25 September 2009
Hot Fashion in Bed
Want to wear something that’ll make going to bed more enjoyable? AgResearch scientists have come up with something that
will help.
AgResearch has made a breakthrough in textiles that allows a natural product which is lightweight, has no chemical
treatment, helps sleeping, maintains and regulates temperature and looks and feels fantastic.
“Easy Care Wool Sleepwear works in both summer and winter and we believe makes excellent nightwear and loungewear with
its outstanding comfort properties,” said Dr Surinder Tandon, Senior Scientist, Textile Science & Technology.
The Sleepwear products targeted for the development include men’s and women’s nightwear and loungewear. These were
developed using innovative combinations of merino wool and other natural fibres such as bamboo and silk, yarn
structures, fabric weaves and knits, and finishing procedures.
The current sleepwear market consists of three main product categories: garments worn during sleep; multi-purpose
garments worn both for sleeping and as casual wear around the home or as comfortable items for rest and relaxation; and
garments worn over sleepwear that are not generally slept in. The new Easy Care Wool product can cover all these
markets.
“We hope in 2010 to repeat our successes at Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2008 and invite known designers to create
garments with Easy Care Wool. They will look great, function well and be very comfortable,” said Dr Tandon.
The new sleepwear fabrics are being manufactured by South Canterbury Textiles, “This cutting edge textile is exciting
from our point of view- it’s new, it’s got real advantages over other fabrics used for sleepwear and it creates
opportunities for us once it is available,” said Andrew Miller CEO.
This sleepwear fabric development programme was supported by Textiles NZ under their industry scheme Transform, South
Canterbury Textiles and Locus Research.
ENDS