Who are we?
A textile product design house with a significant manufacturing capability ProActive Alchemy’s journey began some 16 years ago in 2005 with a focus on medical textile solutions aimed at Tuberculosis. However, the Listeriosis outbreak in 2017 proved to be a significant catalyst for growth for Kenny Tennant, Founder and CEO.
Why is our fabric so special?
ProActive has developed South Africa’s first Antiviral fabric that is both lint free and and anti-microbial. As soon as infected droplets lands on our fabric or products; which are impregnated with our virus destroying technology; the outer wall of the coronavirus is destroyed, rendering it useless. Significantly reducing the chances of infection and cross contamination.
Certifications
Antiviral certification is without precedent in South Africa and required a pioneering effort from many stakeholders including local laboratory technicians.
CERTIFIED SANAS Antiviral
CERTIFIED SANAS 60 washes
CERTIFIED with RUCO® BAC AGP
Why is Anti-Viral fabric so important?
Killing pathogens on contact means they cannot infect and cannot mutate, so not only do we mitigate contact-based transmission, we mitigate the likelihood of variants developing.
The wearable technology effectively acts as a self-sanitising eco-system, continuously neutralising infected droplets as they land. With strength in numbers, it is possible to create a community-shielding effect.
Consider that traditional face coverings could become contagious surfaces by collecting microbes through use and adding to a pervasive problem.
What do we offer?
Premium safety and peace of mind.
ProActive Alchemy fabric actively kills Covid and other pathogens. Our product range therefore represents a significant shift; a fight back as opposed to merely defending oneself.
Because we are 100% South African made, our product need not just be available for the medical industry and ‘big business’. We are all in this together after all.
Our Founders
Kenny Tennant
Founder & CEO
Carin Bartz
Founder & Production Director
Keith Dodd
Founder & Operations Director
Kenny Tennant
Founder & CEO
Kenny is an individual who’s passion for the Clothing and textile industries spans 6 decades. His forward thinking and inquiring mind plus his Industry experience from Textiles through Textile Development, Design and Manufacturing processes and procedures makes him a wealth of knowledge that is unique in the industry. All this combined with his Pattern Engineering, Garment Technology and hands on approach to New Manufacturing Processes and his firm belief and practice of “your staff is your most important asset “sets him aside from most executives.
Carin Bartz
Founder & Production Director
Gained extensive knowledge and experience over the past 40 years in the Clothing and Textile Industry. Career started in 1981 at Danco Knitting Mills (Pty) Ltd . Worked and trained in various departments of the Clothing Manufacturing sector from Manufacturing, Knitting, Planning, Buying to Sourcing.
Founded Indent Agency in 1994. Worked with various local and International Textile mills and serviced various industries across Retail, Wholesale and Manufacturing. Had Sole Agency for the Fashion & Forecast Trends in SA.
The last 8 years before founded Proactive Alchemy (Pty) Ltd worked and trained at Gelvenor Textiles where I was exposed to Highly Technical fabrics for the Local and Export market. This is where I developed my passion for the Medical range of fabrics with all the various attributes, finishes and benefits.
Holds Diplomas in Marketing & Management, Practical Selling Skills, Customer Review, Forecasting & Purchasing Methodology
Brendon Bain
Founder: Sales & Marketing Director
Brendon Bain is the Sales & Marketing Director at ProActive Alchemy, a creative protagonist and serial entrepreneur. He is one of the founders of the company.
A natural hunter in the sales sense of the word, Brendon refined his business and strategy acumen at Sapphire Solutions managing the clothing, lifestyle and PPE requirements for most of South Africa’s blue-chip companies.
For the last 14 years, he has been at Sapphire Solutions as the Group Business Manager in Cape Town, prior to this he was based in Johannesburg to formulate the sales team and build the company’s blue-chip client portfolio.
He lives in Cape Town with his fiancé and their three boys. And in his personal time, fusses with his organic toothpaste recipe, the launch of his NGO and learning to sail.
Before being appointed at Sapphire Solutions he was the Sales Manager at First Choice Promotions and previously spent time travelling overseas running his own Asian tour company called Fried Rice. He studied at the Red & Yellow School of Advertising.
Keith Dodd
Founder & Operations Director
Keith started his working career in their family’s engineering business but being young and adventurous, he had a burning desire to travel and work in Europe.
He finally settled in Liverpool (UK), where his family are originally from. He worked for one of the largest Telecoms companies in Britain and gained valuable work experience, and in 2000 he eventually returned to South Africa.
Shortly after his return he was approached to work for the prestigious motor manufacturer BMW, which was a childhood dream being a car enthusiast. He spent nearly 20 years with BMW and it was there that he gained extensive knowledge of all aspects of the Motor industry. Furthermore, coming from a German based company, structure, service and discipline was deeply ingrained in him, which he has embraced and pursued throughout his working career.
It is this sound work ethics and Administration skills that has come to good stead in his business dealings.
FAQ's
We engaged various Institutions both in the textile field as well as the Virology field.
Intensive laboratory tests were done in controlled environments by SANAS accredited laboratory technicians applying viruses, microbes and bacteria to both treated and untreated(control) fabrics.
Our products are tested to 60 wash cycles. That’s not to say it won’t last much longer if not washed daily but we are only allowed to advertise/market it as 60 washes. Important to note our special formula is reactivated (60 times minimum) when exposed to heat such as a hot wash, tumble dry and even direct sunlight. Safe for autoclave use as well.
Typically, all Covid influenced product requests we receive must be solved by a custom solution. Every business or personal environ is unique and requires a bespoke product. Our Antiviral, lint free fabric technology remains a constant however.
Please contact us directly to begin your journey