Mission

The great outdoors calls to us.

To brave the elements, we bring the warmth with us.

In order to keep your body dry, while enjoying the outdoor, your jacket/trousers/shoes probably contain a so-called "functional membrane". This membrane should stop water from entering but should also permit the sweat to evaporate. Unfortunately, most outerwear contains warming substances that are detrimental to the environment. Wear and tear, as well as regular washing, release non-degradable carcinogenic toxins, as well as microplastics, into the atmosphere and the oceans. In fact, those waterproof and breathable membranes are very often made from a fluorine-containing polymer, which also contains very toxic chemicals, called PFCs. The Detox Campaign from Greenpeace brought to light the effect of those PFCs in the nature (http://detox-outdoor.org/en/campaign/)  and is also what motivated us to find an alternative.

Now, an innovation is here to change all that, taking a cue from nature itself: Sane Membrane. This non-toxic alternative is mineral-based, fluorine-free, and has the option to be biodegradable. And it keeps clothes warm and dry just as effectively as its substitutes.

Technology

dimpora's sane membrane is the result of 5 years of high tech research in Switzerland and is now being brought to the next level.

The technology involves the use of a sacrificial template that is mixed within the polymer to take up a certain volume. Once dry, this mineral-based template is removed from the membrane, leaving behind interconnected voids, thus forming the porous system, which body needs to breathe!

How is it done?

We take a polymer. We started with a tradtional material (PU, polyurethane) to show that we can do it. We will use biosourced, biodegradable and recycleable options for further generations. The process is open to change, so are we.

We take the mineral based template, rocks basically.

We mix them. This is key and we do it properly!

Produce a Membrane. This is done on a machine, spreading it by hand does not afford the regularity we want!

We release the rocks and create the pores:

...and we are done with a waterproof and breathable membrane for your outdoor pleasures.

Thanks to the liquid state of the membrane precursor, it can be seamlessly added to any garment, in the form of a micro-thin layer that shields against rain, snow, and other forces of nature...the sustainable way.

In other words, defense against chill, wind, and rain, can be as natural as Mother Nature herself.

Protect yourself. Protect the planet.

Mario, CEO

Mario is a Swiss chemical engineer on paper but a business man in his heart (a good one, promise!). During his master thesis and PhD, he followed his dream of bringing a fluorine-free functional membrane to the market after the Greenpeace detox campaign put the spotlight on the PFCs, that are used in conventional waterproofing equipment. With new polymer options he will add circularity to the membrane world! He is passionate about fishing, skiing and spends most of his free time in the mountains.

Anna, CTO

Anna also comes from Switzerland and is a chemical engineer with a strong connection to science and has a real passion for Research & Development. She was always very involved in sustainability in her research as her PhD involved the development of new polymeric materials for CO2-capture and microplastics tracing. dimpora membranes will not leave a trace. As an avid skier and hiker, Anna is also very motivated to wear products that will not harm the very nature she enjoys.

Together, dimpora

After studying together at ETH Zurich, Mario and Anna discovered the joy & challenges that comes with bringing your idea to life. The two are highly motivated to continue this journey towards a more transparent and eco-friendly product for the textile world together.

With the money raised, we will focus on our biodegradable membrane to  avoid any unecessary plastic waste on our planet. This means that we still need a little bit of research and then most importantly, scale-up our technology and bring it to market!

We gathered a few amazing and very personal perks. We hope you will enjoy them too and help us achieve our goal.

The rewards:

1. Support our cause with 25€ Donation and we (Anna & Mario) will make a thank you video from the Swiss Alps naming all of you directly. (Let us know if you don't want your name to show up)

2. A high quality sustainable cotton shopping bag 40€ with dimpora logo on it. Cut back unnecessary plastic by taking your tote bag with you every day! It does not contain any membrane.

3. A merino cap made in Switzerland for 90€ with dimpora logo on it. It will keep you warm wherever you need it. It does not contain any membrane.

4. Meet the team 300€. Come see us in our labs in Zurich Switzerland. See how we work and get insights on the next big challenges in the materials side of the textile industry.

5. dimpora's first and second generation jacket 600€. Be the first to get a jacket with our Polyurethane (PU)-based membrane inside. The membrane is fluorine-free, highly breathable with very good waterproofing properties. The design of the jacket will be provided by Rotauf, a sustainable partner brand from Switzerland. You will be the first to get your hands on the dimpora PU membrane and test the jackets with and for us. Try it in all your adventures for 12 months or less and if you return it with your personal feedback, we will send you a second generation jacket (optimized). The second generation jacket could not have the exact same design.
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7. Travel to the Swiss alps with us 2500€. This limited perk involves a full weekend in the alps with us. Depending on the season we can go for example hiking, biking, skiing, fishing... We will take care of the place, food as well as accommodation. This does not involve the transportation costs but we are happy to pick you up at the airport, if this is convenient, as we travel together to the mountains. We can show you the beauty of our homeland and you can enjoy a real Swiss experience.

Thank you!!!!

For more questions reach out to us: www.dimpora.com

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