How Adidas Cooked Up New Game-Changing Golf Apparel
Earlier this month, adidas Golf unveiled the Ultimate365 apparel range. The TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE are new material concepts that manipulate fabric at the fiber level to unlock a new pathway to performance.
Pioneered by specialist teams within the golf category at adidas, TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE are designed to provide golfers with a better range of motion while reducing the overall weight and density of the material.
All products in the Ultimate365 apparel range for men and women are available now on adidas.com, the adidas app, and select retailers worldwide. As part of the exciting announcement, FanNation Kicks spoke with Chase Aaronson, the senior manager of materials development for adidas Golf.
adidas
How long has the adidas team been working on TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE?
"We have been working on this for about three years. Since it's a concept that started within golf, we wanted to conduct as much testing as possible. That includes both materials, garments, and our wear-testing side too. We wanted to benefit athletes with lightweight flexibility that would benefit our athletes from the physical and mental aspects.
I think that's part of the reason why we worked on this for so long and brought it to life in the right way. Apart from developing innovative materials, we wanted to create a holistic concept that would resonate with our athletes and align with our brand vision."
What did the material design process look like?
"I kind of treat this like cooking. In this case, we started with a specific set of ingredients and a theory: if we created the appropriate recipe, we could create a stretch in our materials without the use of elastic or spandex. At the same time, we could reduce the weight of the materials. The hope is that the weight reduction could help create a more comfortable feel and less distractions on the course. It would equate to better focus.
After testing some of these recipes, we noticed that our theory is not only true but that our materials could maintain stretch and recovery with a significant weight reduction, and there was no compromise to the characteristics that were necessary for the sport."
Could you expand on that cooking analogy?
"Sometimes it's not as simple as just reducing the weight of our textiles. Sometimes, you can have materials that are too light and are not acceptable to the golf consumer. So they get a little stiff and a little sheer. They don't look premium. But with this new twist concept, the ingredients, and the recipe that we are using, this wasn't the case.
What is really cool about this is that all these different recipes create different tastes but with similar flavors. One textile could create a very sporty look for a more athletic range. But another recipe could create a versatile look for our hybrid range. But they all have a similar feel and functionality, which is a reduced weight with a great stretch that's all about the consumers."
adidas
The Ultimate365 range, which is available now, incorporates the technology. How excited are you for fans to get their hands on the product?
"I couldn't be more excited. I think the real benefit here is the excitement that happens when people get to touch and wear these products. That's when the real benefit and difference comes in. Some concepts can test out nicely in the lab, but the athletes may not notice a major difference. But unanimously, across the board, the consistency backed with our TWIST materials has been that there is a major benefit with comfort over a prolonged period of time.
Golfers have noticed a difference when they are out on the court for four, five, and six hours. I really encourage people to get out and experience it. It's really fun to talk about the benefits and the product, but I think people will really be shocked when they experience these materials in the Ultimate365 range."
Related: Adidas Unveils Golf's Next Chapter, Wrapped in Confidence
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