FAQ

What is "EVA"?

Expanded Vinyl Acetate
EVA is the shock-absorbent foam in the midsole of many athletic, trail running & hiking shoes. EVA is used for its cushioning qualities since it is lighter and softer than the other major midsole ingredient: Polyurethane, or PU. The unique qualities of this material work very well in luggage styling as it is flexible, light-weight and resists damage via its cushioning quality.

What are the different (common) types of fabric used on travelware?

Ballistic Nylon
Ballistic nylon is a thick, tough, synthetic nylon fabric. It can be woven from nylon yards of various denier such as 840 denier and 1680 denier. Denier refers to the weight, not the strength of the fabric.

Polyester
Man-made fiber produced by the polymerization of the product formed when an alcohol and organic acid and react. Polyester at 600 denier or higher comes in configurations of 1200, 1800, 2400 and etc.

Jute
A coarse, natural fiber, sometimes made from the tough, inner bark of Asian members of the basswood family.

What are the types of material used on hard sided luggage?

ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) – This material is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. Usual compositions are about half styrene with the balance divided between butadiene and acrylonitrile. Considerable variation is, of course, possible resulting in many different grades of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with a wide range of features and applications. In addition, many blends with other materials such as polyvinylchloride, polycarbonates and polysulfones have been developed. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene materials can be processed by any of the standard thermoplastic processing methods.

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate (PC) – This material is formed by a condensation polymerization resulting in a carbon that is bonded to three oxygens. The most common system for this polymerization is formed by a reaction of bisphenol A and phosgene. Applications of polycarbonate are almost always those which take advantage of its uniquely high impact strength and its exceptional clarity. These unique properties have resulted in applications such as bulletproof windows, break resistant lenses, compact discs, etc. More recently however, additional interest has resulted because of the low flammability of polycarbonate.

Polypropylene
Polypropylene (PP) – This polyolefin is readily formed by polymerizing propylene with suitable catalysts, generally aluminum alkyl and titanium tetrachloride. Polypropylene properties vary according to molecular weight, method of production, and the copolymers involved. Generally polypropylene has demonstrated certain advantages in improved strength, stiffness and higher temperature capability over polyethylene. Polypropylene has been very successfully applied to the forming of fibers due to its good specific strength which is why it is the single largest use of polypropylene. Polypropylene also happens to be one of the lightest plastics available with a density of 0.905 g/cm².

Aluminium
Aluminium is a relatively soft, durable, lightweight, ductile and malleable metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull gray, depending on the surface roughness. It is nonmagnetic, does not easily ignite and it is not soluble in water under normal circumstances.