LifeWear that repels rain and keeps you comfortable – now using safer materials.
Dec 31, 2024
SUSTAINABILITY
From the latest issue of “The Power of Clothing,” we introduce the secrets of the latest water repellent technology.
What is PFAS?
The term PFAS refers to certain organofluorine chemical compounds. A specific PFAS chemical called PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) has been used by industry to treat fabric surfaces because of its ability to shed water. Unfortunately, PFAS chemicals do not readily break down in nature, thus called “forever chemicals”. Once groundwater has been polluted, these chemicals are readily absorbed by people and this can lead to various health issues, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In 2013, UNIQLO began taking steps to remove PFAS from all stages of production. Ever since, we’ve worked with textile makers, chemical manufacturers, and sewing facilities to develop new water-repellent items that don’t use PFAS.
Phasing out begins 2017.
Inspiration from an unexpected source.
Hundreds of samples were created and tested until desirable products were developed and as a result of these trials, UNIQLO has phased out the use of PFAS in all products since the 2017 Fall & Winter season. A large number of popular items feature water-repellent treatments, including winter outerwear filled with down and other insulations, functional outerwear like the BLOCKTECH parkas and pocketable parkas, bottoms like geared shorts and cozy pants, HEATTECH gloves, round mini shoulder bags, backpacks, collapsible umbrellas, and hats.
The inspiration for the new design was found in nature. The tops of lotus leaves incorporate a waxy substance. When viewed under a microscope, these smooth surfaces are actually covered in tiny protrusions less than 1/100 of a millimeter tall. These decrease the area of contact between a water droplet and the leaf, while air pockets between bumps support the droplets from below. This causes droplets to bead, so that the slightest tip or wobble of the leaf will send them rolling off the edge. This natural mechanism was the inspiration for our high water repellency technology.
Illustrations by Tatsuro Kiuchi
Seamless Down with superior water-repellent functionality
Our quest for water-repellent technologies that don’t use PFAS is ever-evolving. Updated for 2024, our Seamless Down jackets shed water in unexpected showers. Rain droplets bead and roll off the water-repellent material. What sort of new materials enable this high water-repellency? You can check it in our latest issue of “The Power of Clothing” feature.
(Left) Women Seamless Down Parka
(Right) Men Seamless Down Parka
In the feature, we also visited Changzhou Hualida Garment Group, our partner factory in China that produces UNIQLO’s seamless down, highlighting the working environments of the factory, the latest equipment and techniques. For the full article please visit “The Power of Clothing” feature with video contents which shows how the products are made using a blend of automated process and manual labour: https://www.uniqlo.com/ca/en/contents/power-of-clothing/
What is PFAS?
The term PFAS refers to certain organofluorine chemical compounds. A specific PFAS chemical called PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) has been used by industry to treat fabric surfaces because of its ability to shed water. Unfortunately, PFAS chemicals do not readily break down in nature, thus called “forever chemicals”. Once groundwater has been polluted, these chemicals are readily absorbed by people and this can lead to various health issues, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
*Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–136
In 2013, UNIQLO began taking steps to remove PFAS from all stages of production. Ever since, we’ve worked with textile makers, chemical manufacturers, and sewing facilities to develop new water-repellent items that don’t use PFAS.
Phasing out begins 2017.
Inspiration from an unexpected source.
Hundreds of samples were created and tested until desirable products were developed and as a result of these trials, UNIQLO has phased out the use of PFAS in all products since the 2017 Fall & Winter season. A large number of popular items feature water-repellent treatments, including winter outerwear filled with down and other insulations, functional outerwear like the BLOCKTECH parkas and pocketable parkas, bottoms like geared shorts and cozy pants, HEATTECH gloves, round mini shoulder bags, backpacks, collapsible umbrellas, and hats.
The inspiration for the new design was found in nature. The tops of lotus leaves incorporate a waxy substance. When viewed under a microscope, these smooth surfaces are actually covered in tiny protrusions less than 1/100 of a millimeter tall. These decrease the area of contact between a water droplet and the leaf, while air pockets between bumps support the droplets from below. This causes droplets to bead, so that the slightest tip or wobble of the leaf will send them rolling off the edge. This natural mechanism was the inspiration for our high water repellency technology.
Illustrations by Tatsuro Kiuchi
Seamless Down with superior water-repellent functionality
Our quest for water-repellent technologies that don’t use PFAS is ever-evolving. Updated for 2024, our Seamless Down jackets shed water in unexpected showers. Rain droplets bead and roll off the water-repellent material. What sort of new materials enable this high water-repellency? You can check it in our latest issue of “The Power of Clothing” feature.
(Left) Women Seamless Down Parka
(Right) Men Seamless Down Parka
In the feature, we also visited Changzhou Hualida Garment Group, our partner factory in China that produces UNIQLO’s seamless down, highlighting the working environments of the factory, the latest equipment and techniques. For the full article please visit “The Power of Clothing” feature with video contents which shows how the products are made using a blend of automated process and manual labour: https://www.uniqlo.com/ca/en/contents/power-of-clothing/