K•Swiss is the latest premium sports footwear brand to announce that
it has teamed up with P2i,
the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, in a move which
is set to revolutionize the performance of its two latest product lines –
Kwicky Blade-Light™ and California™, debuting at retail in February
2011.
Kwicky Blade-Light™, the company’s top-of-the-range super-light,
super-cushioned, training shoe and California™, a lightweight stability
running shoe, have both been developed with P2i’s ion-mask™ technology,
which applies a nanoscopic protective polymer layer to the whole shoe so that
when liquids hit the surface they simply roll off, instead of being absorbed
by the shoe fabric.
David Bond, Vice President of Product for K•Swiss Inc, explained: “The
ion-mask™ technology blew our elite athlete wear testers away, and they’re
a pretty tough crowd to please. They found that our running shoes, when treated,
stayed dry and light even in extreme conditions. They also noticed that ion-mask™
kept their shoes cleaner.”
Since ion-mask™ gives the whole shoe (including the stitching) superior
water repellency, it delivers two crucial benefits; it stops external water
getting in and it encourages evaporated perspiration to flow out. As a result,
shoes dry out more quickly, won’t get heavier over time, and maintain
the natural airflow of their construction material.
Although the presence of ion-mask™ is imperceptible to wearers –
its protective layer is one thousand times thinner than a human hair –
it is molecularly bonded to the whole shoe surface and thus is extremely durable.
In practice ion-mask™ lasts as long as the shoe material itself and is
not compromised by everyday flexing during wear. By contrast, traditional water
repellency techniques, such as dip-applied chemicals and taped seams, have
been shown to swiftly lose their effectiveness under ‘real-wear’
conditions. Plus, by resisting the absorption of water, ion-mask™ helps
guard against stains and dirt residue.
Bond added: “The addition of P2i’s ion-mask™ technology,
which we believe to be the most innovative moisture management technology available
on the market, positions the latest additions to the K•Swiss family at
the cutting edge of sports footwear.”
Stephen Coulson, CTO of P2i, comments: “The recognition, by this prestigious
footwear brand, of the benefits which can be achieved with our revolutionary
liquid repellent nano-coating technology further validates the effectiveness
of ion-mask™. The previous generation of membrane and thick chemicals
simply cannot match the amazing levels of performance that it has been shown
to deliver.”
Kwicky Blade-Light™ and California™ from K•Swiss will be
available (at retail) from February 2011.