End to embarrassment? Hard to spot lasting stains on resistant shirt
\nSupermarket introduces white cotton garment of ‘revolutionary’ quality
\nGuardian Unlimited, UK
\nHugh Muir
\nTuesday March 6, 2014
\nThe Guardian<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It isn’t a giant leap for man, much less a giant step for mankind. But in the history of the advancement of 21st century science, there may be just a small mention of the day a supermarket brought the stain resistant white shirt to the masses.
\nWhile the most upmarket manufacturers offer the advantages of a shirt impervious to staining from tea, wine and even ketchup, Asda yesterday announced it will make them widely available under its own George brand. The shirts, in crisp and gleaming cotton, will retail for around \u00c2\u00a314.<\/p>\n
Asda makes bold claims for its garment, made from Permatech cotton. It possesses “revolutionary” qualities. “Liquid simply runs off the fabric leaving no stain and disasters are averted,” its blurb says. “A must have addition to any man’s work wardrobe”.<\/p>\n
But that is to underestimate the possibilities. A shirt that stays brilliant white might also revolutionise the clubbing experience for millions, to say nothing of its effect on the boisterous modern stag party. Mudstained football and rugby shirts could become a distant memory.<\/p>\n
The shirt is said to be the first of many stain resistant products. The store targeted men in the first instance because they are “more messy”.<\/p>\n
But does it work? Well, certainly it can hold its own against black coffee. Three quarters of a cup poured just above the left breast pocket resulted in a puddle of steaming liquid on the floor but precious little on the shirt itself. The garment certainly seemed a little more aromatic. But after a quick wipe down with a damp serviette, there was no sign of the ordeal it had been through. It quickly dried out, too.<\/p>\n
A liberal sprinkling of vinegar seemed to bounce off the fabric, leaving no trace and little smell. A smearing of tomato sauce resulted in just a faint tan blemish. But an application of mustard proved a stain too far. It wiped off easily. But pale yellow markings remained.<\/p>\n
Undeterred, Asda spokesman Ed Watson said stain-free technology will improve life in all sorts of ways. “We’ve removed the fear of eating spaghetti bolognese in public for the very first time. No longer need diners slink from restaurants and curry houses trying desperately to disguise an embarrassing spill on their shirts.”<\/p>\n
“And from now on there’s no need to storm out of a restaurant after being on the receiving end of a glass of wine for saying the wrong thing. Instead, you can simply wipe if off and then resume your meal as if nothing has happened.”<\/p>\n
The quest for the ultimate stain-resistant shirt has been a frantic one, involving scientists and manufacturers from all over the world.<\/p>\n
In the US, a North Carolina company called Nano Tex used a process which involved heating the fabric to bond polymers or molecules to each fibre. This allowed a barrier to surround the fibres, causing liquids to just roll off.<\/p>\n
WON Laboratories in Oklahoma uses a liquid to apply polymers in a microscopically thin coating. This, it says, allows for stain protection without making the garment uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
In the UK last year the Derbyshire shirtmaker Morrison McConnell said it had developed a “Rocola Tec” shirt – sold under the Rocola and Van Heusen brand – which retained its spotless sheen in the face of red wine, curries and barbecue sauces.<\/p>\n
Last March, the England football team joined the stain-free revolution when designers began incorporating Teflon into the team’s shorts to stop mud sticking. The headline “Teflon me head son” captured the optimism.<\/p>\n
Experts have predicted an era of “smart clothes” as the science of fabrics develops. Manufacturers are working on cloths that can absorb perspiration, moisturise, massage and impact upon cellulite.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
End to embarrassment? Hard to spot lasting stains on resistant shirt Supermarket introduces white cotton garment of ‘revolutionary’ quality Guardian Unlimited, UK Hugh Muir Tuesday March 6, 2014 The Guardian It isn’t a giant leap for man, much less a giant step for mankind. But in the history of the advancement of 21st century science, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n