Gramicci Introduces the Most Natural Cotton Ever

You go to grab a shirt. Synthetic or cotton? Chances are that you go with the latter for its natural feel. But not all cottons are equal. Traditional cotton production is rift with pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides; once it is processed, you can add all sorts of chemicals to the list of things you really don’t want next to your body. Gramicci, the geniuses behind the original climbing pants with a gusseted crotch, is making a name for itself again with their new natural (read: chemical-free) apparel, as personified by Natural Performance Technology. It gives us performance wear without the chemical-induced plasticky feel of most technical apparel. NPT is the first toxin-free performance wear, meaning none of the afore-mentioned evils were used to grow the cotton or hemp found in NPT, and no chemicals were applied to the yarns or garments to make them perform. According to Gramicci, independent labs and more than 1,000 athletes have tested the technology with impressive results. NPT performed as well as—or better than—competing chemically-treated cottons and petroleum-based synthetics in moisture management/absorption, breathability, and dry time during sweat-fest sports. What we love? NPT fabric doesn’t shrink in the washer or dryer (although we still prefer line-drying), and its odor factor is extremely low, especially compared to polyester and nylon. This tech is now available, and during the month of August we’ll be conducting a sweat/odor test on Gramicci NPT apparel as well as with competing brands. Stay tuned for our results.