200,000 Units Sold Out Instantly! Behind the Scenes of Workman's Evolved "XShelter Insulation β Light Warm Jacket"

"XShelter," a proprietary material developed by Workman, first debuted in the Fall/Winter 2024 season. That season, they released "clothing designed to keep you comfortable in both heat and cold" under the banner of "insulation," and roughly 200,000 units sold out almost immediately. For the following Spring/Summer 2025 season, they rolled out products combining "XShelter" with features like "ultra moisture permeability and release" and "heat protection," all of which proved to be massive hits.

And now, for Fall/Winter 2025, Workman is taking "XShelter" to the next level. They've developed brand-new materials dubbed "Insulation α" and "Insulation β." This time, Workman's official ambassador, Koshi Yamada, sat down with Yutaro Hagura, Chief Buyer of the 6th Product Development Department at Workman Co., Ltd., who was involved in planning the new "XShelter Insulation β Light Warm Jacket," to get the inside scoop on its development.

Many of Workman's products are worn not just for work, but also for various active pursuits like sports and outdoor activities. These days, stretchability is a highly sought-after feature for any situation.

If your inner layer is stretchy but your outerwear isn't, you lose half the benefit when you wear them together, right? That's why with "Insulation β," we challenged ourselves to deliver on two key features: "powerful insulation" and "stretch."

Next are "PCM microcapsules," which absorb thermal energy by repeatedly absorbing and releasing heat. This helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside the garment and negates the effects of the outside temperature. This is the same material you see in things like the neck coolers that have become popular for combating recent heatwaves.

Finally, we used a "modified polymer skeletal structure," which alters molecular bonds at the nano-level, to achieve true 360-degree stretch.

Compared to "Insulation α," the insulation performance of "Insulation β" is 20% higher. It can generate over 20 degrees of heat from light absorption even without heat-generating padding. Plus, it's equipped with powerful antibacterial and anti-odor functions and a moisture permeability of 1000g/m²/24h (per 24 hours).

For instance, the chest pocket features a special zipper designed not to open when the pull tab is facing up. It won't slide down on its own, even when you're running, which makes it perfect for stashing your smartphone or wallet.

Workman has already adopted a standard in some of our products that allows for layering different items, like pairing a nylon shell with a fleece vest.

This 'XShelter Insulation Beta Light Warm Jacket' is also designed to this standard, so you can, for example, wear it under a motorcycle jacket, adding the insulating power of 'Insulation Beta' to the jacket's existing waterproof and cold-proof features.

We were also extremely particular about the fabric's thickness for 'Insulation Beta.' A thicker fabric offers better insulation, but it can make layering tricky, restrict movement, and create a bulky silhouette. We went through countless prototypes to find the perfect thickness.

Personally, I'd love to see clothing that can be paired with items like Peltier vests or air-conditioned apparel to completely block out the summer heat.