WATER-RESISTANT COTTONEver since its beginnings, Mover wanted to improve the outer-shell breathability of its garments. And this not only in a lab, but effectively on the terrain. We were looking for a material that would work while climbing up a corridor or while skiing down through deep snow. We wanted vapor to evacuate at the same time as the body would heat up in effort. Membranes are slightly better than plastic bags, but any free rider or alpinist can tell you those are not sufficient under real weather conditions since the body will sweat. We needed to find a way to breathe while staying protected from the wind, the snow and cold temperatures. So we implemented the “Mover Wool System”: a combination of layers that use wool insulation and to replace the synthetic membranes and outer fabrics by a natural solution. Yet we did not invent much: following the lineage of the British Royal AirForce, we used a material that had been developed in the UK in the 30’s, previously used for camping tents, polar expeditions and who had created the fame of the Burberry trench coats. In 1952, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Noray were wearing it during their victorious ascent of Mount Everest… together with wool layers… We imitated our forerunners and improved the construction by applying modern assemblage techniques, fully seam sealing all of the stiches in order to avoid water penetration, and lining the fabric with merino wool, padding the jackets with Swisswool insulation. Nowadays, this densely-woven, high-performance cotton fabric, is locally and exclusively produced in Switzerland. It is recognized worldwide to be the best of its kind, with a soft, luxurious and quiet feel. Our cotton ages and develops patina on its sides, bearing the marks of time, just like the scars on a leather jacket which are integral parts of both its own life and yours. |