First-Ever Men's Line! More Than Just Warm, Uniqlo's 'Heattech Cashmere Blend Extra Warm' Delivers an Exquisitely Soft Feel

Last year, a new collection joined 'Heattech,' Uniqlo's signature line of functional innerwear. It was the women's 'Heattech Cashmere Blend Extra Warm' from UNIQLO : C, a collection by British designer Clare Waight Keller.

This new addition boasts an exquisitely soft feel that seems to melt onto your skin, a thin, sheer texture perfect for layering, and the 'Extra Warm' functionality that delivers approximately 1.5 times the warmth of regular Heattech. Its incredible smoothness and comfort earned rave reviews, making it so popular that some items flew off the shelves almost immediately. Now, this season marks the highly anticipated launch of the men's collection.

We sat down with Masahiro Otomo, Innerwear Team Leader for the Men's MD Department at Uniqlo Co., Ltd.'s Product Division, to get the inside story on the birth of 'Heattech Cashmere Blend Extra Warm' and the behind-the-scenes of its material development.

Over 100 Prototypes to Perfect the Cashmere Feel

The development of 'Heattech Cashmere Blend Extra Warm' all started with a simple observation from Clare: \"Heattech just feels too synthetic.\"

\"Clare truly values the beauty of natural materials,\" Otomo explains. \"She believes that anything worn directly against the skin should feel natural. We already had cotton-blend Heattech, but we wanted to see if we could create something with an even more luxurious feel, and that's how development began.\"

Beyond Heattech, Uniqlo has another signature product line it has perfected over the years: 'Cashmere Knitwear.' Leveraging that expertise to create a cashmere blend was a natural next step.

\"However, getting the combination and balance of the materials just right was a huge challenge,\" he says.

The synthetic fibers in standard Heattech are long filaments, while cashmere is a short staple fiber. These fibers have vastly different properties, making it incredibly difficult to create a uniform fabric in terms of strength, texture, and stretch. To make matters worse, cashmere is exceptionally delicate and susceptible to damage from impact, heat, and chemicals.

\"At the same time, dyeing requires heat, and chemical treatments are essential for durability. The big question was how to achieve all this without compromising the unique feel of cashmere. We went through over 100 prototypes to find the perfect solution.\"

To preserve the cashmere's delicate texture, the development team opted for a fine, high-count yarn. They also introduced innovations to the manufacturing process. For instance, during the rolling stage where the fabric is wound into a bolt, it’s typically pulled taut. For the 'Cashmere Blend,' however, the process was adjusted to wind the fabric in a 'loose and relaxed' state. This meticulous attention to detail is woven into every step of the process, not just the yarn and its composition. It's also worth noting that despite its signature cashmere softness, the fabric is engineered to resist pilling, even when machine-washed.

\"At Uniqlo, we have strict global standards for wash durability. Making sure our clothes don't lose their shape or fade is a crucial part of our mission, especially under the 'LifeWear' philosophy.\"

Success as Innerwear Leads to Expansion into a Men's Collection

The resulting 'Heattech Cashmere Blend Extra Warm' generated a buzz that far surpassed all expectations.

\"We originally expected it to be popular as a fashion piece for layering,\" Otomo recalls. \"But beyond the praise for its design and colors, it received rave reviews for its functionality as innerwear—for being ‘thin, smooth, and soft.’

\"We also got a flood of requests from men; we even heard from some who were buying the largest women's sizes for themselves. Since we believe comfort is the most important factor for men's Heattech too, we decided that with such high praise for its performance as innerwear, it was time to launch a men's collection.\"

The new men's line focuses on details that make it perfect as innerwear. It features cuffs not found on the women's items, and the turtleneck is meticulously designed to the perfect height to look sharp whether worn up or folded down.

The women's line has also been expanded. The crew neck now comes in seven colors, up from five, and the turtleneck is available in eight shades, increased from six, offering an even richer color palette.

"Last year's lineup featured pale colors, but this season, we focused on a range of colors that create a nice accent when they peek out from under another layer."

A game-changer for winter living, Heattech has constantly evolved since its debut. The latest addition to this legacy, "Goku-dan Heattech Cashmere Blend," pushes the boundaries of what innerwear can be by blending natural materials with cutting-edge technology. With the introduction of the men's line this season, its unique value is set to reach an even wider audience.