With the summer temps here in Dallas over the last few weeks, I am doing all I can to keep my cool, both physically and stylistically speaking. With this being our last summer message in the series focused on knit fabrics, I would like to highlight a new quality that was thought of for precisely this purpose: a lightweight knit with a weave designed for wicking. Wicking is a word you may often hear in the apparel world, and is a way to describe the quick evaporation of moisture, which means sweat. Sweating is a natural process our body goes through to cool itself down, and in summer, that isn’t always easy in triple-digit heat.
The moisture-wicking properties of a fabric can come from the yarn or fiber, or from the weave itself, and our polyester spandex knits are a combination of both. Polyester does not absorb moisture easily into the fiber, so it evaporates quicker from the surface of the micro fibers of the yarn. When knitted in soft stitches that are looser than the usual jersey, the effect is amplified, keeping it cool and dry—exactly what most guys look for in the heat. This technology applies to workout gear and sports gear. In fact, the mill we work with on these fabrics specializes in sports and particularly golf fabrics, where the need to stay cool on a hot summer day on the golf course is fundamental for guys who are serious about playing well and enjoying the game, even in the most torrid of temps.
I designed an exclusive print for our collection, one that has a tiled effect using the white of the background with the summer colors. I think it works nicely as a pattern that’s easy to wear back to chalk or white pants; not least, it is very denim-friendly too. I wanted something inspired by the patterns of Mediterranean pottery, but with a subtle geometry to give it order.
The stripe polo fabrics use a similar technology, again via a polyester and spandex blend, but also features a piqué stitch in the composition of the facing. The result is even more breathability in the knitting of the jersey, which adds to the cool-down factor of this fabric. The colors are citrus-flavored, in multi-color combinations that can be worn back to many of our summer pant colors, making them easy to offer and combine with pants from current and past seasons.
All these qualities work well for guys who need ultralight knits for the golf course or tennis court, but they are equally great choices for guys who run hot all the time—they favor a fabrics that is extremely comfortable and keeps its cool, but also stays fresh and wears well all through the day. Wicking and cooling properties make these knits perfect for travel, and with summer vacations on the calendar, these polos should definitely make it to every guy’s packing list.
