UV Protection and Water Repellency! Uniqlo's Pocketable UV Protection Parka Is the Ultimate Summer Outerwear.

An essential piece for any adult's summer wardrobe is a light jacket you can effortlessly throw on over a T-shirt.

It’s perfect for chilly mornings and evenings or for battling overly enthusiastic air conditioning, and it adds a stylish accent to otherwise simple summer outfits.

Among the options out there, UNIQLO's "Pocketable UV Protection Parka" stands out. It's incredibly lightweight and packed with great features like UV protection and water repellency.

Since its debut in 2012, sales have soared. It boasts rave reviews on the official website, and social media is flooded with outfit posts featuring the parka. We talked with the PR team at Uniqlo Co., Ltd. to find out the secret behind its immense popularity.

The "Pocketable UV Protection Parka" traces its roots back to a packable lightweight jacket released in 2005. Its direct predecessor, the "Light Pocketable Parka," was launched in 2012.

"As lifestyles evolved, people began to look for lighter-weight clothing. So, in developing our line of lightweight packable jackets, we've focused on achieving that lightness through innovations in yarn and fabric technology."

The "Pocketable UV Protection Parka" is one of the lightest jackets in Uniqlo's entire lineup. A men's size L weighs approximately 168g (as measured by our editorial team).

Considering a standard-weight (5–6 oz.) cotton T-shirt weighs between 170g and 200g, this parka is truly 'lighter than a T-shirt.'"This remarkable lightness is achieved by weaving the fabric from an ultra-fine, incredibly lightweight yarn—weighing only about 1 gram per 300 meters. Because it's so thin and compact, it slips easily into a bag. It's a versatile piece that's perfect for everything from daily commutes and school runs to travel and hiking."Equipped with UV Protection to Meet Modern NeedsIn the decade since the first model was released, various features have been added, but the inclusion of 'UV Protection'—right in the product's name—speaks volumes about Uniqlo's foresight."In recent years, with increasing levels of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, awareness around sun protection has grown, even among men who enjoy sports and the outdoors. To meet this demand, Uniqlo offers a wide range of apparel with built-in UV-blocking technology."

A Multitude of Functions, Courtesy of Toray's Nano Design™

Nano Design™ was first announced by Toray in 2014. Uniqlo began incorporating it into select products for the Fall/Winter 2023 season, and for Spring/Summer 2024, it was integrated into this parka for the first time.

Developed by advanced materials manufacturer Toray Industries, Inc., this cutting-edge fiber design technology engineers and shapes fibers at the nanoscale. It enables the combination of different polymer types and cross-sectional shapes—something typically impossible—to create innovative, high-performance fabrics unlike any before.

This parka is made from a material that combines composite polyester fibers with recycled polyester. The high-performance polyester, engineered with Nano Design™ technology, is woven from ultra-fine fibers at an extremely high density, creating a physical structure that's difficult for UV rays to penetrate. Moreover, the incredibly tight weave of these nano-engineered fibers acts as a barrier, effectively blocking UV radiation.

It blocks approximately 90% of UV radiation and has earned a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 50+ [1], the highest rating available under Japanese standards.

"While typical UV protection relies on post-production coatings or sprays, this parka blocks UV radiation through its very structure. This means its sun-protective performance won't easily diminish, even after repeated washings."

Nano Design™ brings other benefits as well. The use of ultra-fine fibers gives the fabric a soft, airy texture, while the addition of stretch material enhances its flexibility.

The Secret to Lasting Water Repellency Is in the Fabric's Structure

"Water repellency" is another of its three core features, right up there with being lightweight and providing UV protection.

"The fabric's surface has a water-repellent finish that shrugs off light rain. What's more, the water-repellent agent is bonded firmly to the fabric, making the effect incredibly durable."

The Nano Design™ technology mentioned earlier also helps boost its water-repellent properties.

The yarn is a composite of two components that shrink at different rates, creating a structure where one component wraps around the other. When heat is applied, they repel each other, forming a fine, wavy texture. This unique structure, along with the unevenness of the fabric, increases the yarn's surface area, which in turn boosts the performance of the water-repellent agent.

Another point of pride for Uniqlo is its commitment to avoiding water-repellent agents derived from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) [2], which have been flagged for their risks to the environment and human health.

Let's dive into the details.

"Its packable design is another key feature. It comes with a handy storage pouch for easy carrying, which can be attached to a loop inside the left seam."

But the biggest headache during development was the wrinkles that appeared after unpacking the parka from its pouch. Polyester is a stiff fiber, so once a crease sets in, it’s hard to get out.

"We went through a ton of trial and error, like experimenting with different materials. In the end, we cracked the wrinkle problem by applying a shape-memory process with heat and pressure during manufacturing."

The inherent properties of the ultra-fine polyester fibers from Nano Design™—which resist creasing and spring back into shape—also play a huge role in keeping the parka wrinkle-free.

Seamlessly Blending Sports, the Outdoors, and Everyday Life

"We have other popular lightweight outerwear models with UV protection, such as the 'DRY-EX UV Cut Full-Zip Parka' and the 'AIRism UV Cut Full-Zip Parka'. But this particular parka is especially thin and light, so you can wear it even in the heat. Plus, with its UV protection, water repellency, and packable design, it’s a product that truly cherry-picks the best features from all worlds."

It also comes in a rich variety of colors, with the current men's lineup featuring six shades, including gray, black, and orange.

"Thanks to its lightweight and water-repellent qualities, we initially envisioned it for sports, but now people are wearing it for all sorts of everyday situations—as a light layer in chilly, air-conditioned rooms or for sun protection during outdoor fun."

Continuously refined to meet new environmental demands and customer needs, the "Pocketable UV Protection Parka" is a true symbol of Uniqlo's "LifeWear" philosophy.