We help keep you looking snazzy
What does Clariant have to do with jeans? A great deal. Before a colorful piece of fashionable clothing goes on the market, extensive chemical work is done.
Strong position
It starts as early as when the individual fibers are woven into a textile. Special liquids for fiber preparations make the thread supple enough to be used in a high-speed modern loom. The woven textile is then bleached and dyed. Here, too, we offer solutions geared to the individual customer, solutions that are exemplary in terms of environmental protection, too. Possessing a wide range of textile dyes for natural and synthetical fibers, Clariant has set industry standards for more than a hundred years. We have a strong position in dyes for polyester, wool and cotton that give countless colorful items of clothing worldwide a fashionable touch and keep customers satisfied. Our advanced sulphur dyes help make the latest trends in fashion, for example the rich, deep-black tone of jeans - possible in the first place. |  |  |
Improving qualities
Specialty chemicals have even more applications. Special waxes, for example, enhance the feel of the material and facilitate sewing. Clariant provides a UV filter for fibers, making it possible to produce textiles with built-in sun-protection factors. Our range also includes pigments for textile printing - just think of the bright colored jerseys worn by members of sports clubs. And the secret behind gleaming white textiles and sports shoes are optical brighteners from Clariant.
Biotechnology is playing an important role in textile chemistry. For example, special enzymes make a contribution when jeans are given the special "stone-washed" effect. Thesse enzymes replace the traditional method of using pumice stone, which can damage the fabric or seams. Enzymes also conserve bleach, while others improve the surface qualities of textile materials. They remove fiber ends, thus improving the feel and appearance of the material - an advantage that instantly increases the value of our customers' products.
Upgrading products
Clariant also has extensive expertise in treating leather. We supply the entire range of dyes, pigments and auxiliaries needed to transform raw material into a high-quality article of clothing. The range includes special chemicals for tannery, finishing and dyeing. For treating lower-quality skins that have surface defects, Clariant has developed the patented Melio Foam Technology that optimally eradicates the blemishes and thus upgrades products for customers. We are also among the market leaders in varnishing systems for leather. The trend is to replace systems containing solvents with water-based ones, which benefit the environment. |