Fergus Niland is the creative director of Santini, a character at times eclectic and big cycling enthusiastWe spent a weekend full of emotions with him, that of Paris-RoubaixThe main topic was the bicycle, but there has been a lot of talk about how the world of clothing, fabrics and membranes have changed the way we do sports. Of how the collaborations with top-level pro teams and partnerships with companies such as Polartec, allow the final consumer to “always ride a bike”.
Has the evolution of fabrics changed the way we experience cycling?
The fabrics have improved, from all points of view. They are more functional Regardless of their category and specific address. They allow us to exploit a series of compromises, a factor that is advantageous for the end consumer. The fabrics available today offer many advantages: for example they allow you to build increasingly specific, lightweight and protective technical garments, all aspects that play a very important role when cycling and doing sports in general. Today we can stay on the bike longer and pedal better, even when it's freezing cold and pouring with rain. This is also thanks to the garments we have at our disposal, constructed with fabrics and membranes unimaginable just a few years ago.
What changed first of all?
How to interpret body perspiration, not only in the Cycling. The The game of performance related to technical garments always has a subject, that is, breathabilityToday, rain capes no longer exist, which protected from external agents, but became counterproductive because they made us sweat a lot. Current technologies allow us to use them membrane, that do not block sweating and thermoregulation. Polartec is a great example of this concept. It is very complicated to develop a membrane and make it usable at 360°, but being able to do so allows us to take advantage of items that we like to define multipurpose, widely usable in different situations.
How long does it take to develop a technical leader?
It takes about 7/8 months, It depends on the type of product. There are several key steps to consider, one of which is maintaining close contact with the supplier of the fabric and membrane we intend to apply to the garment. Close collaboration and a constant exchange of ideas are essential. Cycling has always been a very demanding discipline and allows di develop a lot in terms of technique and ideas.
But there is also the production line, where the garments physically come to life.
It may not be the first, but it is certainly one of the very first steps to consider. The Santini knitwear factory is based on a tailoring production, where there aren't just machines, but also workers who physically sew the jackets, sweaters, and the rest of the collection. Only they can provide precise information on how a membrane and fabric are processed, whether it's possible to make a certain cut and sew that particular stitching.
And then there are the pro teams. How important is it to work with them?
It is essential if you are a company that wants to develop and innovate. Professional athletes are focused on finding functionality at the highest levels and this allows us to face situations that go even beyond the limits. The world of professionalism is a constant challenge, they are constantly trying new solutions, the same ones that we will find available to the consumer.
