Developing Smart Fabrics to Protect Animals and the Environment A Windbreaker Transforms into a Padded Jacket with a Puff of Air "Let's Stop Animal Cruelty for Fashion"… The Persistence of a Young Entrepreneur Bears Fruit Collaborations with Luxury Brands… Development of Heat-Generating Fabrics and Color-Changing Yarns
● 'Air Smart Fabric' that Softly Embraces Air
As always, the process of turning an idea into a product is not easy. To combine a hood and a neck pillow, a fabric was needed that felt as soft as cloth while not allowing air to escape. He tried all sorts of materials, such as making neck pillows from cheering sticks. He visited dozens of factories requesting prototype production, only to be met with cold stares and rejections. The turning point came at a factory in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. Perhaps feeling sorry for the young man who kept visiting, the head of the factory, who was coating rice sacks, reluctantly said, "I'll give it a try." This was the moment that changed CEO Lee's life path. He managed to achieve the soft texture that couldn't be realized with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials by precisely coating polyurethane (PU).
● A Fashion Tech Startup Eliminating Animal Cruelty
In 2017, the corporation was established. The name Coversome is a phonetic Korean rendering of 'cover someone,' meaning to cover someone, embodying the intention to protect everyone with desirable materials.
Eight years after the corporation was established, the small dream that began in a 2-pyeong basement has grown into a company with about 20 doctoral-level researchers aiming for KRW 10 billion in sales. Coversome has established itself as a fashion tech company with three core technologies: Air Smart Fabric, Heat Generating Smart Fabric, and UV Color Change Yarn.
The most notable is the Air Smart Fabric, which uses air charging technology (Air Tech) to replace animal fur. CEO Lee stated, "Test results from an accredited testing agency proved that it retains over 90% of the warmth of premium goose down fillers." The vision of blocking heat in an eco-friendly way and protecting the body from external shocks is gradually being realized. Global luxury brands, as well as famous domestic clothing brands, are utilizing Coversome's Air Smart Fabric.
The wireless heat-generating fabric technology has completely changed the paradigm of existing heat-generating clothing. By perfectly fusing a thin copper film inside the fabric, they developed a washable heat-generating fabric that was not available before. Through conductive buttons, the current from the battery is supplied into the fabric. CEO Lee said, "With the coating technology that prevents even air from escaping, moisture and water cannot pass through, making washing possible." The heat-generating fabric heats up in 4-5 seconds and can be widely used in casual clothing, shoes, gloves, and scarves in winter. There are plans to apply it to military clothing. Coversome collaborated with outdoor specialist brand Treksta to create heating boots using the heat-generating fabric.
The UV Color Change Yarn undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to ultraviolet rays, changing color, and returns to its original color when the UV rays disappear. CEO Lee stated, "Since the color change is due to the internal and external structure of the yarn itself, not a coating method, the color change function is maintained even under physical pressure like washing," adding, "The color change restoration has been confirmed over 100,000 times." It is expected to be applied to children's clothing, sports goods, military supplies, and life safety products.
The business model is also systematically structured. In the B2B business, the 'CVSM' brand supplies various components made from advanced materials. Famous domestic and international brands such as Descente, K2, PAF, GAP, and Musinsa are launching products equipped with Coversome's technology. Simultaneously, in the B2C business, they are showcasing finished products under their own brand 'keek,' checking consumer responses.
Currently, Coversome has secured a total of 203 intellectual property rights, including 32 domestic and international patents. Additionally, they are constructing a 150-pyeong smart factory at their Seongsu-dong headquarters, with plans to complete it within the year.
● The Cycle of 'Starting and Selling, Then Starting Again'
CEO Lee had a clear dream from elementary school to "join the Marine Corps and start a business." Indeed, after completing his service in the Marine Corps, he registered as a business owner 13 times in his 20s, challenging himself to start a business seven times.
He said, "Whenever an idea comes to mind, whether it's a drill cover, selfie stick case, height-adjustable desk, or wheelchair, I make a prototype without hesitation." Among his ideas is an air cushion case with a built-in auxiliary battery. It is a product that incorporates a battery into women's cosmetic cases. He invested KRW 40 million over six months to create a prototype and achieved a result by selling the technology for KRW 250 million. Perhaps due to his major in industrial design at university, the design thinking of creating prototypes from ideas and making repeated improvements seemed ingrained in him.
However, the process of these efforts was not always smooth. There was an incident where the idea for a selfie stick case, which was presented to receive government support funds, was leaked, and another company launched it first. CEO Lee said, "When I went to the manufacturing plant, my presentation materials were on the factory desk. I painfully realized the importance of patents and intellectual property protection."
What is remarkable is his persistence and passion. He once flew alone to a remote area in Guangdong Province, China, and stayed for a month to persuade a factory owner to complete the technology. However, excessive passion came at a cost. He confessed, "I enjoyed work so much that I only slept 2-3 hours a day, which led to nerve compression from overwork, temporarily paralyzing my right arm."
● Dreaming of World-Renowned Brands like Gore-Tex and Nike
Having started a business in his 20s, his sights are set on the global stage. In the United States, they are supplying materials to global brands like GAP in collaboration with Yakjin Trading. In China, positive consumer responses were obtained by posting keek products on the social commerce platform Xiaohongshu.
In the field of textile fabrics, there are hardly any companies like Coversome that produce unique materials based on technology. Therefore, whenever they participate in international exhibitions, they always attract a crowd of visitors. He said, "At the Premiere Vision Paris exhibition in February this year, humanoid robot companies from Germany and the United States visited us. They suggested protecting robots with our technology that can protect the body with air, as repairing damage or malfunction from falls can be costly." He added, "Humanoid robots will wear Coversome's clothes." He continued, "I want to grow into a brand like Gore-Tex or Nike as a Korean company by expanding eco-friendly technology that does not use animal fur." Throughout the interview, he continuously presented various commercialization items, showing a determination that seemed capable of achieving successful results in any business.
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
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