UNIQLO INVISIBLE QUALITY

What do these pieces of cloths hanging from the ceiling every few yards inside the factory, marked with starting and completion dates, signify?
These are testing cloths for formalin, which is a liquid solution of formaldehyde. Known for its antiseptic and sterilizing features, it has been used for decades in adhesive agents for building materials as well as in shrink-proofing and wrinkle-proofing processes in garment manufacturing. However, due to its skin and membrane-irritating characteristic it can cause rashes and allergies especially in babies, whose skin is more delicate than adults.

UNIQLO does not settle for a harmful benchmark. We have consistently insisted on formalin-free dyes, auxiliary agents, and entire factory environment, as formalin in the air can transfer to other materials.
Such efforts require an immense amount of time. When we first introduced baby products in 2003, it actually took us 3 months to ensure a formalin-free manufacturing environment.
To this day, even after 16 years, we ensure the environment is free of formalin by hanging these testing cloths. When we transport dyed materials to sewing factories, the doors are kept airtight so that formalin does not transfer elsewhere.

The factory manufacturing our Crew Neck Bodysuit has achieved Laboratory Accreditation from the CNAS, and our adjoining company laboratory undertakes inspections for external textile companies as well. The dyed materials we use not only are tested for formalin at the chemical laboratory but also have their PH value evaluated and inspected for any adhesion of fluorescent agents and other impure substances under high-powered microscope.

The testing cloths hung inside the factory are first placed in a beaker with water inside and then warmed. When reagent is added to formaldehyde-dissolved water, it turns yellow, and the higher the content rate, the darker yellow the water turns.

The moisture-absorbing stretchy material we use is perfect for active but delicate-skinned babies. UNIQLO's original stretchy and soft circular ribbed 100% cotton material is made from high-quality yarn and is wash-tested for durability.

Inside the fabric-producing factory, the level of humidity is kept at 72%, and knitting machines are separated by clear covers to keep out lint. In addition to installing air inlets that vacuum up lint, we clean the entire facility repeatedly throughout the day to secure stable production of high-quality circular ribbed cotton.