Solve Summer's Problems Like Sweat, Sun, & Heat with a Single Layer: High-Performance Material "SHELTECH" Inspired by Polar Bears

To survive the scorching summer heat, various companies are racing to develop functional fibers, making our lives more comfortable. Among these innovations is a material inspired by polar bears—SARAGAI IRYO CO., LTD.'s SHELTECH.

Boasting the catchphrase "Play with the Sun," this functional material is as if it's daring any amount of heat to challenge it. What kind of fiber is it, really? We spoke with Tomoyasu Bessho from the company to find out more.

Functionality for Everyday Clothing

SARAGAI IRYO CO., LTD. was founded in 1963 and has specialized in manufacturing, importing/exporting, and selling casual wear, mainly denim, through ODM and OEM. The company’s flagship release is the functional material known as "SHELTECH." What led them to develop this material?

"At first, it all started with the idea: 'Can we make denim using functional materials?' Denim tends to be avoided in hot weather, after all.

"Especially with global warming expected to keep progressing, our development concept for 'SHELTECH' was to see if we could contribute to society, even just a little, through this material."

It All Started with Polar Bears

With those thoughts in mind, they began development in 2015. It began with news from a trusted yarn supplier about a newly developed yarn.

"We were told about a yarn that blends hollow fibers with jade and ceramics. I heard that the key hollow fiber was inspired by polar bears.

"Polar bear fur actually has a hollow structure, and the goal was to somehow recreate that. Then, by adding cooling materials like jade and ceramics, we thought it could achieve a cooling effect, which led to the current form of SHELTECH."

The idea of taking inspiration from polar bears and even incorporating jade makes this a truly unique material. It was probably only possible because the company has experience in domestic and international markets.

Even with such a groundbreaking idea, technical know-how is essential to make it a reality. What was the most challenging part of the development process?

"The tough part was blending the minerals into the hollow fiber. It wasn’t easy to make it uniform or to maintain the fiber’s strength. But the factory actually developed machines specifically for 'SHELTECH,' and now we use our own machines with patented technology to overcome those issues."

5 Key Functions for Playing with the Sun

The resulting "SHELTECH" offers five functions: heat shielding, cool touch, quick absorption & drying, lightweight comfort, and UV protection. With so many features, you might wonder if they really all work.

"If you compare clothing made from 'SHELTECH' with regular fabrics using thermographic cameras, the difference is obvious at a glance. In terms of how it feels, the temperature difference is about 3–5°C. We also have equipment to measure breathability, and we've clearly confirmed its effects as well."

These effects have been thoroughly verified through both third-party organizations and the company’s own measurements. Originally designed as a fiber with cooling properties by blending jade and ceramics in a hollow thread, it turned out to also be lightweight and highly UV-protective.

"Because of the hollow structure, we expected it to be lighter. Actual measurements show about an 8% weight reduction compared to standard 100% cotton garments. As for UV protection, our comprehensive performance tests have proven its high shielding rate."

This multifunctional material, "SHELTECH," was created with the intent to be used in everyday clothing like T-shirts and pants. Interestingly, these items don’t use "SHELTECH" fibers exclusively.

"For example, with our T-shirts, only about 30% of the yarn is 'SHELTECH.' Since we want these to remain everyday clothes, the outer fabric is regular cotton, while the lining is knit using 'SHELTECH' yarn."

Of course, it's possible to make items that use 100% "SHELTECH," but that’s not the company’s goal. No matter how functional, their firm strategy is to make everyday wear that looks just like regular clothes—that’s the vision they’re committed to.

Expectations for "SHELTECH"

The company’s SHELTECH material has proved to possess essential functions for the summer season. As a result, demand for it is expected to grow rapidly. So, what kind of developments are planned for the future?

"Right now, 'SHELTECH' is spreading throughout the fashion industry. However, what I truly wish for is people to recognize the material for its functions as 'SHELTECH'. That’s our ongoing challenge."

Not as a fashion item, but as a functional material. What is the true intent behind this?

"If SHELTECH is thought of only within the domain of fashion, then there’s frustration that its potential use in other fields can’t be reached. That’s something we want to change. Rather than creating a product that becomes a temporary sensation in the fashion world, we want to continue our efforts so SHELTECH becomes a reliable material, used widely as infrastructure for society."

The small inspiration that started with the fur of a polar bear has now become a dependable partner, allowing us humans to "play" under harsh sunlight. Hidden behind Bessho’s words, "I honestly don’t mind if the name itself isn’t recognized," is a profound wish for the functionality to permeate society even more than the brand. The creators are quietly focused on the day when this function will become second nature to everyone.