Nanotechnology brings self-cleaning, water-resistant kitchenwear to QSRs
Australian startup Fabricor offers dry, stain-free uniforms at the end of the day every day.
Professional Chef Adrian Li, who co-founded Fabricor Workwear, was frustrated with keeping his chef’s jackets and aprons clean, leading him to develop a hydrophobic fabric suited for kitchen use.
"As a chef I find it really difficult to keep my chef jacket white, and we like our jackets white for obvious professional reasons,” Li said.
“There's nothing currently on the market which helps this apart from buying new jackets and washing them every day. So we decided to create a new range of chef jackets using nanotechnology that makes it water repellent and stain-proof."
The nanotechnology application works by modifying the fabric at a molecular level by permanently attaching hydrophobic ‘whiskers’ to individual fibres which elevate liquids, causing them to bead up and roll off the fabric surface.
The liquid that is repelled traps particles of dirt, resulting in a self-cleaning shirt. Even sweat is turned away, meaning no sweat stains and no body odour clinging to the uniform.
The fabric’s patented technology can extend the life of the apparel as it doesn’t have to be washed as often and can be washed in cooler temperatures.
Fabricor’s products are not made with spray-application like many on the market which can destroy fabrics and contain carcinogenic chemical. Its hydrophobic properties are embedded into the weave during the production of the fabric.
Li said chefs spend too much money on chef jackets that are poorly designed and don’t last. The long-lasting fabric in Fabricor’s chef’s apparel retains its natural softness and breathability.
