Faster, Higher, Stronger: The Materials of Sport
A New Exhibition on Innovation in the Sports Arena
New York, NY (July 26th, 2012) – A new exhibition that showcases the latest material innovation and trends in the sports realm is set to open in New York at Material ConneXion, the global materials consultancy. The design and materials used in sports equipment used to be driven primarily by concerns about safety and comfort. Performance, however, is where we see material innovation and design making a real difference, particularly in sports that incorporate equipment or specialized apparel. "From cycling helmets to swimsuits, an improved aerodynamic profile can provide the edge in competitions where the difference between winning medals and going home empty-handed is often measured in hundredths of seconds or fractions of centimeters," said Dr. Andrew Dent, Vice President of Materials Research at Material ConneXion.
Whether it’s polyurethane, first discovered in a German laboratory seventy-five years ago, or the carbon fiber that’s helped transform Paralympic sports, the evolution of sports materials is fueled by scientific discovery; these materials are enabling athletes to optimize their ability and improve their performance. The competition between major brands is also heating up. In London today, Adidas launched Adizero Primeknit shoes, seamless, one-piece running shoes that are clearly designed to go toe-to-toe against Nike's Flyknit. Let the Games begin and may the best win!
Material ConneXion is the world's largest material's library with almost 7,000 materials available to designers, creatives and engineers in nine locations around the world. The company has worked with many of the leading apparel and sporting brands, and this exhibit includes some of the best-in-class examples from Speedo, Nike, Hermès, Puma, Zai Skis, New Era, Vibram and many others. Several of the pieces (such as the hyper-reflective Nike jacket which the company designed with artist Marcus Gaab) included will be in action at the Olympic Games in London and they will be on show at Material ConneXion from July 31st through the 28th September. The exhibit is open to the public Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm, and by appointment for group visits.
For additional information on Faster, Higher, Stronger: The Materials of Sport, please contact:
Susan Towers, VP Marketing and Communications
stowers@materialconnexion.com / (+1) 212-842-1509 or cell 917-405-6563
Gabriella Vivaldi, Marketing and Communications Manager
gvivaldi@materialconnexion.com / (+1) 212-842-1679
About Material ConneXion:
Material ConneXion (a Sandow company) is a global materials and innovation consultancy that helps companies create the products and services of tomorrow through smart materials and design thinking. Focused on delivering Innovation That Matters, Material ConneXion is the trusted advisor to Fortune 500s, and any forward-thinking company or government agency seeking a creative, competitive, or sustainable edge. With offices in New York, Milan, Cologne, Bangkok, Seoul, Daegu, Istanbul, Beijing and Shanghai, Material ConneXion's international network of specialists provides a global, cross-industry perspective on materials, design, new product development, sustainability and innovation. Material ConneXion maintains the world’s largest subscription-based Materials Library of almost 7,000 innovative materials and processes—an indispensable asset to a wide audience of users. Its sister company, Culture & Commerce, represents the world’s leading designers including Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders, in licensing their groundbreaking new products. For more information, visit www.materialconnexion.com.
About Sandow:
Founded by Adam I. Sandow in 2002, Sandow (sandow.com) is a leader in building multichannel vertically integrated brands from inception to execution in both the physical and digital realms. Sandow's flagship brands include the powerhouse beauty brand NewBeauty; Worth, the business and finance magazine for the ultra-affluent; Luxe Interiors + Design, the nation's largest network of luxury design magazines; Interior Design, the iconic publication serving the interior design industry; Surface magazine, the American voice of the contemporary luxury design world; and Furniture Today's group of publications. In China the company publishes Surface Magazine, Furniture Today and Luxe China. Sandow has more than 400 employees with offices in New York, Florida, Los Angeles and North Carolina.
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