Patented evaporative cooling fabric technology, made for hot conditions.
Next to skin perspiration management, made for performance activities.
Lightweight fabric, made for movement.
Dynamic stretch and recovery knit technology, made for performance.
Premium dynamic stretch and recovery knit technology, made for elite performance.
Versatile bi-component wool knit, made for comfort.
Adaptive knit technology, made for changing conditions.
The benchmark for soft fleece, made for the cold outdoors.
An original, elevated. Fleece made lighter and loftier.
Thermal insulation, made to last.
Synthetic insulation made for the freezing outdoors.
The evolution of an original, made to be versatile.
Advanced weather protection fleece, made to face the wind.
Plant-based membrane technology, responsibly made for the wet outdoors*.
Revolutionary fabric technology, responsibly made for the wet outdoors.
Wind protection, made for bad weather.
Next to skin perspiration management, made to protect during performance activities.
Lightweight flame resistant fabric, made for movement.
Advanced flame resistant certified fleece, made to face the wind.
The evolution of an original, made to protect.
Premium flame resistant stretch and recovery knit technology, made to protect during elite performance.
We’re the pioneers of fleece. We know how to make insulated fabrics that keep you comfortable and warm in any condition.
What do we mean when we say 'Beyond Begins Today?' It's about recognizing that yesterday's achievements serve as a benchmark for tomorrow. Our journey began with recycled fleece in 1993, but it didn't end there; it is a journey of endless improvement and innovation. Solutions that worked yesterday must be constantly questioned, adapted, and re-imagined for the challenges facing us today. The Beyond Series hears from those who are best placed: customers, wearers and fabric innovators, on the subjects we value most: our <strong>planet,</strong> our <strong>people,</strong> and our <strong>product.</strong> They form our 3 brand pillars.
Eva Karlsson (CMO, Houdini Sportswear), Chris Parkes (Natural World Photographer), and Karen Beattie (Director of Product Management, Polartec) highlight the intrinsic value of our natural world. Discover more about the goals driven by our planetary values…
Meet Sierra Quitiquit (Professional Skier and Environmentalist), Helgi Oskarsson (CEO, 66º North), and Tyler Maheu (Sales Manager). Discover more about the people defining what it means to go beyond, and the targets we set to support them…
Paul Cosgrove (Product Director, Mammut), Sachi Koed (Mountain Climber) and Eric Yung (MD, Polartec) uncover past, present, and future product commitments. Discover more about Polartec’s approach to premium sustainable fabric innovation…
Polartec drives product innovation with an unwavering commitment to <strong>1. Reduce impact:</strong> Minimize our environmental footprint across the supply chain, <strong>2. Extend lifespan:</strong> Design for durability, longevity, and slower fashion cycles, <strong>3. Enable circularity:</strong> Support reuse, recycling, and regenerative material systems. When we develop a new product, we ask ourselves, 'Is the technology born from and serving at least one of these key driving principles?' We hear from industry leaders on the real-world products, technologies, and scientific guidance that drive Polartec today.
The Úlpa.What is an Ulpa, and how does this approach to garment design help to reduce our impact? Helgi Oskarsson (CEO, 66º North) explains.
Against a backdrop of rugged landscapes and biting winds, the úlpa is far more than a jacket or coat. It’s a symbol of resilience shaped by the raw and untamed elements of the North, and a testament to generations of people who lived with less and made everything last longer.
“We are in a world of overconsumption. If there can be companies who can promote something that lasts longer, that’s worth everything." – Helgi Oskarrson
In the first piece of Polartec’s Beyond Begins Today series, Helgi Oskarrson, CEO of 66°North, shares how tradition, responsibility, and technical innovation come together to engineer clothing for generations. For Helgi and his team, it’s not about following trends but about making clothes that stay with you, season after season, year after year. Like the úlpa.
At Polartec, we believe that true sustainability begins with durability. Which is why our fabrics are made to do more than perform. They’re made to endure, so that garments can be worn, repaired, and passed down across generations, reducing the need to buy new garments and lowering the impact on the planet.
Together with 66°North, we’re building something meant to last, with planet conscious* fabrics like Power Shield™ Pro, made with Biolon** plant-based*** nylon. Because in the end, true innovation isn’t only about what’s new, it’s about what stays.
Our commitment to the planet is embedded in the materials we choose and the technologies we pioneer. This careful combination of environmental responsibility and technical innovation defines our approach and resonates with visionaries like Helgi.
*The Biolon™ nylon plant-based content within Power Shield™ Pro reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers carbon footprint by up to 50% compared with virgin Nylon-6,6.
**Biolon™ is a trademark of Milliken & Company.
***Biolon™ plant-based inputs account for about 45-48% of the nylon in our fabrics and membranes, which lowers carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels by 50%, without impacting on human food sources.
Smarter Chemistry.
Our very own, Karen Beattie (Director of Product Management), talks smarter chemistries and fabric innovation.
Planetary Boundaries.
How can environmental science inspire better product innovation? Eva Karlsson (CMO, Houdini Sportswear) tells us more.
Biolon™ Nylon reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers our carbon footprint by up to 50%**.
1. Reduce impact.
Our parent company Milliken & Company, has committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4% and scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.
1. Reduce impact. 2. Extend lifespan. 3. Enable circularity.
We're increasing our use of wool and lyocell in fabric constructions, and were introducing a 34% hemp containing fleece.
1. Reduce impact. 2. Extend lifespan.
Over 200 fabric styles are made from 50-100% recycled PCR plastic bottles.
In 1993 we made the first fleece using recycled content.
In 2024 we announced our first waterproof-breathable fabric designed to enable circularity as part of our Power Shield™ family. Through our partner brands we can enable processes to achieve the end goal of a fully circular garment-to-garment process.
Increasing our use of recycled polyester, to include both mechanically and chemically recycled yarns, and increasing use of recycled nylon. Recycled nylon yarns are transitioning from 50% to 100% recycled content. All recycled fabrics to be 3rd party certified with available scope and transaction certificates by the end of 2025.
Our Shed Less technology and Power Air™ fabrics release up to 85% less<span>▲</span> fiber fragments on average during home laundering.
We helped set the industry standards to measure fibre fragment shedding.
We developed manufacturing best practices for vacuuming and collecting loose fibres from surface finishing.These are upcycled into durable goods like automotive sound-proofing insulation.
We achieved non-PFAs materials in all our products by the end of 2022, before any mandates.
Over the past three decades of manufacturing we've used over 2.5 billion recycled plastic bottles to engineer our fabrics.
Over 60% of our fabrics are made from post-consumer recycled materials.
Our fabrics are made to last longer, durable for generations, which in turn is reducing our impact on the planet.
We've engineered new ways to add color to textiles, that can save up to 7.5 litres of water per yard of fabric.
We use water filtration and capture systems that go above and beyond government standards.
*Biolon™ is a trademark of Milliken & Company. **Compared with virgin Nylon-6,6. <span>▲</span>According to AATCC 212 2021, up to 85% less fiber fragments are shed on average during home laundering, when compared to the base line fabric.
Made to last longer. Up to 85% less microfibers are shed on average during home laundering.
We are committed to making our website accessible to all users. Please provide feedback on how we can improve.