Anti-viral fabrics in garments: Marketing gimmick or reality?

In a major development in the area of anti-viral fabric, rnArvind Ltd., a leading textile-to-retail conglomerate in India, has recently collaborated with Swiss Textile Innovator HeiQ to introduce HeiQ Viroblock technology in the country. Arvind will now be able to offer shirting and suiting fabrics, apparels and masks using this Viroblock technology under its brand ‘Intellifabrix’. Tests on a virus similar to COVID-19 called 229E proved the treated material can destroy virus in a few minutes after contact of garments treated with HeiQ Viroblock. Another big textile-to-retail conglomerate of India, Donear Group has also launched its range of high quality, utilitarian and anti-bacterial and anti-viral fabric under its brand name GRADO. Now when the world is reeling from a pandemic, GRADO has come up with NEO TECH® technology wherein the products are high quality, utilitarian and have a shield against bacteria and viruses alike. The fabric has received certifications from the country’s top laboratories like NABL accredited Bio Tech Services. Seeing the above two developments, one thing is certain that domestic brands are all geared up to treat their fabrics with technologies that can protect the wearer from any sort of bacteria and viruses. But the bigger question is – how foolproof is this whole process? Is anti-viral fabric enough to safeguard the wearer from a severe virus like SARS-CoV-19? For more insights, click @ Apparel Resources