Industrial Summit Technology (I.S.T), a Japanese materials company, will launch a new high-tech fiber at the next edition of Ispo Munich in January. The new Imidetex material is based on Polyimide, a high-performance polymer widely used in the aerospace industry, and boasts a tensile strength equivalent to Kevlar. According to I.S.T, Imidetex, which took five years to develop, also offers superior performance in UV resistance, water absorption and resistance to extreme temperatures. Specifically developed for outdoor sports, the new fiber has been designed to be integrated into different kinds of ropes used in mountaineering, paragliding and sailing. Created in 1983, I.S.T Corporation is an R&D-centered company that, beyond the textile industry, is also developing material and technologies for sectors such as electronics, printing and aerospace. For sports apparel applications, the Tokyo-based company previously launched Karl Karl, a patented yarn-spinning technology said to achieve excellent results in both lightness and warmth. The yarns have already been integrated in Patagonia’s Capilene Air base layer, which won an Ispo Gold Award in 2018. New additions to the Karl Karl line will also be presented at the next Ispo Munich, including recycled polyester yarns designed to give the look and feel of wool, and a yarn mimicking fox fur.