Nishikawa's 'AiR RECOVERY' Wear Is Packed With Tech From the Veteran Bedding Maker

Fueled by a growing interest in health, the demand for recovery wear is on the rise.

Standing out in this booming genre is nishikawa, one of Japan's leading bedding manufacturers.

Their 'AiR RECOVERY' line, which utilizes special fiber materials and 'Sleep Flaps' that envelop the wrists and ankles, has reportedly seen sales climb steadily since its launch last fall.

Let's explore the capabilities of this first-ever recovery wear from a bedding manufacturer with one of nishikawa's product developers.

A Leading Company in the Bedding Industry With Over 450 Years of History

First, let's talk about nishikawa's evolution.

"Nishikawa Co., Ltd. is a bedding manufacturer founded in 1566 (the 9th year of the Eiroku era) by Niemon, a merchant from Omi. The business started in Omi, Shiga Prefecture, and later expanded to Edo. After the Meiji era, the company established bases in Tokyo and Osaka, splitting into three companies—Kyoto Nishikawa, Nishikawa Sangyo, and Osaka Nishikawa—which continued to operate in their respective regions."

In recent years, the company has also focused on developing bedding that leverages sleep science, creating the 'AiR' mattress, which is used by professional athletes and offers excellent body pressure distribution.

"In 2019, the three companies merged and made a fresh start as Nishikawa Co., Ltd. We are now strengthening our global expansion and developing products for younger demographics."

Nishikawa Co., Ltd. is also known for having its own Japan Research Laboratory of Sleep Science.

"It's an in-house research institute established in 1984 that studies bedding and sleep from the perspectives of sleep science and life science. In collaboration with companies, universities, and research institutions, we scientifically verify aspects like sleep physiology, bedroom environments, and bedding performance, and apply the findings to our product development."

Recovery Wear That Leverages Bedding Development Know-How

So why did these bedding professionals turn their attention to recovery wear?

"Recovery wear can be defined as clothing that improves your vitality for the next day by helping you rest better. In terms of enhancing the quality of rest, bedding and recovery wear have a lot in common, so we were confident we could leverage our strengths. Our expertise in supporting athletes' fatigue recovery and conditioning was also instrumental in the development."

The 'AiR RECOVERY' series, which nishikawa released last October, is recovery wear designed to help improve the quality of rest.

"During development, we distributed prototypes to 420 store staff members nationwide and asked for their feedback and opinions."

I tried on the 'AiR RECOVERY Sleep Tech[1] Wear Dry Type,' a flagship product from the series.

It's breathable with a smooth, dry feel against the skin, and its excellent elasticity makes it easy to move in.

"The material is a polyester-polyurethane blend with excellent water absorption and quick-drying properties. The textured surface creates a dry touch."

The Core Technology: PHT Fibers Infused With Nano-Platinum

After a while, I start to feel my body gently warming up.

"That's the effect of the PHT fibers. PHT fiber is a special material infused with several minerals, including nano-platinum (academic name: DPV576). The faint far-infrared rays emitted by PHT help to ease muscle tension and guide the wearer into a state of relaxation.

Furthermore, as the far-infrared rays warm the body and promote blood circulation, you can expect an enhanced effect in fatigue recovery."

This model has also completed its registration as a general medical device [2].

"It has been verified to meet the voluntary standards for home-use far-infrared clothing for blood circulation promotion set by the Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations and is officially registered."

Unique Details Focused on Core Body Temperature

The most distinctive Nishikawa-like detail is the sleep flap.

The sleeves of the top and the cuffs of the pants are designed to be longer, completely covering the wrists and ankles like a support brace.

"By warming your wrists and ankles before bed with these double-layered flaps, we support a smooth recovery process. When you're just relaxing, you can fold them inward to tuck them away."

This component, born from the expertise of the Japan Research Laboratory of Sleep Science, focuses on the relationship between core body temperature and sleep.

Core body temperature refers to the temperature deep inside the body (especially near the brain and internal organs). Unlike the temperature under the arm or on the skin's surface, it indicates the body's central temperature. It's said to be less affected by external temperatures or exercise and has a strong tendency to remain constant.

"When people sleep, a drop in core body temperature allows them to fall asleep smoothly. To achieve this, the body tries to lower its core temperature by releasing heat from the hands and feet."

This is apparently why a baby's hands and feet get warm before they fall asleep.

"The wrists and ankles are areas where blood vessels run close to the skin, making it easy for heat to transfer in and out. Warming these parts initially increases blood flow and raises the surface temperature, but this then promotes heat dissipation from the skin, which ultimately helps lower the core body temperature more easily."

Both the top and pants feature a clean, slim silhouette. Yet, they provide just the right amount of room, so they don't feel restrictive at all.

"If it's too loose, it won't be close enough to the body, and if it's too tight, it will hinder relaxation. We went through countless fine-tunings to achieve the perfect balance."

It looks like it could work for a quick outing, but they advise caution when wearing it.

"Because we've pursued comfort ideal for rest, some people may feel drowsy while wearing it. For this reason, we recommend not wearing it during exercise or while driving."

A New Model Featuring a Lighter Material

This year, a new model has joined the recovery wear lineup.

It's the "AIR Recovery Sleep Tech [1] Wear Light Type," released this past spring.

"We've updated the material so you can stay comfortable through the lingering hot days. While this model is not registered as a general medical device, its basic specs, like the PHT fibers and sleep flaps, are virtually the same as the existing Dry Type."

While the Dry Type was 90% polyester and 10% polyurethane, the Light Type is 70% regenerated fiber (cellulose) and 30% polyester. It's also about 20% lighter (by fabric weight).

"It features a luxuriously soft and smooth fabric. Heat and stuffiness can cause you to wake up mid-sleep and lower sleep quality, but its excellent breathability and quick-drying properties reduce discomfort from sweat."

So, who are the typical users?

"It's popular across a wide range of demographics, regardless of gender or age, but it has gained particularly strong support among business professionals and athletes. It seems many people wear it not only for relaxing at home but also on planes and in hotels during travel and business trips."

"We believe that enhancing the quality of recovery leads to a better quality of life. We will continue to evolve our recovery wear alongside our bedding products."

Special fibers infused with nano-platinum, the core-temperature-controlling sleep flaps, and a commitment to comfort cultivated through bedding development are all evident throughout. Nishikawa's "AIR Recovery" is peppered with 'tech for resting' down to the smallest detail, all backed by years of research and expertise.

This garment is, in essence, recovery wear that lets you 'wear the technology of sleep.'