Clothes For The 21st Century

Stainproof, Wrinkleproof, Sweatproof And More...

(CBS)  A pair of pants that won't stain, even if you spill red wine on them? It may sound like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, but it is actually part of a new breed of super clothes that is sweeping the nation. The Early Show contributor Laurie Hibberd tells us all about it in this week's Hib report.

The surge in companies producing clothing that don't allow stains to set or don't require ironing has been increasing over the past year.

Liz Claiborne with its Care-Free line has wrinklefree blouses and shirts that can be machine-washed and dried and don't require any ironing, along with stainfree clothing that literally causes liquids to bead up and roll right off the fabric without setting. The one exception is tomato-based stains, but you no longer have to worry about spilling red wine or coffee.

Claiborne also offers items with the Care-Free philosophy to men with its stainfree pants, as do Dockers (with stainfree and wrinklefree options) and Charter Club.

Eddie Bauer is also ahead of the curve with its Nano Care line and Seattle Suede line. The Nano Care clothes follow the same theory as the previous ones, and offer items that are stainproof and wrinkleproof. Its Seattle Suede, however, is even better. It's machine-washable suede. Eddie Bauer offers pieces in the Seattle Suede line to both men and women and the variety of items include different colors and styles of jackets, pants and skirts.

Bernardo Leathers, however, is really the pioneer behind machine-washable leather and suede. Bernardo has been developing its technique for about 10 years. The Bernardo skins are treated in the first stages of the tanning process, so they're not simply sprayed with a treatment. The secret process allows the skins to be washed - and in the case of the suede, dried on low heat. The only catch: You must use a fabric wash, not detergent. Once you throw your suede jacket in the machine with a capful of Tide, you're done.

Eddie Bauer also has a line of bathing suits that can be considered part of the super clothes trend. Miracle Suits are made of a blend of nylon and spandex, but they are manufactured in such a way that when you put them on, the company promises you will literally look 10 pounds lighter. It makes sense, then that they don't make the suits in sizes smaller than 8.

And speaking of bathing suits, a new company called One Suit has cornered the market on cheap and accessible suits. The suits are all one-size-fits-all and are disposable. These adjustable - and pretty sexy - suits cost only $10. Because they're so inexpensive (and unlined) they're the perfect solution when you're in a bind, or even to offer friends who are suit-less and want to take a dip in your pool or hot tub.

Nike is a company that is well-known for its innovations, and one of the most interesting things is actually the testing process. Nike tests its new products on actual world-class athletes, to really see how they work in action. The new Sphere line is no different. We all know about athletic clothes that wick moisture and help to prevent sopping wet clothes, but the Sphere products go one step further. Due to an innovative new fabric that has little nubs (or bumps) on the inside, the shirt will stay a little further off your skin, so it won't stick to you while you're moving. The Sphere line was tested on marathon runners in the Sydney Olympics.

Lastly, if you've ever wondered if we are heading towards glow-in-the-dark clothes in the future, you may be on to something. An Italian company called Luminex is making a fabric that has fiber optics woven into the fabric. Right now, the clothes do require a battery to make them light up, but this is still in its infancy. The Washington Opera's production of Aida is using this technology in its costumes, allowing characters to "glow" colors that correlate to their feelings.