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1901191419211929196419781979198719901993200220052007200820102015201820212023Founding of The Perseverance Mill Co. Ltd.
Lancashire based textile manufacturer, The Perseverance Mill Company Ltd., is founded, initially producing cotton sari cloths for the Indian market.
Aeronautic fabrics
At the outbreak of WWI, the mill shifts to the production of high-quality cotton aeronautic fabric for balloons and aeroplanes. By the end of the war, industrial fabric weaving is established as the mill’s focus.
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Typewriter ribbon
Alongside fabrics for aeronautical applications, Perseverance Mill produces finely woven cotton fabrics for use as typewriter ribbon, becoming the largest maker and exporter to America.
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Airships
The Perseverance Mill is the principal supplier of fabrics for rigid airships to the British and American markets.
Nylon typewriter ribbon
Perseverance Mill’s typewriter ribbon manufacture switches from cotton yarn to superior super-fine 34 filament nylon yarn, supplied by ICI.
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Capillary action
During the development of the Vango Force 10 tent, whilst boiling water inside, Hamish Hamilton observes the movement of condensation across its woven nylon surface. Investigation leads to an insight: harnessing capillary action, the transportation of moisture across an extended area could aid faster drying.
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Birth of Pertex
Hamish Hamilton approaches The Perseverance Mill Company Ltd., now specialising in very lightweight, tightly woven synthetic fabrics for use in dot matrix printers, with the idea of creating a technical fabric for outdoor use.
With expertise in modulating the passage of liquid through fabric by capillary action (nylon printer ribbons wick ink on the same principle), the Perseverance Mill proves the ideal partner.
Pertex is born in the transfer of specialist knowledge from the production of printer ribbons to technical fabrics. The company name is registered, and with it the modern era of performance fabrics begins.
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Benchmark shell fabric
Within seven years of its foundation, Pertex is established as the benchmark shell fabric for insulated apparel and sleeping bags.
Working in close collaboration with its customers, Rab, Mountain Equipment and Snugpak, enables Pertex to innovate a lighter, softer fabric option. Initially marketed as ‘Microlight’, the fabric is an industry first – downproof, yet weighing less than 45g/m².
Heat calendering, a Pertex expertise gained in the production of fabric for parachute canopies, is transferred to the production of this superlight technical fabric, providing enhanced downproofing and airflow.
Pertex Equilibrium
On a road trip south through France to Chamonix, Pertex’s Steve Laycock and founder of Rab, Rab Carrington, toy with the idea of creating a comfortable ‘microclimate’ within a garment. They theorise about the benefits of a fabric with a differential yarn structure. Combining a relatively open weave on the inner face, and tighter weave on the outer face should, they think, enhance capillary action, thereby moving moisture more quickly away from the body.
Back in the UK, fully researched and tested, the outcome is Pertex’s patented Equilibrium, a double-weave fabric with a density gradient construction (a denier and density differential), appropriate for use as a woven shell fabric.
Equilibrium is first used in Rab’s Vapour-rise products.
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Pertex Quantum Pro
Pertex introduces Pertex Quantum Pro (launched as Pertex Endurance), a shell fabric designed for use in insulated apparel and sleeping bags with enhanced protection against the elements. The fabric incorporates a newly developed ultra-thin moisture permeable coating, providing higher water and wind resistance properties for prolonged use in damp conditions.
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Pertex Quantum
Pertex makes a breakthrough with the introduction of Pertex Quantum, by a significant margin their lightest downproof fabric. A balanced high-density weave and a unique interlocking construction makes exclusive use of Dupont’s revolutionary 22dtex yarn. Very lightweight at less than 30g/m², and with a super-tight packed volume, Pertex Quantum has an excellent strength to weight ratio.
Mitsui & Co
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. acquire Pertex together with intellectual property and associated manufacturing expertise. A new era of fabric innovation begins.
Mitsui’s regional network significantly extends Pertex’s access to specialist suppliers and weavers, opening new possibilities of technological synthesis and creative innovation. In the years that follow these will include shaped filament technologies, an enhanced list of coating and membrane options, and the precision weaving of super-fine yarns into fabrics of unprecedented lightness.
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Pertex Shield
Providing durable waterproof protection against the elements, the fabric is a ground-breaking fusion of Pertex’s advanced face fabric technology with exclusive proprietary waterproof and moisture vapour permeable membranes and coatings made accessible through Mitsui’s network.
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Chemically recycled yarns
Mitsui relationships give Pertex access to innovative sustainable solutions such as the first chemically recycled polyester yarns. The new technology is rolled out across Pertex’s fabric family, with special applications to Quantum, Shield and Equilibrium.
Ultra-light Pertex Quantum
Weighing less than 25g/m², ultra-light Pertex Quantum is launched, a shell fabric that offers unparalleled compressibility, softness and stability.
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Partex Quantum Air
Leaning into Pertex’s established expertise in controlling airflow through fabrics, a superlight fabric is developed in response to demand for an air permeable shell fabric for active insulation. Pertex Quantum Air achieves control of air permeability to precisely specified levels, values that remain stable for an extended duration over the lifetime of the fabric.
Pertex Shield Pro
Responding to partner Macpac’s request for a super-durable waterproof fabric for demanding all-day use under New Zealand mountain conditions, Pertex develop Pertex Shield Pro.
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EOCA
Pertex is a founding ‘Sustaining Member’ of the European Outdoor Conservation Association.
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Pertex Shaped Filament Technologies
Working closely with Japan’s most innovative yarn supplier, Pertex develops unique Shaped Filament technologies, Diamond Fuse and Y Fuse. These technologies allow fabrics with significantly increased abrasion resistance, downproof properties and enhanced stability. The technologies are launched with partners including Patagonia, Mammut and Peak Performance.
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3D Woven Pertex Quantum
Harnessing Japanese weaving expertise, 3D woven Pertex Quantum is introduced. Integrated woven baffles remove the need for stitching that would compromise air permeability and downproofness, whilst lowering weight. Launched with partners Rab and Mammut, these are the first applications of 3D weaving to Pertex fabrics of such lightness.
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Pertex Revolve Fabrics
Building on its recycled polyester initiative, Pertex launch the Revolve fabrics collection. Mono-material Pertex Revolve fabrics consist entirely of polyester. This construction removes a significant practical barrier to recycling. Revolve is established as the central plank of Pertex’s ongoing sustainability commitment, fundamental to the shift towards the circular system of the future. Pertex continues to work with chemical recycling companies to ensure compatibility with the chemical recycling process.
Pertex Revolve fabrics are launched as a 2.5-layer with Rab in their Downpour Eco Jacket. A 3-layer option is introduced shortly after.
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Pertex Shield Air
The culmination of a 5-year R&D process, Pertex introduces Shield Air. Overcoming the durability and stability limitations of existing nanofiber membranes through precise control of the membrane structure, Shield Air fabrics provide durably waterproof, air permeable protection for high intensity activities in unpredictable environments.
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Pertex Recycled Diamond Fuse technology
Pertex launch Recycled Diamond Fuse. Significantly harder to work than virgin material, extensive R&D alongside Pertex’s Japanese yarn partner was required to overcome the challenge of extruding filaments of sufficient length and intricacy from recycled nylon.
Ambercycle
Pertex enter partnership with Ambercycle, a chemical recycling company, to develop fabrics using their Cycora material.
Netplus
Pertex partners with Bureo to develop the Pertex NetPlus collection, material made from 100% post-consumer recycled fishing nets. The collection supports cleaner ocean and communities by diverting an existing waste stream and reducing the need to extract fossil fuels.