This article was originally published by the University of Alberta.
After decades designing high-performance athletic wear for industry giants like Nike, Speedo and Spyder, Deidre Hackman found her way back home to Edmonton.
Pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Alberta’s Department of Human Ecology under the supervision of Rachel McQueen, Hackman is using Alberta’s gruelling winters as the baseline for a new research project. She’s developing a weightless, wearable heating system — highly practical for Albertans and Canadian winter athletes.
Ditching the bulky, restrictive wires that hinder elite athletes, Hackman engineered a “magic formulation” to maximize an athlete’s range of motion.
“We have basically created a heater out of conductive ink that then is laminated onto a garment,” explains Hackman. “You can’t even tell it’s there.”
The technology moves naturally with fabric, offering profound physical advantages.
“The research that I was finding was that if you add an active heat source to the warm-up that increases the amount of muscle capacity, they become more supple,” says Hackman. “They become warmer faster.”
This active heat prevents competitors like alpine skiers from stiffening up during delays such as cold chairlift rides. Beyond physical readiness, Hackman’s research targets the mental toll of freezing temperatures. By eliminating the energy drain of shivering, athletes maintain the cognitive focus they need to compete.
Testing with the Canadian Sport Institute yielded positive feedback, with athletes noting a surprising sense of “calm effort” and enhanced recovery routines. Hackman also validated the technology with Canadian athletes during the Milan Winter Olympics.
“Once you present it to them, they go, ‘How did I live without this?’” Hackman says. “They have been quite surprised as to the level of comfort they feel, first of all, but also their ability to train a little bit longer and a little bit harder.”
Aiming to partner with top-tier global brands, Hackman hopes these revolutionary garments could appear on store shelves as early as this fall.
The research was made possible through an investment and support from Alberta Innovates.
—with files from Geoff McMaster
Featuring Local Entrepreneur: Deidre Hackman
Innovation from Alberta
After more than 30 years of driving the creative and strategic direction for iconic global brands like Nike, Disney, Victoria’s Secret, and Speedo, Deidre Hackman is absolutely thrilled to be back home in Alberta. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of operating at the intersection of the ‘art and science’ of product innovation, from spearheading the revolutionary Speedo LZR suit to designing performance gear for the USA Ski Team. But today, the most exciting frontier in apparel technology isn’t happening in Portland, New York, or Europe; it is being engineered right here in Sturgeon County”.
“Being able to develop our products locally is truly special. With amazing support from Alberta Innovates, the Canadian Sports Institute, and the University of Alberta’s Department of Human Ecology, we are living through a pivotal moment in which massive advancements in smart garment technology and advanced manufacturing are completely redefining human performance. By integrating these advanced technological changes with the strong international relationships we’ve developed over thirty years, our global supply chain positions us to spearhead a new era of high-performance textile deployment from Western Canada.”
The Future of Thermal Performance
At the center of this movement is HACSTM (Heat Activating Component System), a vital piece of performance infrastructure engineered to withstand and dominate the most extreme environments on Earth. With two patents and IP owned by Concrete Global Ventures LTD. (Hackman’s company), based here in Alberta, HACS technology is built for a dual-source elite application:
- Olympic-Level Athletics: Extensively tested and proven during the high-stakes, sub-zero environments of the Milan Winter Olympics, ensuring athletes maintain optimal core temperature and muscle efficiency without sacrificing mobility.
- Military Arctic Operations: Specially adapted for tactical maneuvers and arctic training, providing critical thermal regulation and life-saving environmental adaptability for personnel operating in the harshest climates on the planet.
The HACS Lab
This is an awesome, unprecedented time for Concrete Global to prepare to permanently locate the HACS Lab right here in Sturgeon County. By establishing this advanced facility locally, they aren’t just bringing Olympic-level sports science and military-grade innovation home; they are building a regional epicentre for rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth. “The future of smart textiles is being forged right here in Alberta, and we are just getting started.”
For more information about how you can be part of this new adventure, visit www.concreteglobal.com.
