Rovince FAQs and Certifications.

The clothing is treated with permethrin (see more details below). The fabric is treated before manufacturing, rather than simply coating the finished garments.

Permethrin creates a "hot foot effect," which means that when a tick comes into contact with our clothing, it is almost immediately paralyzed and falls off the clothing.

The cut-off value for permethrin (200 mg) efficacy is reached after 50 to 100 washes (according to laboratory tests).

However, Rovince in its pure form (without water repellency or other supplements) lasts between 75 and 100 washes. In practice, this usually means that the finish will last as long as the garment itself. Once the garment is worn out, the finish loses its effectiveness.

You can wash Rovince clothing with other garments on a color wash program up to 60 degrees Celsius. Fabric softeners and chlorine bleaches are strongly discouraged. Chemical cleaning is not allowed, as the solvents contained therein attack the copolymer. Do not tumble dry.

The effect remains active for up to 80 washes. For socks, the duration is slightly shorter, up to 60 washes, due to the material and use.

The rule, of course, is that if the clothing is worn out, its functionality can no longer be guaranteed.

Because we don't just coat pre-made garments, our clothing remains effective for at least 80 washes. For socks, the durability is slightly lower, up to 60 washes, due to the fabric and usage.

Of course, the more worn or damaged the clothing is, the less we can guarantee its effectiveness.

Unlike some companies, we do not use monomeric permethrin in the production of our garments. While this application ensures wash resistance, it prevents the constant presence of the active ingredient, permethrin, on the surface of the coating.

Monomer applications will indicate the correct amount of permethrin, but they lack the necessary bioavailability: the permethrin is encapsulated, so insects are barely influenced by it, and garments coated in this way have little to no effect on ticks.

In Rovince clothing, the active ingredient permethrin is bound to a copolymer (mainly acrylate and silicone elastomer [polysiloxanes]). This combination ensures a perfect balance between durability (wash resistance) and bioactivity (silicone elastomers allow permethrin to disperse gradually and sustainably).

A synthetic pyrethroid (biocide), based on the insecticidal pyrethrum compounds naturally found in chrysanthemum flowers.

Permethrin has been used since the 1960s as a crop protection product in, among other things, cotton cultivation. These variants are more aggressive, but short-lived.

The variant used in Rovince clothing is much less aggressive but more durable.

Permethrin is also frequently used in veterinary medicine to protect dogs against ticks and fleas, among other things. Cats are very sensitive to permethrin.

Permethrin can be harmful to humans, but not in the amounts used in our clothing. Of course, our amount complies with WHO guidelines.

To put it in perspective, for our clothing to become harmful to the user, they would have to wear a complete Rovince suit (socks, pants, shirt) for 60 hours a day, which is impossible :).

After extensive testing, the U.S. Army established 1250 mg/m² as the ideal amount of permethrin: enough to keep insects away, but not so high as to cause problems for the user. Since the 1980s, these levels have been accepted as the global standard. The lower value of 200 mg was also established: once this level is reached, the garment must be replaced. Rovince complies with these universally accepted standards.

IR3535 is a patented, clinically proven, EU-approved insect repellent that works by blocking the olfactory receptors of ticks and mosquitoes. This technology, incorporated into Rovince clothing, offers long-lasting protection (up to 60 washes) while being safe for skin and the environment, ideal for outdoor activities where there is not a high infestation. Rovince uses it in lighter fabrics where Permethrin cannot be applied.

The WHO has set values that must not be exceeded (Acceptable Daily Intake). The standard is 25 micrograms/kg of body weight per day.

The dose used by Rovince has a minimal effect on the human body. A full uniform (socks, pants, and shirt) releases 5 micrograms/kg of body weight of permethrin per day. This represents a 5-fold reduction of the ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) established by the WHO. In short: the full Rovince uniform would have to be worn 60 hours a day to reach the ADI established by the WHO, and that is impossible, as there are only 24 hours in a day.

Rovince clothing has been tested by the German army in two climatic zones (Afghanistan and Europe) and on hundreds of people of different skin tones and genders. The negative consequences of wearing the fabric were minimal and not severe enough (slight itching and irritation) to outweigh the benefits of protection.

The use of permethrin-treated clothing is not recommended for pregnant women. While there is no scientific basis for drawing concrete conclusions, we prefer to err on the side of caution by recommending that pregnant women do not wear permethrin-treated clothing.

DEET is not an insecticide per se, but a repellent to be applied to the skin in areas not covered by Rovince clothing. Depending on the dose, DEET has a short-term effect, lasting 4 to 8 hours after application. The product is usually incorporated into creams and aerosols. Its application is the ideal complement for skin protection when wearing permethrin-treated clothing, for example, in tropical climates, but we find Icaridin more interesting.

Icaridin is a highly effective synthetic insect repellent for application on skin not covered by Rovince clothing, especially against mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods. This compound, approved by the WHO and the EU, works by interfering with the olfactory receptors of insects, creating a protective barrier on the skin without being absorbed by the body. Its prolonged efficacy (up to 8-10 hours) and non-greasy profile make it ideal for combining with Rovince technical clothing, offering comprehensive protection in high-risk biting areas.

Unlike Deet, Icaridin is odorless, does not damage fabrics or plastics, and is safe for children over 2 years old, according to pediatric recommendations. It is also worth noting that its effect is superior to Deet in situations of heavy sweating.

As a contact insecticide, permethrin is only effective if there is direct, effective contact between the insect and the permethrin for a certain period of time. The smaller the insect and the larger the (relative) contact surface between the insect and the active substance, the greater the effect on clothing.

Permethrin is therefore excellent against ants, ticks, fleas, lice, mosquitoes, sandflies, and, in short, small insects. Permethrin is present in insufficient quantities in Rovince clothing and is so deeply embedded in the fibers that it has no negative consequences for larger insects such as bees and horseflies. A bee is too large and heavy, and has too few contact points (legs) to be mortally attacked. A tick, on the other hand, has a large contact surface, so the effect is almost immediate.

Permethrin is a contact insecticide that causes a "hot foot" effect in insects, forcing them to leave the treated substance as quickly as possible. According to WHO lab tests, if the insect remains on the treated textile, confusion and retreat occur shortly thereafter, followed by death. Obviously, the concentration and bioactivity of permethrin in Rovince clothing has been carefully developed to ensure effective protection against ticks, while maintaining excellent durability and ensuring the health of the user.

There is no direct danger to the aquatic environment and Rovince clothing can be safely washed at home. The minimal amount of permethrin that goes down the drain is diluted very quickly and extremely rapidly.

After extensive studies, it has been concluded that the permethrin present in Rovince clothing has no adverse effects on marine organisms. Therefore, it is possible to wade through rivers and streams with treated Rovince clothing without negatively affecting the environment.

On the other hand, pure permethrin should not end up in nature. For this reason, the industrial treatment at Utexbel (where Rovince textiles are produced) is carried out in a completely closed circuit.

No negative UV radiation influences that could reduce the effectiveness of Rovince clothing have been measured or determined.

Used Rovince clothing is best disposed of with household waste for incineration. It does not release toxic compounds.

Of course, you can continue to use your garments once the permethrin's effectiveness has worn off: all our clothing is primarily designed to be practical and comfortable, with or without the added benefit of providing tick protection.

Residual baths from the Utexbel production process are collected and incinerated by a certified recycling company.

In recent decades, few products have been as frequently tested and scientifically studied as permethrin-impregnated clothing.

Especially in Germany, several scientific studies have been published addressing both the effectiveness of permethrin and its potential health risks. The most recent publication dates from 2017, in which the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) considers permethrin (if applied correctly) to not be sensitizing.

This is a Dutch national standard that specifies requirements for factory permethrin-treated body covers that help protect against tick bites.

EN 17487:2024 is the European standard that regulates the requirements and test methods for clothing treated with insect repellents, including tick protection. This standard scientifically evaluates the effectiveness of treated fabrics through controlled laboratory tests, ensuring that they maintain their repellent properties after multiple washes. All Rovince products rigorously comply with this standard, offering users certified protection against bites in outdoor and professional activities, with full transparency regarding their durability and safety.

Dermatest GmbH is a research institute in the field of dermatology. It works closely with scientists from universities in Paris and Bilbao who specialize in skin care. Every two years, Dermatest GmbH performs dermatological tests and evaluates our permethrin finish.

The Oeko-Tex standard is a testing and certification system for textiles that ensures that the chemicals used during the production process are not harmful or hazardous to human health or the environment. We offer Oeko-Tex certification for all the fabrics we use in our Rovince garments.