Brazilian denim expert develops fast-acting Antiviral & Antibacterial fabric technology

 

Brazil’s leading denim specilist VICUNHA has developed functional  fabrics  with  antimicrobial, antiviral and repellent properties,  and are capable of destroying the Coronavirus with 99.9% efficiency in just one minute of contact. 

All will be revealed at the KingPins24 Amsterdam online trade show from 27 to 30 October 2020 when the Brazilian company will introduce their new V. Tech Protective fabric range.

Their new development of antiviral & antibacterial fabrics is said to be  capable of mechanically destroying the wall of enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, with the help of Swiss company HeiQ Viroblock by CHT, combining the innovation of two technologies - the antimicrobial activity of silver salts and the technology of fat vesicles.

The V. Tech  Protective  collection has achieved effectiveness in inactivating viruses belonging to the Coronavirus group, according to tests carried out in the UNICAMP´s Virology laboratory, showing the imprresive result of inactivating 99.9% of the viruses in just one minute of contact.

The technology was conducted together  with  the  Peter Doherty  Institute  of  Infection  and  Immunity  in  Melbourne,  Australia  (Doherty  Institute), and tests were conducted by Prof. Dra. Clarice Weis Arns, at  Virology Laboratory, that is part Biology Institute in State University of Campinas-UNICAMP. Each fabric from Vicunha´s line were individually tested according to ISO 18148/2019 standard.

According to Vicunha in a statement, the company has been at the forefront of safeguarding  the  population's  health,  well-being  and  safety since the beginning of the pandemic in Brazil, including  the creation of a fabric bank to support projects aimed at the production of masks and medical items for hospitals, the donation of 27,000 PPE items to the health departments of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte and the reopening of its Sewing Room in order to produce 36,000 masks for  employees,  their  families  and  communities.  

The  company  also  created  the  website "Together in the fight against coronavirus," an official channel for providing guidance, services, industry news and useful information about the pandemic for all audiences.    

Face masks using Polygiene ViralOff anti-viral technology launched by Majola and other brands

Plans on how we will emerge from a lockdown are not unified among different Covid-19 affected countries but one thing is for sure: regular citizens will be wearing face masks on a daily basis in the foreseeable future when we are allowed to leave our homes, perhaps even voluntarily, and especially  when one is using public transport and visiting retail establishments or attending events.
This new habit has inspired many companies with proven technologies to launch new applications that give citizens of the world the protection and confidence they need during these challenging times, until a viable vaccine is available for mass use.
For one, Polygiene, the Swedish global leader in branded odour control and stays-fresh technologies, is partnering with a number of brands including German sportswear brand Maloja that will be launching functional face masks using Polygiene's ViralOff anti-viral coating treatment that is capable of reducing more than 99% of virus in a two-hour period
(according to ISO18184:2019 standard).

Maloja's masks are manufactured at VioModa, 
a subsidiary of Maloja in Bulgaria and
 at two partner companies in Portugal.

The Maloja sports and streetwear brand has transferred its know-how of functional clothing for cycling, cross-country skiing or ski touring to the development of its own reusable face mask which will be available in several colors at a price of 50 euros in a 5-pack from the beginning of May at stationary Maloja partners and in online shops.
More masks with Maloja's own signature print designs will follow in mid-May.

Klaus Hass, one of two managing directors at Maloja, said they have worked intensively to develop the new three-layer face masks made of breathable functional fabric, which is equipped with a fleece insert as a droplet filter and the new ViralOff finish from the Swedish hygiene specialist Polygiene. In an interview with ISPO.com, Haas said their face masks will come in two styles, starting with  a three-layer reusable mouth-nose mask made of breathable polyester fabric with a nose clip and elastic bands for a comfortable positioning around the head and neck. The mask will completely seal the face and is suitable to wear with glasses and hearing aids. It will be available online and in select retail stores globally and available in several colours at a price of 50 euros retail for a 5-pack.  Later in May, Maloja will have an additional offering with the Reusable Mask 3.0 that will include their well-known and loved pattern making designs.

Maloja has noted that the same effort that goes into developing the face masks can be transferred to other functional clothing, and believes such as applying a 3-layer construction with a ViralOff finishing on top.

Another Polygiene partner, Spain's General Tactic which provides apparel and textiles for first responders in Spain and North America, has adapted and produced ViralOff treated masks for frontline workers in those countries. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's Everbasics has launched a scarf design that will provide coverage for the nose and mouth, and Poland's Lekko has adapted the ViralOff technology on a number of options to suit different environments where one needs to have protection. Others include Spira Protekta from Germany and UK provider Screenworks that will launch a facemask and neck gaiter option.

Outside of Europe, Polygiene has worked with Litume in Tawain and new brand Airgill in South Korea, as well as JCT Limited in India where ViralOff is used in personal protection equipment and facemasks. In North America, partner ASRV has switched their apparel production to fulfil the need for masks and for every mask sold, will donate one to health care workers and first responders. Over 12,000 have already been donated.
With many more partners in the pipeline and continuous requests and inquiries, the volumes projected to grow.