Technical textiles company Cordura was recognized at the 2021 Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) awards in London this month for its innovations in workwear. Each year the trade association honors industry-leading innovations in the global professional clothing industry.
Cordura also won the PCIAW award for Best Fabric and Fiber Innovation in the Suppliers, Distributors, and Manufacturers Category for its Daletec Extreme X Powered by Cordura fiber technology—stretch Inherent Flame Retardant (IFR) fabric. IFR fabrics are made from polyester yarn, allowing the fabric to melt at specific speeds rather than catch flame. Cordura continues to innovate workwear solutions and recently ventured into hemp with a collection of hemp-blended denim fabrics developed in partnership with Artistic Milliners. The line features 11-ounce and 12-ounce fabrics, each made with 20 % France-sourced hemp, offering durable and sustainable elements.
In 2018, Artistic Milliners tapped Cordura and Lenzing’s Tencel and modal fiber technologies to produce its Supercharged Noir collection, a sustainable black performance denim portfolio. Lenzing Modal Black, used in Supercharged Noir, has a 50 % to 60 % lower environmental impact than conventional dyed fabric. The process also comes with 64 % water savings, 90 % less chemical usage, and a 64 % reduction in wastewater output.
Cordura is a collection of synthetic fiber-based fabric technologies used in various products, including luggage, backpacks, trousers, military wear, and performance apparel. Cordura fabrics are durable and resistant to abrasion and tearing. Originally developed and registered as a trademark by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) in 1929, it is now the property of Invista, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries. Cordura fabrics are usually made of nylon but can blend nylon with cotton or other natural fibers.
