While we still have some semblance of Summer left, despite enduring typically British weather over the past few months in replace of sunshine, now’s the chance to talk in greater depth about ThruDark’s Oryon range of products and their functional purpose in warm and dry conditions.
While there is an abundance of gear out there that is designed to protect us from the usual suspects of the cold, wind and rain, it’s rare that apparel designed for warm weather gets the same press. Recognising a gap in the market, ThruDark introduced its Oryon range which would build upon the brand’s existing offering of protective clothing, except for warm environments.
"While there is an abundance of gear out there that is designed to protect us from the usual suspects of the cold, wind and rain, it’s rare that apparel designed for warm weather gets the same press."
When it starts to rain or the temperature suddenly drops, our immediate thought is to pull on either a shell jacket or insulator to protect us. But, where does your mind go when your body temperature starts to rise and you want to cool down? Removing layers? That’s what I would have said. However, instead of stripping off and trying to cool down that way, ThruDark is challenging our conception of body cooling through technical clothing.
Not afraid of being held back by the weather, the Oryon range encourages fast movement through innovative fabrics and carefully placed ventilation systems that allow the body to breathe naturally with a slight helping hand from the clothes themself. These clever fabrics work by not absorbing water vapour - sweat - and instead they form as droplets on the inside of the fabric. From here, it is pulled through tiny spaces in the fabric through capillary action until it reaches the outside surface where it evaporates. Due to their lightweight nature, these pieces are perfect for active use, where every ounce matters, whether in the field or navigating inner-city environments.
"Thrudark is challenging our conception of body cooling through technical clothing."
ThruDark was kind enough to send over a selection of pieces from their Oryon range including the Delta Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Delta T-Shirt, Carbon Trousers and Carbon Shirt. Each piece is carefully tailored to Spring and Summer with an emphasis on lightweight layers that can either be built upon or worn by themselves. In their own right, each piece is designed to be worn in warm and arid conditions where the body needs help in temperature regulation.
Starting things off with the Delta T-Shirt and Long Sleeve T-Shirt which are both made using Polartec® Delta™, a cooling fabric that is designed to sit next to skin for enhanced moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties. Delta is more efficient than conventional fabrics as the interior touch points are slightly raised, which allows air to travel freely and prevents the garment from clinging to the skin when wet.
"It’s not every day that you hear of garments being infused with carbon but Thrudark, once again, prove that they’re a true innovator."
While they share the same construction and half-zip design - for increased breathability - the Delta T-Shirt is a technical take on a t-shirt while the Long Sleeve features two chest pockets that can be used as storage or increased ventilation with the aid of a mesh backing. Keeping their designs fairly muted, the emphasis is placed on functionality over loud prints or flashy, unnecessary details.
It’s not every day that you hear of garments being infused with carbon but Thrudark, once again, prove that they’re a true innovator. As the name suggests, the Carbon Shirt and Trousers are made using an innovative chrono-carbon ripstop fabric that boasts an accoutrement of technical properties thanks to the unique blend.
"By combining intuitive fabrics with everyday silhouettes, Thrudark has created a hybrid product that can be worn outdoors or in a lifestyle capacity."
Using a ripstop fabric ensures that the Carbon Shirt and Trousers are hard-wearing without compromising on weight or flexibility, while the carbon filament aids with moisture-wicking and heat transfer during the day and retains heat at night when the temperature drops. It’s very uncommon to find carbon in ‘civilian’ clothes, but ThruDark does so without a second thought as they infuse military-inspired details into everyday silhouettes.
Beyond the fabric composition, each piece is equipped with a number of technical features that aid in the wearer’s movement and increase ventilation, from mesh-lined pockets that double up as vents to articulated knee darts and targeted seams positioned away from areas of high movement to prevent a build-up of moisture. Lastly, plenty of secure pockets feature on the Shirt and Trousers to ensure that your essentials are safe in one place. These are the kind of design characteristics that only those who have lived with inadequate clothing before know to include in fear of a lacklustre garment.
By combining intuitive fabrics with everyday silhouettes, ThruDark has created a hybrid product that can be worn outdoors or in a lifestyle capacity.
