Cocona™ Fabrics from TrapTek wins 2006 IQ Award

Longmont, Colorado – Coconaâ„¢ fabrics from TrapTek, LLC received an important accolade at the annual IQ Awards ceremonies conducted in Boulder, Colorado on August 17th, 2006. A panel of 7 judges selected Coconaâ„¢ fabric as a winner for the Commercial and Industrial 2006 IQ Award. TrapTek’s innovative technology that incorporates activated carbon made from coconut shells into polymers joins other past winners that have gone on to national prominence: Crocsâ„¢, Izzeâ„¢ Natural Soft Drink, Noodles and Company, and GoLiteâ„¢ apparel. Coconaâ„¢ fibers and yarns can be used in a wide range of fabrics and non-woven materials to provide evaporative cooling, odor adsorption and ultraviolet protection.

The IQ Awards were started in 2000 by the Boulder County Business Report to recognize companies and organizations that are developing the most innovative new products and services in Boulder County and surrounding areas. Boulder is widely recognized as an area rich in developing companies in both technology and LOHAS markets. Over 80 nominations were received for ten IQ Award categories.

Coconaâ„¢ technology permanently embeds activated carbon, derived from coconut shells, into fiber and yarns to enhance the performance of fabrics. Garments exhibit a significant breakthrough by not only managing or wicking moisture (45% greater wickability), but also drying at unprecedented rates keeping wearers cool and dry. Additionally, these knits naturally trap odor and UV in the activated carbon pore structure, keeping the finished products fresh and lightweight with superior UPF qualities.

Twenty-four apparel brands (including Champion, Cutter and Buck, Cannondale, Marmot, Izod, Royal Robbins, Sierra Designs, GoLite, and Sporthill for Spring 2007) are either using Coconaâ„¢ fabrics now or have committed to launch Coconaâ„¢ products in the coming months. Cannondale cycling apparel is among the first and their Coconaâ„¢ apparel was selected one of Time Magazine’s “Most Amazing Inventions”.

“We first started working with the Cocona™ product over a year ago and immediately saw performance attributes through our testing that differentiated the product from anything on the market.” says Phillip Sporidis General Manager, Global Apparel, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation. “With Cocona™ fabrics, Cannondale exclusively achieved a whole new level of performance attributes across an entire outfit collection. We designed the innovative fabric into every possible application of cycling apparel—from chamois to base layers and socks, including seamless constructions.”