Balance sleepwear

NATTWELL™ fabric is made of cellulose, which is obtained from beechwood and formed into fibres. Other kinds of cellulose fibres include cotton, linen, bamboo and lyocell. A common feature among all cellulose fibres is their high moisture storage capacity. The fact that cellulose is able to store moisture in its interior explains cellulose’s excellent climate-regulation capacity and ability to moderate temperature fluctuations. The capacity of synthetic fibres, such as polyester, polyamide or polypropylene to store moisture is far less than that of NATTWELLl™ wicking sleepwear. Polyester for example is only able to store one-tenth the amount of moisture that NATTWELL™ fabric is able to, which explains synthetic polymers’ poor capacity for temperature regulation.

Conventional cellulose fibres absorb moisture very rapidly, which means they have very good wicking rates. If you drop a few droplets of water on cellulose material you will see that they are absorbed within a few moments. Cellulose fibres are therefore often used as wicking materials for clothing. However, since the water absorbed remains in the textile’s structure, a disadvantage of this high absorbency, is the speed at which we experience a wet, cold feeling when the fabric comes into contact with our skin. Synthetic materials are therefore often preferred for sportswear, since they dry faster and thus eliminate the cold feeling quicker. This benefit comes, however, at the expense of poor thermal control.

In NATTWELL™ fabric the cellulose fibre has been modified in such a way that the moisture storage capacity of the cellulose in the fibre’s interior remains unchanged and thus the ability to maintain climatic buffering is preserved. However, a layer has been created on the surface of the fibre’s cell, which transports moisture into the fibre’s moisture-absorbent storage zone. The fibres therefore constitute micro-composites, consisting of a cellulose core coated with a hydrophobic surface.

NATTWELL™ fabric thus combines two properties that have up until now not been seen in cellulose fibres: Moisture released from the body is regulated and controlled in the textile structure by absorption and diffusion to the outside. These textiles are therefore very good at preventing changes to the temperature of the fabric.During a phase in which we sweat, moisture can be passed first to a storage layer and then if necessary the fibre’s interior can act as a storage zone. This means that NATTWELL™ fabric can store up to 50% of its own weight in liquid while still feeling dry to touch. These properties give NATTWELL™ fabric a unique combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalities. Properties which were once thought irreconcilable, i.e. moisture storage and moisture transport, have been successfully combined in NATTWELL™.