Australian business Kangarama has unveiled its new anti-bacterial and anti-viral fabric.
The Sydney-based team of five has brought new innovation to medical scrubs, revolutionising them with 'Arma' quaternary ammonium silane technology, which inhibits the growth of viruses and bacteria.
Recognising the wariness around garments that claim to be anti-bacterial, Kangarama ensured it could make the claim by rigorously testing the scrubs to meet the ISO anti-viral and anti-bacterial standards.
Additionally, the scrubs have been tested to ISO standards for skin irritation and cytotoxicity, with the results showing that there are no side effects of the garment's fabric, allowing it to be worn daily.
The scrubs have also been entered into the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods with the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Kangarama founder Parry Laxman told Ragtrader that COVID confirmed the need for this type of garment.
"The technology has been in the works for over 12 months.
"But COVID made it clear that this technology was needed in the healthcare industry," he said.
Kangarama's scrubs also work to support the local manufacturing industry, with the scrubs manufactured onshore in Sydney.
The scrubs also deliver on sustainability concerns, with the garments made from 48% recycled post-consumer water bottles, of which the yarn has been certified.
The business also uses Oeko-Tex certified environmentally friendly dyes, while its packaging is also compostable.
While initially launching for the healthcare and medical industries, Laxman added that the business will look to expand into other industries such as childcare.
"Our application is not just limited to healthcare but other industries, which we are working on.
"We have learnt so much from testing standards, chemical balancing, bacterias, and viruses," he continued.
"We faced many challenges however the biggest challenge was perfecting the construction and chemical application.
"The process took a lot of research and development but we finally got the green light," he said.
Kangarama's scrubs are available now from its website.