Fashion label Seven Crash unveiled its Quantus collection of “unlimited possibilities with its futuristic urban streetwear outfits” at the autumn/winter New York Fashion Week 2019.
The collection, designed in collaboration with chemical company BASF and fabric maker San Fang, pushes the boundaries in fabric innovation to enable fashion-forward designs and functionality, the partnership says.
BASF adds that its advanced material solutions presented in the Quantus collection provide a significant breakthrough in fashion with its eco-conscious manufacturing techniques that permit intricately-crafted and stitched designs, while ensuring premium quality.
Freeflex, which is spun from Elastollan TPU and looks and feels like a favourite cotton tee, is soft and moisture-wicking which makes it easy to care for and delivers ample stretch and recovery. Freeflex gives a futuristic look and feel to Seven Crash’s collection by changing the colours and appearance even for the most complex textile designs, while ensuring that individuals stay cool and dry. In addition, this fabric can be incorporated into traditional clothing to make outfits more exciting with its luminous feature, BASF says. This is displayed in a series within the collection where the fabrics glow in the dark through its reflective surfaces.
Additionally, Haptex is a sustainable and innovative polyurethane (PU) solution for synthetic leather, which offers good haptics, strong stitching, and high peel strength, BASF states. It also complies with stringent volatile organic compound (VOC) standards because no organic solvents are used in the manufacturing process.
“We are proud to support Seven Crash’s debut at New York Fashion Week with our latest fashion-inspired material solutions,” says Manfred Pawlowski, vice president, consumer industry, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF. “With the use of Freeflex and Haptex in an assortment of futuristic urban streetwear apparel, BASF continues to stretch the boundaries of innovation in fashion.”
For the development of Freeflex, San Fang supported the entire manufacturing process, from material to mouldings, as well as the final product in a variety of colours and intricate patterns. The product’s low heat setting temperature enables fabrics to dry quickly and saves energy in its production and daily use.
“San Fang has also been developing market-driven innovations that have redefined materials in consumer industries such as fashion and footwear,” says Lin Chih-Yi, president, San Fang. “The collaboration with BASF and Seven Crash for Freeflex, using new sustainable manufacturing techniques, demonstrates our commitment to match eco-fashion trends with functional fibres and artificial leather which are made possible with TPU.”
For the Quantus collection, with the brand concept ‘crash the rules’, brand CEO Jason Yao, together with creative director Enchi Shen, redefined Seven Crash as an innovative brand pushing the boundaries on futuristic workwear and fashion streetwear by experimenting with different fashion styles and cultures through the use of advanced materials. These materials are woven with technological and textural elements – enhancing not only the use of the fabric but the wearer as well. The result is a unique blend of east-coast urban street fashion and trendy runway fashion.
“The Quantus collection of unlimited possibilities provides the platform for individuals to express their inner self through stylised motifs and the clever use of colour and textures,” says Enchi Shen. “The outfits channel the true spirit of freedom and being, which can only be made possible with Freeflex and Haptex by BASF. They represent a step-change for the future of apparel production and the fashion industry.”
The outfits from the futuristic urban streetwear collection can be easily combined with different looks, taking people from work to play, thanks to the versatility of colours, textures, and effects made possible with Freeflex and Haptex, says BASF.
The use of design freedom for different textures and effects are made possible by Freeflex, which is able to change the colours and appearance even for the most complex textile designs and bringing smart textiles to the next level, the company continues. This gives a more futuristic look and feel to the collection, while ensuring that individuals can stay cool and dry thanks to Freeflex’s moisture-wicking properties.
Seven Crash and BASF previously collaborated to design outfits for a fashion show held during Chinaplas 2018. They also collaborated with Chinese brand Three Gun to design a casual outfit using Freeflex. BASF and Seven Crash say they will continue the partnership to pave the way for a future of eco-conscious and innovative fabric for clothing.
