This year, the notion of protective clothing took on entirely new meanings, from bacteria-busting materials to jewellery that aids social distancing. With facemasks becoming mandatory in many countries across the world – and more than 90% of people in Spain and Italy always wearing facemasks out of the home – the need for hygiene-first garments really came to the fore. In our Inter-Covid Fashion microtrend, we explore some of the health-focused innovations playing out in the sector.
Among them is Vollebak. This innovative fashion company is betting on copper as a material for future use protective clothing and environments. 'Copper has exceptional anti-microbial properties, which means bacteria and viruses die when they make contact with it,' explains Steve Tidball, Vollebak co-founder.
As we approach 2021, brands and consumers will continue to seek intelligent textiles that prioritise the health and safety of wearers. And while social distancing may not outlast the pandemic, anti-bacterial threads and health status-signalling garments could come into their own as consumers become more aware of their overall wellbeing.