USA: Polartec Fabrics, Electronic Textiles Win $21m Funding

By just-style.com | 9 August 2004

Funding worth $21 million for Polartec garments for the US Military has been approved by Congress in the 2005 Defense Spending Bill.

The package also includes $1.5 million for research into electronic textiles under the Army's Combat Casualty Care program.

Lawrence, Massachusetts-based Malden Mills, which makes the Polartec performance textiles, on Friday said 2005 Polartec programs include the Army Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS), the Marine Corps Mountain Cold Weather Clothing and Equipment Program (MCWCEP), and the Navy Air Warfare Center's Multi-Climate Protection System (MCPS).

The $1.5 million Combat Casualty Care grant will be used to design electronic textiles to monitor and transmit soldiers' pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, and location back to military medics.

The Department of Defense recently approved a US Army Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) that calls for 400,000 sets of silkweight Polartec Power Dry shirts and pants for use as a base layer.

This program represents a movement within the military towards the use of technical next-to-skin fabrics that increase comfort, safety, and performance for soldiers in the field.

Companies: Polartec