Ortovox will launch its first mountain biking collection in summer 2026, built on 100% textile-to-textile recycled polyester and treated with Microban International's Scentry Revive odour-capture technology at the fabric stage.

The move marks a strategic departure for the Taufkirchen-based brand, founded in 1980, which has built its technical apparel business around wool and its performance properties across ski touring, freeriding, alpine climbing and high-alpine activities. The new Sequence Series shifts the material base to synthetic fibre — and with it, a new set of formulation and compliance decisions.

Why does recycled polyester need odour treatment?

Synthetic fibres in high-intensity sportswear retain sweat-related odours, a known durability-of-wear limitation for rPET garments intended for prolonged trail riding. Ortovox has addressed this by incorporating Scentry Revive directly into the fabric during manufacture rather than applying it as a finish.

The mechanism matters for sourcing teams weighing chemical-management obligations. Scentry Revive does not rely on antimicrobial action; instead it captures and neutralises odour molecules before they become established in the fabric. Because it is not a biocide, the technology does not require biocidal registration — a meaningful simplification for suppliers shipping into regulated markets such as the EU under the Biocidal Products Regulation.

Microban says the technology's effectiveness is retained for up to 50 domestic washes. That claim sits within the company's stated performance parameters; buyers will want to test it against their own wear-and-wash protocols for high-exertion categories.

What certifications are in place?

Scentry Revive carries two established textile chemistry credentials:

• Eco Passport by Oeko-Tex
• bluesign certification

Both are relevant to brands operating restricted substance lists and bluesign system partnerships, and both should ease integration into existing compliance frameworks without additional testing milestones.

What does this signal for garment life and positioning?

For Ortovox, the combination of textile-to-textile recycled polyester with in-fabric odour control offers a route to meet the performance requirements of long-duration trail riding while maintaining a recycled-content story.

There is also a potential circularity angle. Reducing persistent odours can reduce wash frequency, which in turn can extend garment life — a claim consistent with broader durability positioning, though the source frames it as potential rather than measured outcome.

Who is Microban?

Microban International, headquartered in North Carolina, supplies antimicrobial and odour-control technologies across consumer, textile, industrial and medical applications. Its pairing with Ortovox on a fully recycled polyester platform points to how odour management is being engineered into base fabrics rather than added downstream as a marketing finish.

For sourcing and product-development leads, the Sequence Series is a case study in reconciling recycled inputs with the functional expectations of high-intensity sportswear — and in choosing a non-biocidal route that trims regulatory overhead. Whether the 50-wash odour performance holds in real trail conditions will become clearer once the range reaches retail in summer 2026.