Lawrence, Mass. – Polartec, LLC announces the winners of its annual Polartec APEX Award, recognizing the finest Polartec-based products available to consumers fall 2014 and spring 2015.

Judges selected winners based on the style, function, workmanship, and overall design of garments with the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec fabrics.

Over 100 apparel and accessory brands from around the world submitted their most innovative products. Judges selected 39 Polartec APEX winners ranging from lightweight next-to-skin layers, to breathable “puffy” products for active warmth using new Polartec® Alpha®, to fully waterproof garments that maintain high breathability with Polartec® NeoShell®. These winning garments are being recognized following close collaborative development with Polartec as an innovative solutions provider.

The winners are:

·      66ºNorth Kjölur Alpha Collection (Shorts, Shacket, and Women’s Shirt)
·       Arc’teryx Argus and Gaea Jackets
·       Ariat International FR Work Tek Pullover Hoodie and Baselayer ¼ Zip
·       Athleta Overcast Coat
·       Bluesmiths Kula Hoody
·       Bomber Gear® Palguin Dry-Top
·       Choucas Glide Hat
·       Descente Women’s Polartec Power Dry Hot Grid Parka
·       Eider Blow Alpha Gloves
·       Giro Wind Guard ¼ Zip
·       Grifone ATUK Jacket with Hood
·       Houdini C9Loft Jacket (men’s and women’s)
·       KJUS Men FRX Equilibrium Jacket
·       KJUS Men FRX Polo
·       Louis Garneau Course Wind Pro LS Jersey and Arm Warmers
·       lululemon athletica Fleecy Keen
·       Makers & Riders Dispatch Rider Weatherproof Trouser
·       Marmot Cataclysm Glove
·       MEC Obsession Jacket
·       Millet Touring Insulated Neo Jacket (men’s and women’s)
·       Montane Axion Neo Alpha Jacket
·       Montane Fast Alpine Neo Pants
·       Mountain Force Fancy Jacket
·       NFM Garm All Weather Lightweight Jacket and Pants
·       NFTO HS-01 Jacket
·       Norrøna lofoten Alpha Jacket (men’s and women’s)
·       Northland Darcy Alpha Padded Coat (men’s and women’s)
·       Patagonia Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover
·       PING Soft Shell Hoody Jacket 2way and Soft Shell Pants
·       QOR Alpha Waxed Cotton Jacket
·       Rab Neo Guide Jacket and Pant
·       Reebok ReebokCF Anti-Freeze Mock
·       rh+ PW Alpha Jacket
·       rh+ PW Beta Glove, Hat, Bibtight and Jacket
·       Strafe Cham Jacket and Cham Pant
·       Sugoi Alpha Hybrid Jacket
·       Ternua Women’s Kush and Men’s Rumtse Jacket
·       Teton Bros Glory Jacket and Pants
·       Vaude Bormio Jacket and Bormio Pant
·       Wild Burnside Alpha
·       wings + horns Bunker Jacket

“The Polartec APEX Award is all about recognizing excellence in innovation, function and design, and encouraging this type of collaboration with our team as Polartec continually expands the limits of what fabric can do,” says Allon Cohne, Polartec global marketing director.

This year is the 16th season of the Polartec APEX Awards, and to celebrate the designers, Polartec will create videos profiling the designers, their craft, and their award-winning products made of Polartec.

Each winning partner brand will be honored with a Malden Trophy—the Polartec APEX Award—at special award ceremonies in the Polartec booth at the OutDoor Friedrichshafen and Outdoor Retailer Summer Market shows July 10, 2014 and August 6, 2014, respectively.

Winners receive sales support with custom hangtags and marketing materials, and cross-promotional support to generate awareness and ultimately drive sales of these standout products.

About Polartec, LLC

Polartec, LLC is the premium provider of innovative textile solutions. Since inventing modern synthetic fleece in 1981, the engineers at Polartec have continued to push the limits of fabric technology. Today, Polartec supplies the world with the most advanced fabric innovations. Polartec products range from advanced lightweight wicking fabric, to insulation and weather protection textiles and are utilized by leading apparel brands, the U.S. military and other global militaries, flame resistance, work wear, and contract upholstery markets.

For more information, visit polartec.com.

By press release