not applied to the surface of the fabric but is incorporated within the fibre itself so that even after numerous wash cycles the anti-bacterial properties of the silver are undiminished.

Our fabrics can also add to their already numerous performance characteristics the assurance that they do not produce undesirable effects on the skin, especially in more sensitive individuals. Our dyes have been tested in a laboratory for the presence of harmful and allergenic substances such as AROMATIC AMINES PRODUCED BY AZO DYES Besides our dyes, we also check for the absence of free and hydrolysed formaldehyde, and we also check the pH to ensure it is suitable for contact with the skin.

Stretching in 4 directions to ensure excellent fit and comfort. This technology ensures that garments are pleasant to look at when worn, adapt to our movements without hindering them and reduce folds which could cause redness on the skin in areas where there is friction.

Fireproof fabrics are tested against the strictest European standard EN ISO 11612. Its general conditions stipulate that no test sample should catch fire at the top or at the sides, no holes should appear, it should not melt, catch fire or produce molten debris. Firetek meets all the requirements of this standard and is the most comfortable fireproof fabric on the market. Its feel is similar to silk and has excellent breathability and moisture management properties, and superb ability to expel body heat.

Our modern technical fabrics do not need to be ironed. Once dry, they can be worn immediately as they do not crease.

Absolute No-Seams is the high point in a journey which started with a great idea. The idea was to imagine construction which was free of structural limitations, unbound by the joining together of multiple components but simply moulded into a single object developed in 3D. This is how a garment completely without seams was born. A garment that fits extremely well and is ready to pass whatever usage tests it is subjected to, however extreme. Technology and innovation find their ultimate application in Absolute No-Seams. They have produced a new type of garment, unique in its field, which is capable of combining comfort, strength, performance and long-term use. The complete absence of seams eliminates any risk of skin irritation in the wearer and avoids any structural degradation during prolonged use and maintenance of the garment.

A garment's comfort is the degree to which it provides a sense of well-being and the sensation it induces when you put it on. This is very important for a technical garment. Garments with poor levels of comfort can lead to skin irritations, dermatitis, sensations linked to overheating or hypothermia with a resulting loss of professional performance and attention span. A comfortable garment should optimise control of body temperature, be pleasant to the touch and allow moisture-wicking to create a favourable microclimate between the garment and the skin. To determine a fabric's comfort level, we assess various factors including RCT (material thermal resistance), RET (material evaporative resistance), air permeability, drying time, moisture absorption and release to atmosphere index, friction force against the skin, hairiness and other minor factors. All of these tests are actually carried out on Forcetek products in order to assure the wearer of the excellence of our products and to expect very high levels of performance from technical garments.

Garment layers play a critical role when engaged in physical exercise, whether we're talking about trekking, skiing, climbing or other physical activity. A system of layers offers the means the body needs to avoid overheating during heavy physical effort and to keep warm when resting. The base layer is the most important for comfort and therefore athletic performance. The base layer is the layer closest to the skin, and therefore the one that collects the most sweat. The purpose of this layer is to keep you dry by moving moisture away from the skin and dissipating it over the fabric. At the same time, the fabric must adapt perfectly to the physical environment and maintain its insulating properties. Cotton should never be worn as a base layer as it absorbs moisture and holds it internally. This means a loss of elasticity and the ability to maintain warmth and causes excessive cooling through evaporation.

This is a type of seam created using a particular technique which "flattens" the stitching through the use of a special machine and this makes the garment more comfortable to wear. Garments with flat seams are more comfortable, do not leave unsightly marks on the skin and cause less friction on the skin when heavy equipment is worn over the garment.

Fabrics made of technical polymers can be used in both cold and hot climates thanks to their particular capacity for thermal resistance, moisture-wicking and their ability to maintain body temperature even when wet. Usually the only difference between a summer and winter garment lies in the thread-count and the presence of long sleeves and trousers.

Nominal weight is defined as the weight of a material sample divided by its volume. This variable is very important in technical garment production as athletes can have similar protection but be lighter in weight and improve their performance. Similarly, this allows military personnel and police officers to carry more equipment and maintain a similar overall weight. In some cases, such as with Drytek, the fabric is actually lighter than water and this helps with flotation, and a shirt can weigh up to 34% less than a similar one made of polyester.

This term is used in a wider sense to indicate that a fabric does not absorb and retain moisture within it or on its surface but this property has an impact on a garment's weight and thermal properties. For example, Drytek absorbs only 0.13% of moisture (relative to a garment's weight) whilst cotton absorbs 7.3%. From this we can deduce that a Drytek technical shirt will not only be lighter but much better at maintaining a normal body temperature.

Fabric treated with SMT has a very high resistance to solar radiation and maintains its colour and shape over time, ensuring protection for the skin against UV rays. Anti-infrared technology ensures the skin is less affected by heat in contact with the fabric when it is exposed to the sun. The heat is reflected by the fabric and therefore not transmitted to the wearer. When a shirt with anti-IR treatment is exposed to the sun, it can have a surface temperature lower by several tenths of a degree Celsius compared to a standard untreated shirt. Fabrics with anti-IR treatment are also more difficult to detect using night-vision equipment.

Does not contain toxic substances which are harmful to health, e.g. colourings, surface treatments, hazardous raw materials, finishing and washing treatments containing chemical irritants. Our fabrics are also tested to ensure they maintain the skin's natural pH and do not cause redness.