Tasc uses original blends of fabrics using organic cotton, bamboo viscose and merino wool. Their natural fiber blends are unique to the standard performance clothing market.
Writer: Travis Poulin
In a non-toxic relationship with the earth and performance clothing market, Tasc Performance is setting new standards. Performance clothing manufacturers often use chemical blends to create synthetic materials, but Tasc is dedicated to changing the norm.
“We saw a real opportunity in the market for a product that could perform as well as polyester – without the drawbacks of roughness on the skin and odor retention – but with all the performance,” said Co-founder and President Todd Andrews.
“Most performance materials are derived from chemicals and after two years of fiber research working with bamboo and organic cotton we felt our product felt better on the skin, performed just as well as polyester and wicked moisture well, and we did it all without using chemicals.”
Tasc was founded in New Orleans by Andrews and his father, and the company has seen productive growth. The company now has 25 employees.
Tasc has full lines of tops and bottoms for both men and women. Products range from short sleeve, long sleeve, outerwear and base layers geared toward the higher end consumer. “We appeal to people that live what we like to call the performance lifestyle,” Andrews said. “We have products that consumers can wear exercising in the morning and then wear out to lunch without worrying about odor.”
Tasc uses original blends of fabrics using organic cotton, bamboo viscose and merino wool. Their natural fiber blends are unique to the standard performance clothing market. Tasc products do not require special washing or drying processes and can be cleaned like any other article of clothing.
Andrews said Tasc is a unique company because there is little competition due to the uniqueness of their materials. Tasc invents their own blends of material using cotton and bamboo while most other companies resort to using chemical-based materials.
So why is it important to use chemical-free material? Does it really make a difference? “I think it’s a better and more healthy way to make clothing,” Andrews said. “There is not enough research on the impacts of the chemicals on the skin. We don’t know what it can do to the body over time when pores are open and these chemicals are exposed to the skin. Our products feel better on the skin, perform well and last a long time.”
For the fall, Tasc is launching a new line of pants and extending the concept of how the consumer can wear their product, according to Andrews. A new six-pocket pant model is intended for travel with a passport pocket included. Andrews said the company plans to expand into high end and fine distribution stores around the country and looks forward to the future of the natural fiber market.
Photo courtesy Tasc Performance
