Bonding vs. Weaving
There are two ways of combining these materials: bonding and weaving.
In bonding, glue and warm rollers are used to create a bond between the materials. A common combination is a smooth, stretchy outer weave in Polyamide and Lycra, which is bonded with a thin brushed, knitted polyester cloth (fleece). Sometimes, a membrane is also used between the two layers to create a completely waterproof product.
The other method of binding material is through weaving, usually called the double weave. A double weave is woven in a process in which two cloths of different material are woven parallel to each other, with the lower cloth’s weft crossing, at regular intervals, the upper cloth’s warp. In this way, a strong mechanical bond is created between the fabrics, a bond which is not affected by wear-and-tear, heat, or time. Typical combinations are a stretchy outer weave of Polyamide and Lycra, together with a stretchy under weave of Polyester and Lycra. The Polyamide in the outer fabric provides durability and weather protection, and the Polyester on the inside provides a softness and moisture transfer quality.
Tierra Two-Face Stretch
Tierra uses these two constructions to create different types of clothes and gather them under our material name Two-Face Stretch. We use the bonded Two-Face Stretch, preferably together with a membrane from Gore. Combined with taped seams, we create clothes that are watertight, stretchy and very comfortable to wear. Jackets and trousers with this material are very good for lift cage skiing and back country skiing, where the intensity of the weather can vary greatly in the course of a single day. These clothes take up more space, however, than the classic shell jacket or shell trousers.
With the double weave Two-Face Stretch, we can create a material with very high wear resistance, but with a soft inside and stretch. This is something that is difficult to achieve with traditional weaves. These clothes are windproof and allow moisture whilst also ‘breathing’ extremely well. The clothes are also weatherproofed with fluorocarbon-free weatherproofing to protect against moisture. We use double weave softshell in trousers and jackets for high intensity activities in which high demands are placed on wear resistance, such as hiking, climbing and other mountain adventures.