Every APRÍ garment has anti-odour treatment built in. But not every APRÍ garment uses the same technology. There are two: APRÍshield™ and APRÍtech™. Here's what each one does, how they differ, and which products use which — so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy.
The short version
APRÍshield™ is used in lyocell and cotton products. APRÍtech™ is used in performance polyamide products — leggings, sports bras, and performance shorts. Both are free from silver, PFAS, and zinc. Both are plant-based or plant-derived. The difference is in the source material, the wash durability, and how each technology works with its specific fabric.
APRÍshield™ — built on NordShield
APRÍshield™ is built on NordShield, a Finnish technology made from wood extractives — a byproduct of sustainable Nordic forestry. The active compounds are derived from the natural defence mechanisms trees use to resist bacterial and fungal growth in the wild.
APRÍshield™ maintains 99.9% anti-odour effectiveness after 30 washes at standard care temperatures. That's not a figure taken at wash 5 and extrapolated — it's the verified result at wash 30.
Products that use APRÍshield™:
- All lyocell products — t-shirts, polo shirts, cropped tee
- All cotton products — hoodies, sweat shorts, crew necks
In lyocell garments, the combination works on two levels: lyocell's natural fibre structure absorbs moisture away from the skin surface, reducing the conditions where odour-causing bacteria thrive — and APRÍshield™ eliminates the bacteria that still make it through. The result is a garment that stays genuinely fresh over a full season of training, not just the first few months.
Read more: What is NordShield?
APRÍtech™ — built on HeiQ Mint
APRÍtech™ is built on HeiQ Mint, a Swiss-developed technology derived from mint extract. HeiQ Mint applies the documented antimicrobial properties of mint — reformulated for durable textile application — to the specific challenge of keeping performance synthetic fabrics odour-free.
APRÍtech™ maintains 94%+ anti-odour effectiveness after 20 washes at 30°C. It's engineered specifically for high-performance polyamide fabrics, where the demands on the treatment are different: polyamide dries fast and moves well, but it's hydrophobic, which means moisture and the bacteria that cause odour tend to concentrate at the fibre surface rather than being absorbed away.
Products that use APRÍtech™:
- Performance leggings (polyamide/elastane)
- Sports bras (polyamide/elastane)
- Performance shorts (polyamide/elastane)
Read more: HeiQ Mint Explained
Side by side
| APRÍshield™ | APRÍtech™ | |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying technology | NordShield | HeiQ Mint |
| Source material | Wood extractives (Nordic forestry) | Mint extract (plant-based) |
| Wash durability | 99.9% effectiveness after 30 washes | 94%+ effectiveness after 20 washes |
| Used in | Lyocell + cotton garments | Polyamide performance garments |
| Contains silver | No | No |
| Contains PFAS | No | No |
| Contains zinc | No | No |
| Biodegradable | Yes | Yes |
Why it matters that neither uses silver
Most anti-odour sportswear relies on silver ions. Silver works — but it washes out of fabric into wastewater, where at scale it affects aquatic ecosystems. Zinc-based treatments carry similar concerns. PFAS-based treatments are under active EU regulatory scrutiny and facing increasing restrictions.
Both NordShield and HeiQ Mint bypass these issues. They're biodegradable, free from heavy metals, and not subject to the regulatory and environmental concerns associated with silver and PFAS treatments. Both are OEKO-TEX certified — independently tested and verified to contain no substances harmful to the wearer.
Read more: Silver, Zinc, and PFAS in Sportswear
Which technology are you getting?
The technology follows the product — you're not choosing between APRÍshield™ and APRÍtech™, you're choosing which garment type suits your training. Lyocell t-shirts and polo shirts come with APRÍshield™. Performance leggings, sports bras, and shorts come with APRÍtech™.
Both technologies are plant-derived, long-lasting, and free from the heavy metal and chemical treatments that account for most of the environmental concerns in sportswear anti-odour. The practical outcome in both cases is the same: activewear that stays genuinely fresh through a full season of regular training.
Explore the lyocell range (APRÍshield™) · Explore the performance range (APRÍtech™)
