TEXTILES.ORG
Antimicrobial protective clothing company Chiki Diki is promoting a new line of fashionable protective gear and accessories featuring clever designs and proprietary textile treatments that inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The company’s products include antimicrobial facial masks, safety necks with built-in masks, gloves and travel bags and attire. Susan Hooper and Lisa Coe, founders of Chiki Diki, said the company’s goal is to support public health by decreasing the person-to-person transmission of contagions like COVID-19 and other environmental aggressors.
“Our original mission, which was developed late last year before the COVID-19 pandemic, was to create specialized clothing and accessories to protect people from germs and viruses while traveling,” says Susan Hooper. “I came up with the idea when a person next to me coughed continuously during a flight. I rolled up my turtleneck to use as a faceguard, which is where the company name was derived—like the classic dickey, a false neck.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, the company’s focus shifted quickly to designing and mass-producing face masks and coverings with its DuPont-treated textile. SILVADUR™ is an aqueous-based silver-polymer delivery system. The smart release system requires less silver to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Silver ions perform the deadly work by punching holes in bacterial membranes and wreaking havoc once inside. They bind to essential cell components like DNA, preventing microorganisms from performing even their most basic functions.
Washable, reusable and made in the U.S.A., Chiki Diki’s five-layer system includes an inner layer of a high-performance quick-drying fabric with fast wicking; a filtration layer comprised of three layers of 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent organic cotton; and an outermost layer of a high-performance double-facing barrier fabric to help protect users from outside elements. For more, visit www.chikidiki.com.