ISKO’s latest edition of the Arquas™ fabric platform, Arquas 6.0, combines high-performance properties for sportswear with the company’s holistic sustainability vision. Olivia Selka reports.
In an endeavour to combine the company’s understanding of advanced woven technologies with the performance capabilities of activewear and sportswear, ISKO has released the latest edition of the Arquas fabric platform: Arquas 6.0.
“When we first created Arquas, the goal was to bring our advanced expertise on woven technologies into the world of sportswear and performance,” says Burcu Almali, head of digital marketing and communication at ISKO.
“The challenge was to develop a project that merged function and style in order to suit the athleisure trend. We were aware that we could change the game, so we created Arquas.”
By introducing the benefits associated with woven fabrics, such as durability and recovery power, into the outdoor, activewear and sportswear categories, the platform aims to provide designers and brands with high-performance and versatile solutions.
The latest edition of the Arquas platform, which launched at ISPO Munich 2020, features 35 brand new fabrics, most of which are made with certified recycled materials including recycled polyester along with natural yarns.
Despite many of the textile concepts included in the collection having the look and hand feel of knitted fabrics, they are all woven, ensuring greater recovery and superior durability. The company claims that Arquas 6.0 features enhanced moisture management, UV and wind protection, heat retention, water, and stain repellency.
The launch of Arquas 6.0 also introduces nylon to the mix. Almali explains the reason for this popular fibre addition: “Nylon allows for super light woven and cosy outdoor fabrics. We decided to implement it in the platform to further upgrade our offer and meet different brands’ requests, combining the performance properties of this material with our expertise in woven technology.”
In order to provide 360° elasticity, the fibre has notably been used in ISKO Blue Skin™, a patented technology featuring four-way, dynamic stretch. Provided with elasticity not only in the weft but also in the warp, and a unique 3D shaping that follows the silhouette, this fabric is said to allow for superior freedom of movement and all-day comfort. It also results in garments which shape and flatter the figure, the company claims.
What’s more, the new fabric platform also meets the ever-increasing demand for sustainable textiles as the company continues to develop its Responsible Innovation approach: “A holistic vision and conscious strategy that results in a pioneering and advanced culture that goes beyond simply using low-impact materials and processes.”
Almali describes sustainability as an ‘essential part’ of the company’s history, heritage and mission, and the research and development facility, which houses a unit of product development specialists, a technology development unit of physics, chemistry, biology, nanotechnology specialists, and an advanced testing laboratory, focuses its attention on developing those innovative ideas in a responsible manner.
“In December 2019 we became the first Turkish denim manufacturer awarded with STeP by Oeko-Tex modular certification system,” says Almali.
“All of our fabrics are responsibly manufactured in a high-tech factory, where an Environmental Management System certified to an international standard ensures the management of environmental impacts. Energy, water, waste, chemicals and emissions are managed under this system.”
She continues: “In March 2019 we joined Textile Exchange, to further advance the development of increasingly sustainable ways to tackle textile productions and to maintain an open dialogue with all the different stakeholders.”
In an aim to provide inspiration to its customers, the ISKO design team has created both a men’s and women’s garment collection based on three lifestyles: active, outdoor and club sports.
The active category includes solutions that cater for a wide range of sports, from yoga to fitness to running. “Whether participating in high or low-impact activities, these fabrics perfectly fulfil the technical requirements of athleisure and performance-wear apparel,” says Almali.
Standing for superior comfort, durability, water repellency and breathability, the outdoor category showcases fabrics that aim to protect the wearer from the elements of nature in any kind of setting.
And finally, the club sports category is designed to introduce maximum flexibility, fit and performance for any activity from golf to horse riding.
“These three categories rely on our most renowned fabrics and technologies, such as patented four-way dynamic stretch ISKO Blue Skin™, the ultimate patented fabric technology ISKO Pop™ – which combines both comfort and a unique silky feel – and patented ISKO Future Face™, for a knit look with the usual comfort of sweat pants, extreme soft touch, and a fleecy finish,” explains Almali.
The product creation concept aims to underline the adaptability of the fabric platform and demonstrate its capabilities to potential and existing customers.
“The feedback we received after ISPO 2020 confirmed to us the market demand for premium innovative products like our platform,” says Almali.
“We had the opportunity to meet various brands from all around the world, from Lululemon, Adidas, to Spyder and Mizuno, and we introduced our innovations to various segments of the industry such as low and high-impact sports, outdoor, biking, yoga and horse riding.”
And when it comes to future plans for ISKO, Almali explains an aim to widen the range: “We plan to further advance both our Arquas and ISKO Vital™ platforms.”
She continues: “ISKO Vital is the innovative fabric and garment technology platform delivering the world’s first woven compression product system. This is the culmination of a three-year development led by ISKO’s research laboratory.
“By applying compression technology pressure to the body, ISKO Vital facilitates a pumping mechanism that improves the blood flow in the veins, forcing it back to the heart. All the products belonging to the platform are woven, delivering superior performance level, and are far more durable than any other knitted equivalents as they don’t degrade over time. This means that the wearer won’t have to replace them so frequently.”
Almali says: “The compression effect is provided both by ISKO Vital fabrics and the garment technology: the combination of these two elements maximises the benefits that can be achieved. 18 different bottom silhouettes were created to display the platform’s possible end uses, such as cycling, high-impact training, yoga, wellness, post exercise recovery and travel, so as to showcase the extreme versatility of the ISKO Vital concept.”
To learn more about ISKO Arquas 6.0, visit https://iskodenim.com/arquas
