Lumen Activewear Portugal: Wind-Resistant Running Jackets Built on High-Coverage Double Knit

Lumen Activewear is a growing Portugal-based activewear label whose wind-resistant running jackets range now anchors its seasonal offer. When the design team planned a wider range with tighter launch dates, it needed a fabric partner able to guarantee construction consistency, documented performance and shade continuity across every production lot.

Lumen Activewear: reviewing the fabric swatch set for the wind-resistant running jackets programme

The challenge

The main risk in the project was inconsistent stretch recovery in waistbands. The previous supply chain ran through a trading intermediary, so there was little visibility of the mill, no construction sheet and no test evidence behind the performance claims. Without that documentation the brand could not brief its retail partners with confidence.

The solution

We proposed a dedicated high-coverage double knit programme built around core-spun yarn and calibrated heat setting for recovery. Development started with A4 lab dips and a full construction sheet covering fibre content, GSM, width, stretch and recovery, and colour fastness. Only after the brand approved hand feel and performance targets did the project move to a pre-production lot for fit sampling.

Sample and fit approval for the high-coverage double knit construction

Implementation

• Development: lab dips and physical samples in 5 working days.
• Approval: colour, hand feel and stretch signed off in two rounds.
• Bulk: consolidated dye lots to hold shade continuity.
• QC: inline inspection plus final random inspection before packing.
• Testing: ASTM D2594 stretch and recovery on every bulk lot.

Specification delivered

Results

The new high-coverage double knit programme helped Lumen Activewear secured a two-year supply agreement with fixed pricing. The wind-resistant running jackets line launched on schedule, and wash durability, opacity and fit consistency all held up through the first retail season. The brand has since extended the programme into additional colours and styles.

“The development process was transparent from the first sample. We finally had the data we needed to brief our retail partners with confidence.” — Lumen Activewear Product Team

Inline inspection and packing before the wind-resistant running jackets shipment

Key takeaway

Moving from a trading model to mill-direct development removed the hidden risks in the supply chain. With documented construction, controlled shade management and inline quality control, Lumen Activewear could concentrate on design and marketing instead of firefighting production issues.