Garmatex Technologies, Inc., a leading inventor of intelligent fabric and apparel solutions, has partnered with Base360 Inc., an innovative manufacturer of safety products for high risk sports, to bring a new generation of protective hockey wear to the Canadian market. This transformative portfolio of hockey apparel is designed to save lives through the use of world-leading fabric technologies.
Based in OttawaBase360 Inc. was founded to provide a better form of body protection on the ice following a traumatic incident where a young hockey player suffered a life-threatening skate laceration. “After more than a year of R&D, working in partnership with Garmatex, we were able to create an exciting line of hockey apparel that protects the exposed hyper-critical areas of the wrist, leg (calf) and ankle without sacrificing the performance athletes have come to expect,” says Rolf Loyens, President of Base360 Inc. “Even as a base layer, we define our products as protective hockey equipment in that they are designed to minimize the risk of a severe injury.”
Base in Ottawa, Canada, 360 Inc.’s clothing lines, Base360 and Bodyarmour, feature shirts, pants and socks with added Cut Protection Zones (CPZ). The company’s apparel is manufactured using Garmatex’s RecoverySkin and Coolskin fabrics, which assist in quick muscle recovery while keeping players cool and dry for optimal performance. The addition of Garmatex’s antimicrobial formula, Bact-Out , elevates the already protective piece to a new level: providing temperature regulation and bacterial odor management that does not wash out. Garmatex is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In true Canadian style, Base360 Inc. has introduced its Bodyarmour brand exclusively to Canadian Tire for the 2014 season. The lifesaving line of apparel further supports Canadian Tire’s commitment to providing innovative and top-of-the-line sports apparel to Canadian consumers.
“We are very excited to work with Base360 Inc. and Canadian Tire,” says Martin Doane, CEO and President of Garmatex. “It’s always great to see a new product category come to fruition that can make a difference by improving the safety of players on the ice.”
The company’s cut protective performance apparel is an evolution in hockey equipment and is worn by players of all levels, including NHL teams and officials. The companies are working together to incorporate Garmatex’s SteelSkin technology into the next generation of apparel to further enhance its protective properties. They are also in the process of developing a new line of apparel designed specifically for speed skaters.
