Stone Island developed a fabric that sandwiches an aluminum foil sheet between two layers of cotton poplin. This utilizes the metal’s heat-trapping properties and creates a water-resistant layer while maintaining the look and feel of a cotton jacket.
The only visual sign of the aluminum is a slight sheen to the fabric, which Stone Island played into by adding reflective tape to the inside of the cuff and waistline.
The Marina Aluminium Tela Parka is another impressive feat from Stone Island’s research and development department. It uses a common, cheap and harmless material to replicate the performance of GORTEX and other chemical DWR treatments. Most important of all, it looks great.
Availability and pricing
The Stone Island Marina Aluminium Tela Parka is available now from Stone Island for $1,305. A navy blue version is also available from British retailer End.
Looking at Stone Island’s history, this could be the only time that this aluminum-cotton fabric is used. Hopefully, the jacket will be a success, and the textile will be developed further as a more sustainable alternative to DWR chemical treatments.