Latham - Advanced material specialist PrimaLoft has announced a partnership with Chinese knitted fabric manufacturer Shanghai Challenge Textile to exclusively produce PrimaLoft Performance Fabrics.

The partnership will utilize the strengths of each company’s market position to best serve PrimaLoft customers and more effectively deliver fabric innovations, the company's said in a joint statement.

“We view our partnership with Shanghai Challenge through the lens of two primary goals,” says Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft. “To expand our technology platforms into the fabric side of our business, and to collaborate with a recognised industry leader in knit goods to offer cutting edge material technology to customers and consumers at a competitive price point.”

Shanghai Challenge is a Shanghai-based manufacturer engaged in the design, research, development and production of functional fabrics. The company will bring this expertise to the PrimaLoft Performance Fabric business by managing the production and operational services for all PrimaLoft fabric products. PrimaLoft will continue to lead fabric innovation and material technology developments, such as PrimaLoft Bio™ fabric, a groundbreaking product comprised of the first biodegradable*, 100% recycled synthetic fibre.

“With new market dynamics in play we had to ask, how can PrimaLoft become more effective as a partner to our customers?” added Joyce. “This partnership will allow PrimaLoft to accelerate our long-standing focus on innovation and sustainability, enabling us to continue to provide leading, market-driven product solutions.”

PrimaLoft offers fabric for a range of applications, supplying leading global outdoor and fashion brands, home furnishings, work wear, hunting and military applications. PrimaLoft insulation was originally developed for the U.S. army as a water-resistant, synthetic alternative to down.

PrimaLoft, Inc. is also active in sustainable textile production through partnerships with the bluesign system, the International OEKO-TEX Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index and the Global Recycled Standard.