Toray Industries claims to have developed a fabric, called Makspec V, that retains both its antiviral properties and its softness with repeated washing. According to the Japanese multinational, the chief problem was fixing the antiviral agent in a manner that would last and keep the fabric comfortable. Cotton blends aid in fixation but are hard to maintain, lose their stretch and lack the sweat wicking of synthetics. Fixation with polyesters, meanwhile, requires adhesives, which harden with washing. Toray says it solved the problem with a proprietary fixation technique for polyester fibers. The resulting fabric, says the company, will retain both its softness and its color. Makspec V has been certified as an Antiviral Finished Textile Product by the SEK Mark program of the Japan Textile Evaluation Technology Council. Toray plans to commercialize the fabric in January 2021 for use in services, medicine, uniforms and sportswear as well as casual and fashion apparel. It hopes to be selling an annual 300,000 square meters by 2022 and one million square meters by 2025. It cautions, however, that that fabric is not suitable for face masks, for other items worn close to the mouth or nostrils or for items intended for children 24 months old or younger.

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