UNIQLO INVISIBLE QUALITY

The standard way to wash a 100%-wool item at home is to soak it in lukewarm water with neutral detergent. Machine-washing was not recommended for fear of deformation and pilling. So, let's thoroughly compare a brand-new Extra Fine Merino sweater with one that's been machine-washed 15 times.

Wash test was performed at KAKEN TEST CENTER General Incorporated Foundation ("KAKEN"), Japan's leading third-party inspection organization.
Washing instructions on care label reads "put product inside-out in washing net, use neutral detergent for wool, wash separately," but can it really be washed at home?

Comparing the ratio of
expansion and contraction

In the above photo, the sweater on the left is brand-new while the one on the right has been machine-washed 15 times. While there were slight changes to the washed sweater—an 8mm shrinkage around the neck and a 1cm stretch in the length of the sleeves—the width of the sleeves and the body remained nearly unchanged so that if seen from a distance, they would not be discernable.

How about pilling on the surface?

The swath on the left is brand-new and the right has been washed. If you look closely, a slightly brushed-like texture can be seen on the washed item; however, it's not as severe as pilling or distress. One wouldn't be able to tell this slight change in the surface texture was caused by machine-washing.

How did
the cuffs change?

The sleeve on the top is brand-new while the one on the below has been washed. It appears as though the ribbed cuff has slightly shrunken, but not to the extent where it feels tight when worn. The small wrinkles between the ribbed cuff and the arm caused by the slight shrinkage could be flattened by steam ironing.

Sophisticated
three-tier ribbed cuffs

UNIQLO pays special attention to the ribbed cuffs on Men's Extra Fine Merino sweaters. The three-tiered ribbing gets tighter towards the cuff opening, preventing the cuffs from loosening. You will appreciate more over time that your cuffs are always intact.