Achieving 'Improved Blood Flow' with Fabric Under 1mm Thick—The Story Behind MTG's 8-Year Development of 'VITALTECH'

MTG, a manufacturer of beauty and wellness devices, has launched the recovery wear brand ReD. At its core is "VITALTECH," a specialized fiber developed over an eight-year journey.

Seizing the opportunity presented by a 2022 legal amendment, MTG successfully created an ultra-thin fabric, less than 1mm thick, that delivers advanced benefits like improved blood circulation. This achievement was the result of meticulous calculations—from material selection to manufacturing—and the dedication of a development team that overcame numerous technical hurdles. In this feature, we sit down with Koichi Takamuku from VITALTECH development, brand manager Junya Takenaka, and product planner Ryo Ishizu to uncover the story behind the technology's development and its revolutionary impact.

A Market Entry Strategy Timed with Legal Reforms

The development of "VITALTECH" dates back to 2016. After an eight-year development period, a product that met the registration standards for a general medical device was launched in December 2023.

The initial challenge was the lack of a clear legal definition for products claiming to "improve blood circulation." At the time, the only general medical devices that could make this claim were limited to "thermal packs," such as those using adzuki beans to warm an affected area. The very idea that clothing itself could improve circulation was not recognized within the legal framework.

Ishizu, who led the product planning, recalls the internal struggle of commercializing a product without clear standards. While the company had a track record of developing recovery wear, including its "SIXPAD" EMS device, launching a new technology with ambiguous evidence posed a significant risk.

The turning point arrived on October 11, 2022. For the first time in 42 years, a new category for home-use medical devices was established: "Household Far-Infrared Clothing for Blood Circulation Promotion". This created a clear definition and standards for clothing that emits far-infrared rays to be recognized as a medical device.

The company decided to enter the market armed with solid legal grounds and evidence based on these newly clarified standards. This business decision became the foundation that now supports the credibility of the "ReD" brand.

The key differentiator for "ReD" in the market is its incredibly "thin" fabric. In the conventional recovery wear market, items like sweatshirts and pajamas were dominant, with sets commonly priced in the high range of tens of thousands of yen. In contrast, MTG opted to create extremely thin "innerwear" of less than 1mm.

Takamuku explains that this strategy was designed "to make 24/7 wear a reality." While thick garments can only be worn in limited situations, thin innerwear can be worn under a suit or casual clothes. It supports well-being by seamlessly blending into daily life without interfering with fashion. This was the vision for recovery wear that "ReD" aimed to achieve.

However, making the fabric thinner presented technical difficulties. Generally, the only way to enhance the far-infrared radiation effect is to increase the amount of minerals integrated into the fibers. But the finer the thread, the less physical space there is to incorporate these minerals. The goal was to achieve sufficient effectiveness to meet the standards for a general medical device, all while keeping the fabric under 1mm thick. Balancing this thinness with functionality was the greatest hurdle the development team faced.

At the same time, MTG turned conventional wisdom on its head with its pricing strategy. Starting at just 3,960 yen (tax included), the innerwear is priced significantly below the market average. Takenaka explains that they opted for this low-price strategy and a massive marketing investment because they wanted the product to be accessible not only to those who want to live each day with vitality but also to the many people struggling with pre-symptomatic health issues.

The Challenge of Blending 8 Natural Minerals and Achieving Uniformity

At the heart of "VITALTECH" are eight types of natural minerals kneaded directly into the fibers. The development team sourced dozens of mineral varieties from around the globe, testing them repeatedly. Each mineral emits far-infrared rays at different wavelengths and has unique heat-retaining properties. Finding the perfect combination and blending ratio to maximize effectiveness was a relentless challenge.

The team also faced the unique color constraints of innerwear. To create the essential "white" color, the use of black silica—a well-known natural mineral—was limited. This meant they needed to find a precise blend that could maintain high emissivity while still producing a white garment.

The manufacturing process was also incredibly complex. As a fabless company, MTG needed to collaborate closely with partner companies, each specializing in a different stage of the process: crushing the minerals, converting them into ceramic, processing them into chips, and finally, infusing them into the yarn.

The biggest hurdle on the production floor was achieving uniform mineral distribution. When infusing the ceramic minerals into the ultra-fine yarn, the maximum possible amount had to be blended with near-perfect uniformity. Otherwise, the yarn would break during the spinning process, failing to meet the efficacy standards required for a general medical device.

After creating dozens of prototypes and running experiments with adjustments as fine as 0.1%, the development team's trial and error finally led them to the "golden ratio" that "prevents yarn breakage while delivering maximum effect." The resulting fabric, less than 1mm thick, successfully combines a smooth, comfortable texture with high functionality.

VITALTECH is also attracting attention from many experts. The company is collaborating with doctors and researchers on the front lines of clinical practice, such as Clinical Professor Koji Sato, an orthopedic surgeon and spinal specialist, and Professor Shintaro Kudo of Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, to build an even stronger body of evidence.

"ReD" transcends the boundaries of a simple apparel product, backed by its official status as a general medical device. Its creation is the culmination of an eight-year development period, a strategy that seized upon the opportunity of regulatory changes, and the birth of "VITALTECH" technology, which conquered challenges at the micro-level. By focusing on blood circulation—a fundamental function of life—this technology is poised to set a new standard for functional materials in the apparel industry.