HeiQ Materials AG collaborated with leading textile technology innovation companies 2A-Nygard, Coats, Windtext Vagotex and Sitip to create Just 5, a jacket that protects against viruses. According to a press release, the jacket is the ideal clothing solution for resuming normal life by protecting both the wearer and the environment. All components of the Just 5 jacket are available individually for each apparel or home textile brand to create their own innovations.
The product is a “super team of the five most innovation companies in our industry”, said Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ. “Every brand can now easily take parts from these suppliers to create their own 100% virus-protected garments.”
Each of the five companies developed one of the components in the jacket. 2A-Nygard developed the self-disinfecting zippers, which make themselves ready for use again in five minutes after each touch. The Coats-ProtectV threads provide each seam with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Sitip produces elastic fabrics known as warp knit fabrics, which were used in the roll-down cuffs of the Just 5 jacket to protect the wearer’s hands from touching contaminated surfaces. Windtext Vagotex produced the breathable, water-repellant and windproof fabrics.
HeiQ contributed its HeiQ Viroblock, a U.S. FDA-approved antimicrobial fabric technology that was originally developed to treat medical facemasks.
A Kickstarter campaign will begin on August 26 at 5:00 p.m., where it will also be possible to pre-order Just 5. The jacket is expected to be available by the end of autumn.
HeiQ was formed as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) in 2005. The company is headquartered in the IJZ, an innovation and startup park located in Schlieren, and is a member of Start Smart Schlieren.
