Your browser is not fully supported. Please upgrade your browser.

Skip to main content
Processing Innovations

Optim spinning technology

Chemical-free water-resistant spinning


Optim fibre stretching technology, co-developed by Nanshan and The Woolmark Company, pre-stretches Merino wool fibres which are then spun into yarn before being woven to create wind and water-resistant fabric made from 100% Merino wool.

 

Come funziona

Tecnologia di filatura Optim

La tecnologia OptimTM per il tensionamento delle fibre prevede l’utilizzo di fibre in lana Merino che vengono filate prima della tessitura per creare un tessuto resistente all’acqua e al vento in lana Merino al 100%.

Il risultato finale è un tessuto in lana Merino con un alto livello di densità del filato in trama e ordito che utilizza fili di lana Merino fini che sono stati allungati, ma non stabilizzati, grazie alla cosiddetta lavorazione Optim™. Durante la finitura ad alta umidità, tale tensione viene allentata causando la contrazione del filato e quindi un estremo restringimento della struttura del tessuto finale, così da incrementarne esponenzialmente la densità.

After optimising the spinning, weaving and finishing processes, the fabrics made from these elastic Merino wool fibres have enhanced water and wind resistant properties (while retaining all Merino wool’s fine properties such as breathability) without any chemical treatments and are also machine washable.

The Woolmark Company’s technical innovation team has continued to work on the development of the OptimTM fabric, which is now commercially available in three different weights: 180g/m2 plain weave, 240g/m2 warp rib, and 265g/m2 gabardine. A fourth option – the lightest of all at 130g/m2 – has a small percentage of nylon blended with the wool, to allows for extra resilience in the lightweight fabric. The differing weights and the inherent properties of the wool fibre allow for interest from both the activewear, streetwear and smart-casual sectors of the global apparel industry.

Contact the Woolmark Technical Team for more information.



Woolmark product innovations using OptimTM spinning

Lana resistente alle intemperie

Tessuto resistente ad acqua e vento realizzato al 100% in lana Merino, adatto per varie categorie di prodotti quali giacche a vento, scarpe, boardshorts e mascherine.

Neulana doppio

Questo innovativo tessuto a doppio intreccio garantisce ottime proprietà isolanti con un peso minimo, senza sacrificare le proprietà naturali della lana Merino quali traspirabilità e gestione dell’umidità. 

more innovations
Processing Innovations

Mercerised Merino

What is Mercerized Merino wool? The mercerisation process for Merino wool is applied to wool top or scoured loose wool to soften the hand-feel, rivalling cashmere.
13 Aug 2020
Processing Innovations

Natural Colouration Technology

13 Aug 2020
Natural dye can be used to colour natural fibres such as wool. Natural dyes are extracted from natural resources such as plants, minerals and even shells and insects.
Processing Innovations

Wool Seamless Technology

Seamless Merino wool encourages greater structure diversity and comfort along with reduced fabric wastage, using circular and flat-knitting technologies.
Processing Innovations

Digital Printing

Digital fabric printing is where colour dyes are applied to a wool fabric surface through inkjet technology to produce a printed fabric with intricate designs.