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News-Releases Index | Optimer Performance Fibers
01/13/2010
drirelease® Wool Reaches New Heights as Part of Everest Expedition
Wilmington, DE, January 13, 2010  In spring of 2010, drirelease® Wool will play a critical role in 
helping the Expedition Champion® team summit Mt. Everest.  The team, led by international 
mountaineer Jamie Clarke, will be outfitted with custom-designed gear featuring a drirelease 
Wool insulating layer that includes long-sleeve tops and long pants.  Offering drying times that 
are 4 times faster than wool alone, as well as wicking, breathability, and FreshGuard® odor 
control—properties that will never wash or wear out—drirelease Wool will help keep the 
Expedition Champion climbers warm and comfortable as they undertake this phenomenal 
challenge.

“We are honored to have been selected by the Champion and Duofold brands as an integral part 
of their layering system for this amazing endeavor,” said Chris Moore, General Manager of 
Optimer Labs.  “We have conducted lab tests that confirm drirelease Wool’s ability to help the 
body thermo-regulate, and we are very excited to have our fabric’s superior performance proven 
under the harshest conditions mother nature can provide—Everest.   Keeping athletes 
comfortable is critical to allow them to safely reach peak performance, and we are thrilled that 
our products are playing a role in this achievement,” concluded Moore.

The insulating layer that will be worn by the Everest team is a heavier weight version of Duofold 
Varitherm® High Performance Wool base layer, which is commercially available and also features 
drirelease Wool with FreshGuard.  The garments that will be worn in the upcoming Everest 
expedition were used in a test climb of Mount Pumori in October of 2009.  Mike Abbott, Director 
of Research and Development for the Champion brand and part of the team that tested 
drirelease Wool said “the climb to Mount Pumori was the most rigorous, real-world test we could 
think of.”  When asked about his experiences during this adventure, he added “keeping the skin 
dry while staying warm and comfortable was critical to our performance, and the way drirelease® 
Wool performed for us, it solidified our decision to select it for our upcoming Mt. Everest 
expedition.”

To learn more about drirelease Wool, visit www.drirelease.com.  
To learn more about and follow the progress of Expedition Champion, visit 
http://www.climbeverestwithus.com.
Media Contact:
Ana Torres
Director of Marketing, Optimer Brands
1-312-878-0806

About Optimer Brands 
Optimer Brands, formerly known as Optimer Performance Fibers, a Sterling Capital Partners 
company, is based in Wilmington, DE. Founded in 2001, Optimer Brands conducts textile 
research, development and marketing and has a scientific staff credited with over 100 patents 
and developments. 
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drirelease® is a registered trademark of Optimer Brands. It is a patented, intimate blend of 
synthetic and natural fibers that combine wicking and quick drying attributes into a single fiber. 
Instead of spreading the moisture across a fabric’s surface, drirelease® actually pushes it to the 
outside of a garment, releasing water and perspiration faster than any other performance fabric 
on the market.   drirelease®  includes the added benefit of FreshGuard®, an odor neutralizer 
embedded in all drirelease®  fabrics that virtually eliminates odor without using harmful 
chemicals.  All drirelease®  attributes are inherent to our fibers, meaning they will not wear or 
wash out. For more information, visit http://www.drirelease.com. 
			
FreshGuard®  is a registered trademark of Optimer Brands. It is an odor neutralizer embedded in 
all drirelease®  fabrics. It eliminates odors in garments by blocking odor-causing sebaceous 
body oils from attaching to the fabric – also stopping the attraction of odor-causing bacteria. 
Not an anti-microbial or anti-bacterial, which attack bacteria that possess positive functions, 
FreshGuard®  is friendly to the environment.  For more information, visit 
http://www.drirelease.com.

About Champion®
Since 1919 Champion athleticwear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men 
and women including sport bras, activewear, team uniforms, sweats and accessories. Champion 
athleticwear can be purchased at most sporting goods and department stores. For more 
information please contact us at 1-800-999-2249 or visit www.championusa.com. Champion is 
a brand of Hanesbrands Inc.

About Hanesbrands Inc. 
Hanesbrands Inc. is a leading marketer of everyday apparel essentials under some of the world’s 
strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, JMS/Just My Size, barely 
there and Wonderbra.  The company sells T-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, children’s 
underwear, socks, hosiery, casualwear and activewear produced in the company’s low-cost 
global supply chain.  Hanesbrands has approximately 45,000 employees in more than 25 
countries.  More information about the company may be found on the Hanesbrands Internet Web 
site at www.hanesbrands.com.
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