Taiwanese designer dresses athletes in germanium fabric.
Taiwan is not only an important location for the production of state-of-the-art computer chips but also home to an innovative textile industry. You could see this for yourself last week at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Taiwanese designer Justin Chou has created two uniform jackets and a polo shirt for the team competing there as Chinese Taipei. The latter is made from a yarn with cooling properties that also absorbs moisture.
Designer Justin Chou (JUST IN XX) and his designs for the 2024 Olympic Games, courtesy of @justinxx_official.
The material, called Nano-Ge-Nylon, also incorporates the metal germanium, which is intended to increase the athletes’ well-being and prevent fatigue. According to the manufacturer New Wide Group, this is made possible by the special ionization of the fabric. The effect of germanium in textiles has been the subject of scientific research for years, for example, in the treatment of osteoarthritis in knee joints.
Other parts of the Taiwanese clothing were made from polyester, some of which was obtained from the emissions of steelworks. Fiber manufacturer FENC first converts the gases that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere into ethanol, which is combined with petroleum-based components during the process. This reduces the amount of raw materials required and the overall environmental footprint.
Photo: iStock/Alla Tsyganova