Perfect for clumsy eaters – the shirt that ‘can’t be stained’
RUINING a shirt by spilling food on it could be a thing of the past thanks to a new form of waterproof cotton.
The fabric developed by scientists is said to repel spillages so that the likes of wine and ketchup simply run off the surface.
Its makers say any residue can be wiped off or rinsed off with water.
The fabric is machine washable, but its stain and odour-repellent properties should mean it needs to be washed less frequently than regular cotton, making it more environmentally friendly.
Australian clothing brand Threadsmiths is selling its shirt, called The Grind, for £67. They say the waterproof effect lasts for about 80 washes.
The ‘hydrophobic’ technology involved could be a godsend for parents of young children if applied to bibs and tops that usually end up covered in food at mealtimes. It might also be adapted to create stain-proof tablecloths and aprons, as well as being used in the medical sector, for example in hospitals.
The development has echoes of the 1951 Ealing comedy The Man in the White Suit. The film stars Alec Guinness as a chemist who invents an indestructible fibre which never gets dirty.
It leads to him being targeted by clothing manufacturers who fear his discovery will put them out of business.
The makers of the new fabric liken its selfcleaning effect to that of the lotus leaf whose structure means water will not adhere to the surface and runs off.
A spokesman said: ‘It all started with the obsession to create the perfect T-shirt using an advanced hydrophobic nanotechnology application that makes our fabric waterresistant and stain-repellent.
‘Our technology allows dirt and water to simply run off the surface of the fabric.’