BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Pearl Izumi has announced the release of the PI DRY fabric technology.
PI DRY is a hydrophobic fabric technology that transforms knit fabrics so they completely repel precipitation and road spray. Pearl Izumi has the exclusive rights to use this fabric technology in the cycling category for the next three years.
PI DRY technology coats individual fibers, so technical yarns maintain their high surface area for wicking performance, without compromise to the flexibility, stretch and comfort of the fabric. Unlike standard DWR coatings that are applied to the surface of a garment, PI DRY’s coating method prevents the inside of the garment from saturating.
The brand says that durability was a key area of focus during the development of PI DRY, because traditional water resistant coatings lose 20 per cent of their original performance after 20 washes. PI DRY reportedly lasts the lifetime of the garment and will maintain performance.
“Extending the useful range of our thermal fabrics to riders dealing with varied weather conditions is a huge bonus for everyone,” said Pearl Izumi senior product line manager Alex Strouthopoulos. “The permanent finish of PI DRY means that the benefit is there for the life of the garment, so riders don’t need to worry about diminishing performance if they happen to ride a lot.”
Pearl Izumi will introduce PI DRY in road cycling bibs, tights and warmers for the Fall 2017 season.
