The awards recognize new and groundbreaking technologies used in winter apparel, outdoor and sports products and materials

Acteev Protect was chosen out of a record number of submissions for its performance across four criteria – Spark: concept, design, appeal; Desire: opportunity, differentiation; Function: innovation, functionality, insight; and Impact: cultural, environmental, business.

Nikki Huffman, the principal business development leader for the Acteev™ textile group, accepted the award at a virtual ceremony held during the Outdoor Retailer Winter Online tradeshow.

“We are honored to be in the company of so many talented innovators,” Huffman said. “We envision an Acteev world with Ascend working together with other manufacturers and innovators to create products in a wide range of applications, ranging from sheets and pillowcases to scrubs and hospital gowns, athleisure wear and even socks, swimwear and intimate apparel.” 

Acteev is made with a patent-pending technology that embeds zinc ions in a polymer to create long-lasting antimicrobial properties. The result is a fabric that destroys odor-causing bacteria and fungi. Acteev yarns and fabrics are abrasion-resistant, soft and durable. And because the zinc ions are embedded during the polymerization process, knit and woven articles made with Acteev retain their antimicrobial efficacy for up to 50 washes.