Pertex

What Pertex does

Pertex is a B2B technical fabric manufacturer founded in 1979 by Hamish Hamilton, originally emerging from The Perseverance Mill Company Ltd.'s specialist nylon weaving heritage in Lancashire, UK. The company designs and supplies high-performance woven fabrics — including waterproof-breathable, windproof, ultralight, and downproof constructions — to outdoor apparel and equipment brands that incorporate them into jackets, sleeping bags, wind shells, and (more recently) backpacks. Its portfolio is organized around two product families (Quantum, in downproof/insulated-shell variants; Shield, in waterproof-breathable variants) plus the Equilibrium double-weave, supplemented by six proprietary technologies: Diamond Fuse and Y Fuse shaped-filament yarns, Endurance non-PFAS silicone finish, Revolve mono-material recycled-polyester, and NetPlus recycled fishing-net nylon.

Underlying technology combines tightly woven synthetic constructions with proprietary yarn geometries, electrospun nanofibre and microporous membranes, and integrated finishes. Notable components include electrospun nanofibre webs (Shield Air), microporous membranes (Shield Pro), shaped rhomboid and Y-form filaments that interlock into stable yarn structures, and a patented double-weave with differential density for capillary moisture transport (Equilibrium). Pertex holds registered trademarks for Pertex®, NetPlus®, and Equilibrium.

Pertex operates a B2B/embedded-licensing model, selling fabric to and co-developing with partner brands such as Rab, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Mammut, Haglöfs, Montane, La Sportiva, Peak Performance, MAAP, ThruDark, Goldwin, and Yamatomichi, with distribution and supplier access provided by its parent, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (acquired Pertex in 2002). The registered operating entity is MN Inter-Fashion Ltd. in Tokyo. Revenue is generated through one-time fabric sales to brands and brand-licensing royalties; pricing is not publicly disclosed and quotes are routed through the Pertex Brand Portal. Headcount is in the 11–50 range.

Name

Pertex

Legal name

MN Inter-Fashion Ltd.

Website

https://pertex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pertex is a B2B technical fabric manufacturer founded in 1979, supplying high-performance waterproof, breathable, ultralight, and downproof fabrics — plus proprietary yarn and finish technologies — to outdoor apparel and equipment brands such as Rab, Patagonia, Mammut, and Mountain Hardwear.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performance Outdoor Textiles

NAICS

Broadwoven Fabric Mills (31321), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133)

SIC

Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coated, Laminated & Membrane Fabrics (CRAAAMAF), Greige Woven Fabric Mills (IMAOABAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor performance fabrics
• Technical woven textiles
• Waterproof breathable fabrics
• Ultralight shell fabrics
• Recycled nylon materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fabric Sales to Apparel Brands: Pertex sells high-performance technical fabrics to outdoor apparel and equipment brands who incorporate them into their products such as jackets, sleeping bags, and wind shells.
2. Brand Licensing: Pertex licenses its fabric technologies and brand to partner brands. Partners access the Pertex Brand Portal for assets and technical specifications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pertex manufactures and supplies high-performance woven technical fabrics for outdoor apparel and equipment, including ultralight downproof shell fabrics (Quantum line), waterproof breathable membrane systems (Shield line), and the Equilibrium double-weave fabric. The fabrics are sold to outdoor apparel and equipment brands that incorporate them into finished products such as insulated jackets, sleeping bags, wind shells, waterproof shells, and backpacks. Complementing the fabrics are proprietary technologies (Diamond Fuse, Y Fuse, Endurance, Revolve, NetPlus) licensed to brand partners.

Product overview

Pertex is a high-performance technical fabric company founded in 1979, weaving performance fabrics for outdoor people. Its product portfolio consists of two main fabric lines — Quantum (ultralight downproof shell fabrics for insulated apparel) and Shield (waterproof breathable membrane systems) — each available in multiple variants (standard, Air, and Pro) serving different activity levels and conditions. Complementing these are six proprietary technologies: Diamond Fuse and Y Fuse (shaped filament yarn technologies that enhance durability and downproofing), Endurance (non-PFAS water repellent finish), Revolve (mono-material recycled polyester for circularity), and NetPlus (100% post-consumer recycled nylon from fishing nets). Pertex's fabrics are used by partner brands including Rab, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Mammut, Arc'teryx, and others in end products such as down jackets, sleeping bags, wind shells, waterproof shells, and backpacks. The company operates as a materials supplier to outdoor apparel brands rather than as a consumer product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pertex Quantum Ultralight downproof fabric precisely constructed from incredibly fine yarns with a tightly woven structure that traps still air to improve insulation efficiency, finished with a durable water repellent (DWR) for shedding light rain and snow. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for use in ultralight, packable down jackets and sleeping bags intended for cold-condition static activities.
• Pertex Quantum Air Superlight fabric engineered with a precise balance of air permeability and wind resistance, water resistant and soft, suitable as a stand-alone wind shell or as a shell fabric for insulated garments providing thermal comfort throughout intense activity. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for active insulation layers and wind shells.
• Pertex Quantum Pro Combines a tightly woven face fabric with a microporous coating to deliver high water resistance while remaining lightweight, soft and breathable. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for static and dynamic activities in very cold conditions, including expedition down apparel and equipment.
• Pertex Shield Waterproof breathable fabric system comprising woven face fabric, membrane, and optional backer in 2-layer, 2.5-layer, and 3-layer constructions providing waterproof, windproof, lightweight, soft and packable protection. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for intense pursuits in challenging conditions.
• Pertex Shield Air Features a precisely engineered electrospun nanofibre membrane with an open network of interconnected pores, providing durably waterproof, air permeable, and breathable protection with effective wind resistance. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for high-intensity activities in challenging, unpredictable environments.
• Pertex Shield Pro Uses an advanced microporous membrane with an engineered microporous structure providing excellent barrier properties and significant moisture vapour transmission for durable, reliable waterproof protection. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for the most challenging conditions where waterproofness, breathability and durability are the priority.
• Pertex Equilibrium Double-weave construction with a tightly woven outer face for protection and a more openly woven inner face that transports moisture away from the body, offering a soft, light hand feel, next-to-skin comfort, and fast drying. Sold to outdoor apparel brands for dynamic activities in a wide range of conditions.
• Pertex Diamond Fuse Technology Shaped filament technology using uniquely engineered rhomboid-form filaments that interlock to create highly stable and durable yarn structures, providing significantly increased durability, snag and abrasion resistance, superior water shedding, and enhanced stability over extended wash and wear cycles. Licensed/integrated into fabrics sold to outdoor apparel brands.
• Pertex Y Fuse Technology Shaped filament technology using uniquely engineered Y-form filaments that tightly interlock in layers to create a unified yarn structure, providing excellent downproof properties, stable low air permeability, superior water shedding, increased stability and a unique technical sheen. Licensed/integrated into fabrics sold to outdoor apparel brands.
• Pertex Endurance Technology Non-PFAS, silicone-based application that wraps individual fibres to form an extremely water repellent barrier, integrated with the fabric rather than applied as a surface finish so it is not easily worn or washed off. Applied to fabrics sold to outdoor apparel brands seeking PFAS-free water repellency.
• Pertex Revolve Technology Mono-material fabrics composed entirely of recycled polyester, designed to be efficiently returned to their original raw materials at end of life, enabling a shift from linear to circular production systems. Sold to outdoor apparel brands targeting circular-design and sustainability commitments.
• Pertex NetPlus Pertex fabrics made from NetPlus material — 100% post-consumer recycled nylon sourced from discarded fishing nets collected by partner Bureo. Prevents the most harmful form of ocean plastic pollution and reduces the need to extract fossil fuels. Sold to outdoor apparel brands targeting recycled-content and ocean plastic reduction targets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fabrics remain stable over 3000+ rub cycles with Diamond Fuse technology compared to 1500 rub cycles with conventional yarn.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peak PerformancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Peak Performance collaborated with Pertex on the R&D Helium Loop Anorak, a groundbreaking circular design concept using 20D Pertex Quantum made from NetPlus recycled fishing nets. The project won an ISPO Award and demonstrates how down-insulated garments can be designed for circularity using Resortecs' Smart Stitch heat-dissolvable sewing thread for easy materials separation.
• AmbercyclecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Pertex entered partnership with Ambercycle, a chemical recycling company, to develop fabrics using their Cycora material. The Ambercycle ecosystem enables consolidation, regeneration, and reintegration of end-of-life textiles back into supply chains, reducing extraction of finite resources.
• European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)minorOthers · 1 January 2014Pertex is a founding 'Sustaining Member' of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), supporting outdoor conservation initiatives since 2014.
• YamatomichicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Yamatomichi is a Japanese ultralight hiking brand founded by Akira Natsume in 2011. Pertex collaborated with Yamatomichi to develop custom fabrics including Pertex 07RS-PC and 21RS-PC for backpacks. The partnership combines Yamatomichi's minimalist ultralight design philosophy with Pertex's technical fabric expertise to create unique products including all-weather jackets, pants, and ultralight backpacks using custom-woven Pertex nylon.
• BureocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPertex partners with Bureo to develop the NetPlus collection, material made from 100% post-consumer recycled fishing nets. Bureo works directly with fishing communities in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico to collect discarded fishing net waste. NetPlus prevents harmful plastic pollution from entering oceans and reduces need for fossil fuel extraction. Pertex also partners with Bureo for community fund initiatives supporting local social needs.
• Mountain HardwearcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Hardwear uses Pertex Quantum Pro with Diamond Fuse technology in the Absolute Zero Down Suit and other products. Ben Guthrie, MHW Equipment & Accessories Design Director, stated: 'Their unique yarns and weaving capabilities are as good as it gets, and we've formed a great collaborative relationship, developing and innovating products together.'

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sympatex Technologies: German manufacturer of waterproof-breathable membranes and laminates (Sympatex membrane) for outdoor apparel, footwear and technical applications. Competes head-to-head with Pertex Shield in the partner-supplied waterproof-breathable category.
• Pil Membranes (eVent): Manufacturer of eVent waterproof-breathable membranes sold to outdoor apparel and footwear brands. Direct competitor in the partner-supplied waterproof-breathable fabric category with comparable membrane technology approach to Pertex Shield/Shield Pro.
• Polartec: US-based B2B manufacturer of performance knit and woven fabrics (fleece, Alpha, Power Shield, NeoShell) for outdoor and active apparel brands. Directly comparable B2B technical fabric supplier selling embedded fabric technologies to the same partner brand customers as Pertex.
• Teijin Frontier: Japanese technical textile subsidiary of Teijin Group producing performance fabrics for outdoor and sportswear end-uses. Similar positioning to Pertex as a Japanese-rooted B2B technical fabric supplier with overlapping customer types in outdoor apparel.
• Schoeller Textil: Swiss manufacturer of high-performance technical textiles (Schoeller Dryskin, WB-400, 3XDry) sold B2B to outdoor and sportswear brands. Closely analogous in business model, customer base and technology positioning to Pertex's woven technical fabric portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Toray Industries: Japanese diversified materials conglomerate with a substantial technical textile business (Entrant, Dermizax, Airtastic) supplying outdoor and sportswear brands. Competes with Pertex from a larger corporate base and is particularly relevant given Pertex's Japanese ownership and supplier network.
• W. L. Gore & Associates: Manufacturer of GORE-TEX waterproof-breathable membranes and laminates for outdoor, military and industrial applications. The dominant incumbent in the same waterproof-breathable fabric category that Pertex competes in, but with substantially larger scale, R&D resources and consumer brand equity.
• 3M: Diversified materials and consumer goods conglomerate producing Thinsulate insulation and various technical fabric constructions. Adjacent incumbent with broad portfolio — competes with Pertex in certain insulation-adjacent and technical fabric niches across outdoor apparel.

Others

• Primaloft: Manufacturer of PrimaLoft synthetic insulation used inside jackets and sleeping bags — frequently paired with Pertex face fabrics in partner products. Ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor; complementary input into the same end-products.
• Cordura (INVISTA): INVISTA-owned brand of high-durability nylon fabrics widely used in outdoor packs, footwear and reinforcement applications. Adjacent rather than direct competition — overlaps with Pertex in technical nylon fabrics for backpacks and outerwear reinforcements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_pertex
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgJfswDYXsARHUL4zFhTuxQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pertex
• Instagraminstagram.com/pertexfabric
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pertex

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pertex