TEXTILES TECHNOLOGY
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There are now textiles embedded with nano technology; wearable textronics which monitor our body’s wellbeing; smart textiles giving us advice, protection or treatments as we wear them; even medically intelligent textiles to support healing.This is a multi-million pound industry investing billions in research and development and it’s one the onboard hospitality industry is fast catching onto too. During the last year Skypro, for example, has been researching and developing fabrics for a uniform line it claims will be a revolution for the airline industry. Its Uniforms of the Future project has focused on combining high-tech fabrics and finishings with a design that meets all airline requirements while also supporting the absolute comfort and safety. And at Matrix the team has launched a range of three technological advanced fabrics: Hydra Active embedded with moisturisers; Hydra Active Defence embedded with anti-bacterial qualities; and Hydra Active Serenity textiles infused with calming aromatherapy products. Evolving its range, Mills Textiles has also been working on a range of comfort textiles that can be filled with a heat or chill-holding natural grain (like wheat) or cherry stones and infused with an aromatherapy scent for onboard use.
technology used in our Hydra Active range brought an additional solution to this problem by innovating the onboard sleepsuit. “Billions of microcapsules applied to the fabric gently release active ingredients, giving it moisturising properties that can help to make the skin feel moisturised for at least 10 washes following a flight.” Textile opportunities The Emirates product was infused with Harry Zalk, director at Matrix, explains the relevance microcapsules of Sea Kelp and has received positive to the onboard sector this way: “The modern traveller feedback. Joost Heymeijer, senior vp catering at the interacts with hundreds of textile airline says: : “We’re always looking products every day. This includes to push boundaries and provide everything from airline sleepsuits, the best for our customers and We believe textile headrest covers and napkins to we’re proud to be working with technology is the future of Matrix to introduce the world’s bedding, towels and slippers. We believe these first moisturising lounge wear customer welfare interactions are a unique for an airline. The lounge wear opportunity for brands to enhance the complements our new luxury blankets, skincare from customer experience by providing benefits VOYA and Bulgari amenity kits.” such as hydration, anti-bacterial defence or Product evolution sleep enhancement so we have developed The Hydra Active Serenity range evolves this product three pioneering textile technologies to help.” further in a partnership with spa brand Ila to develop First to make it to market was the Hydra aromatherapy infused textiles to aid sleep. Active pyjamas given to Emirates First Textiles are embedded with a blend of petitgrain, passengers since December 2016. Zalk adds: ylang ylang and rose geranium created by the Ila “Face and hand moisturisers are common team to provide a calming and relaxing aromatherapy in amenity kits as aircrafts are essence used within sleepsuits, pillows and eyemasks. generally dry environments Mills Textiles is looking at aromatheraphy too. Tim but the Celessence™ Morris says: “The products we've looked at thus far microcapsule onboardhospitality.com
Left: Skypro is evolving fabrics for the uniforms of the future Above: Matrix technology gives fabric a smart new dimension