Sports Textiles: brrr° Redefines Cooling Performance Fabric
When she was an executive at SPANX, Mary-Cathryn Kolb kept thinking about the versatility of the tiny yarns that worked so hard to shape and support bodies.
She would often wonder about what other things those little fibers could do to keep people more comfortable.
Could they draw away heat? Could they wick away moisture? Could they dry faster?
What if our clothes could actually reduce the temperature of our skin and keep us cooler?
The idea for brrr° was born in 2014 and Kolb’s vision was deceptively simple: develop innovative cooling performance fabrics that could keep us cool and comfortable.
“We thought there had to be a way for our clothes to actively cool us down, and help us stay dry and more comfortable,” said Kolb, who has more than 20 years of experience in apparel and textiles.
The company developed and tested hundreds of formulas to refine the cooling power of brrr°.
The secret brrr° formula combines natural cooling minerals, active wicking and rapid drying to create a “Triple Chill Effect” that instantly and continuously draws heat and moisture away from the skin. Every brrr° fabric is independently tested by globally recognized labs and proven to keep you cooler.
Over the past decade, brrr° has become an award-winning leader in performance cooling textile technology and it holds several patents to protect its intellectual property.
Major brands including BRADY by Tom Brady, Adidas, Reebok, Greyson, Linksoul, 47 Brand, Landseer, Strafe, FORLOH, and dozens of others license brrr°’s patented cooling textile technology for their apparel.
“I’ve been living in this thing recently, and it actually lowers your body temperature,” Tom Brady recently raved about the BRADY Cool Touch Short Sleeve t-shirt made with brrr° fabric. “It’s perfect for Tampa. I put them to the test, and it made all the difference.”
brrr°’s appeal goes far beyond the athletic and sports category with lifestyle and business attire brands such as Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, Pajamagram, Shinesty, Lilly Pulitzer and ADAY also using brrr° technology.
Natural cooling minerals
Most brands that market themselves as “cooling” don’t actually cool — they just wick. Some use chemical sprays and coatings to achieve a cooling sensation, which wash out and fade over time.
Other products like snap towels have to be wet to activate the cooling effect, which might be OK for athletic activities or mowing the lawn, but isn’t very practical for workplace or leisure wear.
brrr° cooling fabric technology is different because it’s permanently embedded in the structure of the yarn when the material is extruded and produced. That means the brrr° cooling sensation lasts the lifetime of the garment, and won’t wash out or diminish over time.
“It was important to us that the cooling sensation from brrr° was instant when the fabric touches your skin, and permanently part of the fabric for durability and ease of use,” said Kolb.
Performance cooling with brrr° Pro
brrr° invests heavily in research and development to create even more advanced cooling fabric technologies, and the Atlanta-based company recently introduced a new performance cooling product called brrr° Pro.
brrr° Pro uses micro cooling minerals to amplify the cooling sensation, plus hyper wicking and performance drying.
In independent lab testing, brrr° Pro Polyester scored 0.194 in Q-MAX cool-touch testing, which was 81% better than another brand of cooling fabric and 53% better than a comparable performance polyester. It also outperformed other products in wicking and drying tests.
“brrr° Pro intensifies the cooling sensation because there is more surface area for our micro cooling minerals to draw heat and moisture away from the skin,” Kolb said.
Sustainable and eco-friendly
brrr° also offers its cooling technology in fabrics made with recycled material, which diverts material from landfills and reduces the use of virgin polyester, nylon and other materials.
brrr° Recycled fabrics are GRS Certified in accordance with Global Recycled Standards, which shows customers and consumers that companies are committed to meeting internationally recognized sustainability standards and practices.
GRS verifies that recycled materials are used, and it tracks responsible production methods. Companies with GRS certification must demonstrate a chain of custody, and obtain certification from a professional third party that audits and validates each step in the supply chain.
brrr° has enjoyed GRS certification for many years through its mill partners, and in 2022 it obtained its own direct GRS certification.
The future of cool
brrr° holds several patents on its cooling yarn and fabric technologies, and is pursuing the next generation of cooling minerals and advanced formulas that can help keep people even more cool and comfortable as they go about everyday life.
The increased pace of global warming and extreme weather events adds a sense of urgency to brrr°’s work. Kolb sees a sustainability angle with brrr° because people who are cooler at work, at play, and everywhere in between may not need to use as much energy for air conditioning.
“When life brings the heat, brrr° is proven to help keep you cooler,” Kolb said.
Learn more about brrr° performance cooling fabric technology at brrr.com.
To read the full Sports Textiles article, click here.
Textile Insight: brrr° Cooling Fabric Technology Supports Sustainability and Comfort
Cooling fabric technology innovator brrr° is disrupting the performance textile sector with an extensive lineup of cooling fabrics that actively draw heat and moisture away from the skin to keep you cooler and more comfortable.
Made with a patented blend of natural cooling minerals plus active wicking and rapid drying, brrr° fabrics create a “Triple Chill Effect” that instantly and continuously cool you down.
With a library of hundreds of performance fabrics to choose from, brrr° also offers monocomponent fabrics that have superior stretch, lightweight fabrics, and new brrr° Pro recycled fabrics and EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
Since the company was founded in 2014 by a former SPANX executive, brrr° has become a leading cooling ingredient brand whose technology is licensed by dozens of major retailers including Tom Brady’s Brady Brand, golf lifestyle and influencer brand Greyson, Adidas, Under Armour, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, and Pajamagram.
brrr° Founder & CEO Mary-Cathryn Kolb had a vision to take the fabrics we wear and touch in our everyday lives and improve them so they make us more comfortable.
“One day I started to wonder: What else can these tiny fibers do? How could they make us more comfortable? What if they could actually help keep us cool?” Kolb said.
The idea for brrr° was born.
Kolb began researching, exploring, and testing numerous cooling technologies before landing on a proprietary blend of cooling minerals and a process that brrr° has since patented.
brrr°’s proprietary cooling mineral blend creates a cool-to-the-touch sensation that begins working on contact with the skin and provides a compelling differentiator for in-store shopping and at point of sale. brrr° keeps actively drawing heat away from the skin the longer the fabric touches your skin for superior all-day comfort at work, at play, and anywhere life takes you.
While many brands market themselves as “cooling,” they don’t actually draw heat away from the skin — they just wick away moisture. Some use chemical sprays and coatings to achieve a cooling sensation, and some products have to be wet to activate cooling.
brrr° cooling technology is different because it’s permanently embedded in the structure of the yarn. That means it lasts for the entire lifetime of the garment, and it won’t ever fade or wash out. brrr° also offers superior UPF sun protection, and brrr° fabrics are machine washable.
brrr° fabrics are independently tested by globally recognized labs and proven to outperform other brands.
Recently brrr° introduced a new advanced performance cooling yarn called brrr° Pro, which uses micro cooling minerals to amplify the cooling sensation, plus hyper wicking and performance drying. Retailers including Brady Brand, outdoor lifestyle brand FORLOH, and Pajamagram are using brrr° Pro to elevate their apparel.
brrr° Pro is also available in recycled blends and with EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
Additionally, brrr° offers a new line of monocomponent fabrics that are in the final stages of development, and ultra lightweight fabrics that maximize airflow and breathability.
Already a recognized leader in cooling textiles, brrr° continually explores and develops advanced cooling fabric technologies. Learn more at brrr.com.
Read the full Textile Insight article here.
WTiN: brrr° Cooling Fabric Technology Supports Sustainability and Comfort
Cooling fabric technology innovator brrr° is disrupting the performance textile sector with an extensive lineup of cooling fabrics that actively draw heat and moisture away from the skin to keep you cooler and more comfortable.
Made with a patented blend of natural cooling minerals plus active wicking and rapid drying, brrr° fabrics create a “Triple Chill Effect” that instantly and continuously cool you down.
With a library of hundreds of performance fabrics to choose from, brrr° also offers monocomponent fabrics that have superior stretch, lightweight fabrics, and new brrr° Pro recycled fabrics and EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
Since the company was founded in 2014 by a former SPANX executive, brrr° has become a leading cooling ingredient brand whose technology is licensed by dozens of major retailers including Tom Brady’s Brady Brand, golf lifestyle and influencer brand Greyson, Adidas, Under Armour, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, and Pajamagram.
brrr° Founder & CEO Mary-Cathryn Kolb had a vision to take the fabrics we wear and touch in our everyday lives and improve them so they make us more comfortable.
“One day I started to wonder: What else can these tiny fibers do? How could they make us more comfortable? What if they could actually help keep us cool?” Kolb said.
The idea for brrr° was born.
Kolb began researching, exploring, and testing numerous cooling technologies before landing on a proprietary blend of cooling minerals and a process that brrr° has since patented.
brrr°’s proprietary cooling mineral blend creates a cool-to-the-touch sensation that begins working on contact with the skin and provides a compelling differentiator for in-store shopping and at point of sale. brrr° keeps actively drawing heat away from the skin the longer the fabric touches your skin for superior all-day comfort at work, at play, and anywhere life takes you.
While many brands market themselves as “cooling,” they don’t actually draw heat away from the skin — they just wick away moisture. Some use chemical sprays and coatings to achieve a cooling sensation, and some products have to be wet to activate cooling.
brrr° cooling technology is different because it’s permanently embedded in the structure of the yarn. That means it lasts for the entire lifetime of the garment, and it won’t ever fade or wash out. brrr° also offers superior UPF sun protection, and brrr° fabrics are machine washable.
brrr° fabrics are independently tested by globally recognized labs and proven to outperform other brands.
Recently brrr° introduced a new advanced performance cooling yarn called brrr° Pro, which uses micro cooling minerals to amplify the cooling sensation, plus hyper wicking and performance drying. Retailers including Brady Brand, outdoor lifestyle brand FORLOH, and Pajamagram are using brrr° Pro to elevate their apparel.
brrr° Pro is also available in recycled blends and with EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
Additionally, brrr° offers a new line of monocomponent fabrics that are in the final stages of development, and ultra lightweight fabrics that maximize airflow and breathability.
Already a recognized leader in cooling textiles, brrr° continually explores and develops advanced cooling fabric technologies. Learn more at brrr.com.
Read the full article by WTiN here.
Showcasing Our Cooling Fabrics at the Functional Fabric Fair
Our team enjoyed showing some of our advanced cooling fabrics recently at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland.
In addition to a selection from our library of hundreds of fabrics, we also displayed some new monocomponent fabrics that have superior stretch, new brrr° Pro recycled fabrics, and lightweight fabrics.
Some brrr° fabrics were featured on The Loop, the virtual sourcing platform that connects international suppliers with product experts and buyers for major retailers.
brrr° combines the power of natural cooling minerals, active wicking, and rapid drying to create a "Triple Chill Effect" that instantly and continuously draws heat and moisture away from the skin. Each brrr° fabric is independently lab tested and proven to keep you cooler.
Recently brrr° introduced a new performance cooling yarn called brrr° Pro, which uses micro cooling minerals to amplify the cooling sensation, plus hyper wicking and performance drying. brrr° Pro is also available in recycled blends and EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
Since the company was founded in 2014 by former SPANX executive Mary-Cathryn Kolb, brrr° has since become a leading cooling ingredient brand favored by dozens of major retailers including Tom Brady’s Brady Brand, golf lifestyle and influencer brand Greyson, Adidas, Under Armour, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, and Pajamagram.
Textile Insight: brrr° Cooling Fabric Technology Supports Sustainability, Lightweight Comfort
Cooling fabric innovator brrr° is showcasing dozens of performance fabrics from its library at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon — including monocomponent fabrics that have superior stretch, new brrr° Pro recycled fabrics, and lightweight fabrics.
Since the company was founded in 2014 by a former SPANX executive, brrr° has since become a leading cooling ingredient brand favored by dozens of major retailers including Tom Brady’s Brady Brand, golf lifestyle and influencer brand Greyson, Adidas, Under Armour, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, and Pajamagram.
brrr° instantly and continuously draws heat and moisture away from the skin to help lower your skin temperature and keep you more comfortable and confident all day long.
The patented cooling technology is independently tested by globally recognized labs and proven to outperform other brands with a trifecta of natural cooling minerals, active wicking, and rapid drying that create a “Triple Chill Effect.”
brrr° also offers superior UPF sun protection, and the fabric is machine washable. brrr° cooling technology is permanently embedded in the structure of the yarn so it lasts for the entire lifetime of the garment, and it won’t ever fade or wash out.
While many brands market themselves as “cooling,” they don’t actually draw heat away from the skin — they just wick away moisture. Some use chemical sprays and coatings to achieve a cooling sensation, and some products have to be wet to activate cooling.
brrr°’s proprietary cooling minerals feel cool to the touch and begin working on contact with the skin, and they keep actively drawing heat away from the skin the longer the fabric touches your skin.
Recently brrr° introduced a new performance cooling yarn called brrr° Pro, which uses micro cooling minerals to amplify the cooling sensation, plus hyper wicking and performance drying. brrr° Pro is also available in recycled blends and EcoVero viscose fibers by Lenzing made from sustainable and responsibly sourced wood to minimize the environmental impact.
brrr° is also showcasing a new line of monocomponent fabrics that are in the final stages of development, and ultra lightweight fabrics that maximize airflow and breathability.
Learn more at brrr.com.
Read the full Textile Insight article here.
SportsTextiles.com: Imagining the Future of Cool
Textile innovator brrr° became a leader in cooling yarns and fabrics several years ago when the company introduced new technology that combines the power of natural cooling minerals, active wicking and rapid drying.
brrr° creates a “Triple Chill Effect” by instantly and continuously drawing heat and moisture away from the skin to keep you cooler and more comfortable all day long — whether you’re at the office, working from home, exercising, playing sports, or enjoying some leisure time with friends.
What sets brrr° apart is that its cooling technology is permanently embedded in the structure of the yarn itself. Unlike other brands that use sprays and coatings to achieve a cooling sensation, brrr° technology won’t ever fade or wash out over time.
Anchored in advanced scientific research and development, brrr° rigorously tests each fabric through globally recognized third party labs to verify its cooling properties and prove that its technology outperforms other brands.
Major retailers including Simms Fishing, Forloh, Greyson Clothiers, Landseer, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, ADAY, Kit + Ace, Shinesty, Pajamagram, Sheex and many others use brrr° cooling technology to make their apparel even better.
Building on its foundational cooling technology, and now offers a performance fabric called brrr° Pro that has a more intense cooling effect.
brrr° Pro harnesses the power of micro cooling technology to create the coolest polyester in the market, with enhanced cooling fibers that intensify the concentration of brrr° cooling minerals. brrr° Pro also amplifies moisture management for hyper wicking, while performance drying delivers a fresh and crisp experience.
Scientists at brrr° spent more than three years developing brrr° Pro, and they tested dozens of formulas before landing on their most advanced technology yet. Because it helps keep people cooler, drier, and more comfortable so they can perform their best at work and at play, brrr° Pro can also help reduce reliance on air conditioning and other energy sources — which is good for the planet.
The Atlanta-based company is also committed to sustainability, and offers numerous eco-friendly fabrics such as brrr° Recycled Poly and other blends of natural and synthetic yarns. While brrr° has enjoyed Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification through its mill partners for many years, the company recently received direct GRS certification to assure customers that its products are being made in a sustainable way.
brrr° scientists continue to develop new advanced cooling products, with numerous research projects actively underway.
The company is also constantly innovating new woven and knit fabrics with interesting tactile and visual textures such as creative patterns and physical textures like jacquard.
brrr° offers a library of hundreds of fabrics to choose from, for ultimate flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of applications and uses: business attire, casual apparel, athletic apparel, athleisure, pajamas and intimates, bedding, furniture textiles and many other industries.
Learn more about brrr°, brrr° Pro and brrr° Recycled fabrics here, and you can browse their digital fabric library or view test results.
For more information, please contact brrr° at licensing@brrr.com.
brrr° and Strafe Outerwear Introduce Performance Cooling Apparel
ATLANTA — Aug. 3, 2022 — Cooling yarn innovator brrr°® has partnered with Strafe Outerwear to introduce a new line of technical apparel for men and women made with brrr° cooling performance fabric.
The Strafe Summer Capsule made with brrr° cooling fabric includes men’s and women’s technical apparel such as sun hoodies, t-shirts and shorts aimed at hikers, runners, fishers, MTBers, paddlers and anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle.
The Strafe Summer Capsule featuring brrr° can be purchased starting in August 2022 through Strafe’s website at StrafeOuterwear.com and at Strafe’s showrooms in Aspen, Colorado and Snowmass Village, Colorado.
The new Strafe Summer Capsule garments are made with brrr° cooling fabric, which has natural cooling minerals, active wicking and rapid drying to create a “Triple Chill Effect®” that instantly continuously draws heat and moisture away from your skin. The garments also have superior sun protection, and are machine washable.
“We enjoy working with a brand like Strafe that is just as committed to technical innovation and comfort as we are,” said Mary-Cathryn Kolb, Founder and CEO of brrr°. “Bringing the cooling power of brrr° to Strafe gives consumers another easy way to stay cool and comfortable no matter where life takes them.”
All brrr° products are independently tested by globally recognized third-party labs to prove that they keep you cooler and outperform other cooling brands in the market.
brrr° offers a library of hundreds of brrr° polyester and brrr° nylon yarns, brrr° Pro yarns, and brrr° recycled yarns in a wide array of synthetic or natural compositions such as cotton, wool and other materials used to achieve specific attributes in textiles.
Media contact for brrr°:
Mary Jane Credeur of The Credeur Group
404 317 2718 | mj [@] credeurgroup.com
About brrr°
brrr°® was founded in 2014 with a vision to develop advanced cooling fabric technology that could improve the items we wear and touch in our everyday lives. brrr° uses natural cooling minerals, active wicking and rapid drying to create a Triple Chill Effect™ that instantly and continuously draws heat and moisture away from the skin. Its newest offering, brrr° Pro, uses the power of micro minerals to deliver performance level cooling for athletic and activewear apparel. The Atlanta-based company is privately held and led by Founder & CEO Mary-Cathryn Kolb, who previously held senior positions at Spanx, Seven7 Jeans, TOMS Shoes and Von Dutch.
Why Global Recycled Standard (GRS) Certification Matters
Where is your recycled yarn coming from, and what material is going into it?
Businesses that manufacture recycled yarns are validated by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification to show customers and consumers that they are committed to internationally recognized standards and practices for sustainability.
GRS certification was created to reduce the impact on people and the environment from the production of materials by driving a higher percentage of recycled content in products.
The GRS certification also provides assurance for retailers and consumers that products are being made in a more sustainable way. The standard is managed with input from key stakeholders such as recyclers, suppliers, brands, and retailers all over the world.
GRS verifies that recycled materials are used, and it also tracks responsible production methods. Companies must demonstrate a chain of custody, and obtain certification from a professional third party that audits and validates each step of the supply chain.
Products that have earned a GRS certification can include the GRS logo on their products to let consumers know the items have been sustainably produced.
brrr° has enjoyed GRS certification for many years through our mill partners, and now we also have a direct GRS certification for both brrr° recycled nylon and brrr° recycled polyester yarns.
brrr° is committed to reducing our environmental footprint as we develop and produce advanced cooling fabric technology in more sustainable ways so we can divert materials from landfills and make a minimal impact on local and global ecosystems.
brrr° offers several recycled cooling yarn options in both recycled nylon and recycled polyester, as well as recycled nylon/polyester blends. brrrº cooling technology includes natural cooling minerals, active wicking, and rapid drying to provide instant and continuous cooling to keep any lifestyle comfortable.
GRS certification is important to us, and it’s one of many ways we show our customers that we’re a responsible citizen and committed to protecting our planet. Learn more about brrr° recycled cooling yarns.
brrr° Welcomes Retail Executive Christopher Heyn to Board
We are excited to welcome seasoned retail and apparel executive Christopher Heyn to our Board of Directors!
Heyn has extensive experience in the apparel and retail industry and has propelled numerous brands to growth and prominence in their category.
He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Southern Tide, which is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle apparel brands in the United States with leisure and activewear collections for men, women and children as well as collegiate themed apparel and fashion accessories.
While at Southern Tide, Heyn led the brand’s omni channel expansion to build its direct-to-consumer and business-to-business efforts, oversaw the opening of 20 retail stores, improved the catalogue, and expanded product availability to more than 1,200 specialty retailers including premium department stores as well as the resort and golf channel. He also enhanced the company’s brand ambassador program to promote Southern Tide among influencers on college campuses, launched a women’s collection, and oversaw the creation of a brrr° Collection of apparel that instantly and continuously draws heat and moisture away from the skin.
Earlier in his career, Heyn was CEO and Chairman of sportswear marketer Summit Golf Brands, where he transformed the company’s operations by enhancing revenue and profitability to propel Summit Golf to become the third-largest golf apparel company in the country. He previously served as Senior Vice President of the National Basketball Association’s Global Merchandise Group and served as President of Nautica, where he helped elevate the brand to become the #2 ranked men’s sportswear collection in the United States.
“Chris is one of the most insightful and forward-thinking leaders in apparel and retail, and we are fortunate to add his expertise and wisdom to our Board of Directors,” said Mary-Cathryn Kolb, Founder and CEO of brrr°. “Chris has a special talent for spotting and responding to consumer demands, and we welcome his hands-on leadership and institutional knowledge as we strengthen our board and enter a new stage of growth.”
brrr° Founder & CEO Speaks at EY Forum
We were excited to see brrr° Founder & CEO Mary-Cathryn Kolb featured at a fireside chat about the power of resilience as part of the EY Strategic Growth Forum in California last week.
Kolb joined milk + honey spa founder Alissa Bayer on stage and they talked about pivoting their business models during the pandemic, how they are supporting employees through unprecedented stress on their personal and professional lives, and how they are managing the ongoing global supply chain disruptions.
The entrepreneurs talked about what resilience looks like in action, and how determination and grit shape them as leaders and decision makers.
"It's about progress over perfection," Kolb said.
The EY Strategic Growth Forum is an annual event that forges high-value CEO-to-CEO connections. This year's gathering featured Emmy winning actor and director Dan Levy of Schitt's Creek, former professional driver and entrepreneur Danica Patrick, VF Corporation CEO Steve Rendle, and Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. Co-Founder and CEO Phyllis Newhouse, who is the only Black female CEO of a SPAC listed company on the New York Stock Exchange.
