Hobbs Bonded Fibers, a nonwovens producer and Doug Hoschek of Portland, Ore. — co-developer of Polarfleece® polyester fleece in the early 1980s have introduced RAMTECT™, a 100% wool, lightweight nonwoven insulation for outerwear applications, allowing a more comfortable, form-fitting and non-quilted alternative to the puffy, quilted coats and jackets that have been popular in recent years. Wool insulation is a lightweight, natural-fiber alternative to polyester fiberfill and down insulation for outdoor apparel.
Sidelining the traditionally used polyester-based fiberfill insulation for outerwear, outdoor gear and comforters now, wool has been making a comeback in all areas of apparel and textile production owing to its natural performance properties. Compared with polyester fiberfill and down, wool doesn’t flatten, blow away, burn or melt, as said by the test conducted at Texas A&M University for the American Sheep Institute. Ramtect is processed by starting with cleaning and rebuilding of the fiber into the same type of fleece as it was when removed from the sheep, only now it’s smoother and cleaner. This process makes a wool garment 75% lighter than a heavy jacket.
