Material World: Solament Illuminates Sustainable Solutions
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
Solament
Sumitomo Metal Mining has invented Solament: a material technology leveraging patented material to absorb near-infrared rays (NIR) found in sunlight. After finding success in Japan, the nanoscale particle technology debuted in the United States at South by Southwest (SXSW), showcasing its flagship prototypes, including the transparent Down-Less Down Jacket.
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“We are thrilled to showcase Solament at SXSW, presenting a new era of sustainable innovation,” said Shuichi Ogasawara, managing executive officer and general manager of advanced materials at Sumitomo Metal Mining. “This marks a significant milestone in our journey to illuminate new possibilities all over the world.”
Solament is a special material absorbing the NIR found in sunlight, generating heat within the material itself. Testing found that regular gloves showed a temperature increase of 43.5 degrees Fahrenheit, while Solament gloves showed a temperature increase of 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal for winter apparel, Solament provides ample heat without layers for easy movement, as demonstrated in the company’s Down-Less Down Jacket. The transparent jacket harnesses the light-to-heat transformation properties of Solament in the fabric, generating heat beyond what’s apparent from its appearance. The coat recently won the iF Germany Design Award 2024 for apparel prototyping.
Solament also reduces the 850-1200nm range of sunlight, protecting against heat depending on the placement of the material. This is demonstrated in the Shade-Less Sun Hat, which reduces temperatures by 41-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also protects against infrared-based illicit activities (like cameras “seeing through” bathing suits), which was an issue the Japanese Olympic swim team experienced.
Loci
British, Black-owned brand Loci has released its latest sneaker, the Echo. Handcrafted from responsibly sourced, 100 percent vegan materials, the Echo features the brand’s blend of non-food grade corn waste and recycled textiles as well as repurposed ocean plastic.
The sneaker’s material matrix includes a recycled ocean plastic upper, a recycled foam midsole, bamboo and recycled nylon lining, natural cork and recycled foam insole, sugar cane EVA sole, recycled brass eyelets, and waxed cotton laces.
Loci’s “eco-leather” is a semi-natural material constructed of 50 percent corn waste (maize) and 50 percent recycled polyurethane. It’s 63 percent biodegradable, the company said, and up to four times tougher than commercial animal hide. The eco-leather is ethically manufactured through “clever innovation” within the maize leather industry and is REACH-compliant.
Loci has partnered with ReWild to protect endangered wildlife, pledging 10 percent of all online profits to wildlife conservation charities. The company also donates 10 percent of all proceeds toward conserving the oceans. Not to mention, 20 plastic bottles are allegedly taken out of landfills and oceans for every pair of Loci sneakers made.
Handmade in Portugal, the modern runner is now available for $195.
Hologenix
Materials science company Hologenix has launched its second product with Decathlon, a sporting goods designer and retailer. The brands are teaming to introduce the first fully commercialized integration of Hologenix’s Celliant with Repreve recycled polyester technology.
Celliant’s technology converts body heat into infrared energy to increase local circulation and cellular oxygenation. As Celliant is embedded into Repreve recycled polyester fibers, the material used in the activewear training shirt is made from partially virgin polyester and partially recycled plastic bottles.
“We at Hologenix are determined to help create a healthier world, and partnering with Decathlon is helping us both achieve that goal,” said Seth Casden, founder and CEO of Hologenix. “This partnership is a key example of how our technology and our partner brands can come together to improve the well-being of individuals, one step at a time.”
In creating the new training set, the two companies combined their individual technology and sporting gear expertise to help create a “competitive edge” and impact the sports industry. This product launch marks Decathlon’s first foray into high-level technical gear for the expert user, as the Celliant infrared advantage was the “differentiator” that pushed them forward, the company said.
“From the moment we met with the Celliant team, we knew we wanted to form a strong partnership with them,” said Andy De Laender, product manager at Decathlon. “We recognized that everyone, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts, are looking for more from their apparel and, in turn, can offer them something designed to take their training to the next level.”
Last September, Celliant and Decathlon launched their first product—adult ski socks—which is available online and in 350 retail stores in Europe. The latest activewear will also be available at Decathlon’s European outposts and online.
