The Hidden Power of Shells: How Chitosan Revolutionizes Technical Apparel

When most people think of high-performance outdoor gear, they picture synthetic fabrics or merino wool. But at HERE, we've discovered something extraordinary hiding in plain sight: chitosan, a remarkable fiber derived from one of nature's most abundant waste streams.

What Makes Chitosan Special?

Chitosan isn't just another natural fiber – it's a game-changer for performance apparel. Here's what makes it so remarkable:

Natural Antibacterial Properties: Unlike synthetic materials that require chemical treatments to fight odor, chitosan naturally inhibits bacterial growth. This means your gear stays fresher, longer, without any artificial finishes touching your skin.

Hypoallergenic Excellence: Softer and lighter than merino wool, chitosan offers comfort for even the most sensitive skin types, making it perfect for extended adventures.

Moisture Management: The fiber naturally wicks moisture while remaining breathable, keeping you comfortable across varying activity levels and temperatures.

Chemical-Free Performance: No harsh treatments, no synthetic coatings – just pure, natural performance that works with your body, not against it.

From Medical Marvel to Technical Innovation

Chitosan's journey to your base layer began in the medical field, where its unique properties have been recognized for decades. Medical professionals have long valued chitosan for its biocompatibility and natural antimicrobial properties, using it in wound dressings, surgical sutures, and drug delivery systems.

The medical industry discovered that chitosan's positive charge naturally attracts and neutralizes negatively charged bacteria and fungi – making it incredibly effective at preventing infections and promoting healing. These same properties that make chitosan invaluable in medical applications are exactly what make it revolutionary in technical apparel.

From Ocean Floor to Technical Innovation

Chitosan has a fascinating origin story that perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustainability. This biopolymer is derived from chitin, the second most abundant natural polymer on Earth after cellulose. You'll find chitin in the exoskeletons of crustaceans – crabs, shrimp, lobsters – as well as in insect shells and fungal cell walls.

Here's where it gets interesting: the seafood industry generates millions of tons of shell waste annually. Instead of letting this valuable resource go to landfills, we've found a way to transform it into high-performance technical fibers.

Pioneering the Future: HERE's Unique Position

What makes our approach truly special? We're among the very few companies currently utilizing chitosan fiber technology in the technical outdoor apparel sector. While the medical industry has embraced chitosan for years, the outdoor gear world has largely overlooked this incredible material.

This gives HERE a distinct advantage – we're not just following trends, we're creating them. By bringing proven medical-grade antimicrobial technology to outdoor apparel, we're offering performance benefits that simply aren't available elsewhere in the market.

The HERE Difference: Repurposing Waste into Wonder

At HERE, we don't just use chitosan – we repurpose it from shell waste, turning what would be environmental burden into technical excellence. This approach embodies our "raw, real, and rare" philosophy:

• Raw: Sourced directly from natural waste streams

• Real: Authentic performance without synthetic shortcuts

• Rare: Limited production using this innovative approach that few others have adopted

Our chitosan fibers are carefully processed and blended with bamboo lyocell to create our proprietary CORE base layer system. Every fiber is OEKO-TEX® certified, ensuring it's free from harmful substances while delivering uncompromising performance.

Beyond the Fiber: A Philosophy of Innovation

When we chose chitosan for our CORE layers, we weren't just selecting a material – we were making a statement about what technical apparel can be. In a world of synthetic solutions and chemical treatments, chitosan proves that nature often provides the most elegant answers to performance challenges.

By bridging the gap between medical innovation and outdoor performance, we're creating gear that works on a molecular level to keep you comfortable and protected.

Whether you're hiking through alpine terrain, adventure riding across continents, or sailing in challenging conditions, chitosan works silently in the background, keeping you comfortable and protected without you ever having to think about it.

That's the beauty of true innovation – it just works.

Ready to experience the power of chitosan? Explore our CORE base layer collection, engineered in Europe and designed to move with you through every adventure.