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Surprising Cooling Sensation Lasts with Sweat & Wind! "FREEZE TECH" Is the Ultimate Summer Companion
Globally rising temperatures have made Japanese summers increasingly harsh. As the demand for cool-to-the-touch wear rises each year, "FREEZE TECH" and its lines FREEZE TECH and FREEZE TECH α have gained attention for not just their excellent cooling features, but especially for their "long-lasting effect."
So, what makes them different from conventional cooling wear? We interviewed Nana Otsu, PR representative at Liberta Co., Ltd.
The Secret to Long-Lasting Coolness: "Triple Cooling Technology"
Many products claim to be "cool to the touch," but plenty of us have experienced a drop in coolness after only a short while of wearing them."FREEZE TECH" has developed a proprietary technology to extend that cooling sensation[1]. This is their "Triple Cooling Technology," which employs three components: "cool-touch fabric," "cool sensation print," and "evaporative heat cooling."
"On the reverse side of the sleek, dry-feel cool-touch fabric, we apply a cool sensation print that contains erythritol and xylitol—two substances with moisture-absorbing and heat-absorbing properties.
This 'FREEZE TECH Cooling Print' absorbs moisture (sweat) from the skin, and thanks to its heat-absorbing properties, lowers the fabric temperature. Even when you sweat, discomfort is minimized and the cooling effect persists.
Furthermore, when wind hits and sweat begins to evaporate, the 'evaporative heat cooling' effect increases, providing even greater coolness."
"In fact, third-party quality measurement and testing[2] compared the absorption cooling of fabric with and without the cool sensation print, confirming that the temperature drops by up to 2°C compared to untreated fabric."
Not Just for Cooling—Multi-Functional Apparel for Comfortable Summers
The features of "FREEZE TECH" go beyond just long-lasting cooling. The line also incorporates a "deodorizing print," which absorbs and breaks down sweat-induced odors, and "UV protection"—making it well-equipped for optimal summer comfort.The durability of these effects is also impressive. While most apparel undergoes just 10 washing cycle tests, "FREEZE TECH" is tested for 50 cycles and has been shown to keep 70-80% of its cooling functionality even then.
To keep the performance at its best, avoid exposing items to high temperatures such as irons or dryers. However, since the fabric is highly stretchy and resists wrinkling, and it has moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, those situations rarely arise.
"FREEZE TECH" has become increasingly popular for its functional design, but its early development faced a number of challenges.
"One of the key ingredients in the cool sensation print—xylitol—produces its cooling effect by dissolving in water, so maintaining washing durability was tough. We struggled with the contradiction of 'making something that reacts to moisture, yet withstands repeated washing.'
Also, the ingredients used in the cool sensation print dry very rapidly, leading to machinery clogs and making mass production a challenge", Otsu recalls.
By working closely with partner factories to address these issues, the product finally achieved full-scale commercialization in 2018. Since then, the lineup has expanded through numerous collaborations. Among them, men gravitate towards the Long-sleeve Cooling Crew Neck Shirt, while women prefer the Cooling Arm Covers.
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"Some people might feel a bit odd about wearing long sleeves in summer. However, when it comes to 'FREEZE TECH', the cool sensation lasts as long as you're sweating, which actually makes long sleeves feel even cooler.
Because the fabric never receives direct sunlight and also features UV-cut functionality, you don’t have to worry about burns or skin irritation from sun exposure. Another key point is the simple design, which makes it easy to match with various styles of clothing."
With "FREEZE TECH," you get long-lasting cooling thanks to sweat and wind. On the other hand, although it's rare in summer, in situations where you don't sweat at all or there’s no airflow, the effect is about the same as regular contact-cooling fabrics. For those scenes, the brand recommends using it together with their "FABRIC COOLING MIST."
“Thanks to our original, patented technology[3], we have successfully encapsulated menthol in nanocapsules, making it the industry’s first alcohol-free[4] cooling spray for clothing.
As a result, menthol is less likely to evaporate and stays in the fibers longer, giving the cooling effect about 3.5 times greater longevity than conventional products[5]. Plus, it's gentle enough for people with sensitive skin and can be used safely for camping or work near open flames,” Otsu explained.
The Latest Model Supporting Outdoor Activities: "FREEZE TECH α"
In 2024, they developed "FREEZE TECH α," an advanced version of "FREEZE TECH," and began test sales on their official website. The product sold out immediately after launch, showing just how much attention it received.
“While 'FREEZE TECH' already received high praise, some customers told us that when playing sports or working in extremely hot conditions, the temperature inside the clothing would spike, which made the cooling print less effective.
To address this with 'FREEZE TECH α,' we've introduced a brand-new fabric: it combines ‘thermo-regulating yarn’ made from ‘temperature-adjusting resin’ Conforma®︎ developed by Sumitomo Chemical, and ‘heat-shielding yarn’ that helps block heat from sunlight, using our own unique blend.”
*6 [Sustained cooling] Cooling print remains effective while reacting to moisture
“The ‘thermo-regulating yarn’ crafted from Conforma®︎ helps control the rise in temperature inside the garment[6], adjusting it closer to the ‘comfort zone’ where people feel most at ease—a world-first[7] in this technology. Durability is another strength, as washing does not cause the function to wash out.
The combined ‘heat-shielding yarn’ traps metal oxides within polyester fibers and reflects heat from sunlight, keeping fabric temperatures down. Thanks to these features, the cooling effect of the ‘FREEZE TECH Cooling Print’ is now even easier to experience and appreciate.”
“Our cooling performance evaluation has confirmed that the new model offers about 1.5 times longer cooling effect than previous ‘FREEZE TECH’ versions[8]. We highly recommend it for outdoor activities during the toughest heat of the year.”
How will the ever-evolving "FREEZE TECH" continue to develop in the future?
“The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that, starting June this year, heatstroke prevention measures in the workplace will be mandatory. Meanwhile, the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) stated that 2023 saw the highest average global temperatures ever recorded[9]. Dealing with these global extreme heat challenges will only grow in importance going forward.
That’s why we’re eager to take on the globally booming cooling gear market with Japanese cooling technology, aiming to help everyone struggling with extreme heat—not just in Japan, but worldwide.”
With unique technology that extends the cooling sensation, “FREEZE TECH” continues supporting people working or playing sports in scorching conditions. The brand looks set to keep evolving, listening to user feedback and incorporating the latest advancements.
PROFILE
Nana Otsu
Liberta Co., Ltd. Second Strategy Department, Brand Strategy Division
[1] While the cool-feeling print is reacting to moisture.
[2] Evaluation of moisture-absorbing cool-feeling performance of the print (Unitika Garment Technology)
[3] Patent registered Patent No. 7649496
[4] Alcohol-free refers to being ethanol-free.
[5] Compared to conventional products with alcohol formulations. In-house comparison. Cool-feeling spray volatility test (in-house test)
[6] According to perspiration simulation test (Unitika Garment Technology) / Contact thermal transferability test (Unitika Garment Technology)
[7] As an olefin-based resin commercially available. As of the announcement on May 21, 2024. Sumitomo Chemical research.
[8] Due to sustained cooling sensation. According to contact thermal transferability test (Unitika Garment Technology) / Compared to our own FREEZE TECH product Regular Fit
[9] World Meteorological Organization (WMO) "2023 shatters climate records, with major impacts"
Text by振石塚
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