2024.10.04
Dissecting UNIQLO's "HeatTech"! What's the Difference Between Extra Warm, Ultra Warm, & Cashmere Blend Extra Warm?
This time, we spoke with UNIQLO's PR representative about the development story of HeatTech, its material characteristics, the differences in warmth such as Extra Warm and Ultra Warm, and the newly introduced HeatTech this season.
Aiming for a Thin, Lightweight Material that Absorbs Moisture to Generate Heat
What exactly is HeatTech?
HeatTech is a line of functional innerwear by UNIQLO, released since 2003. In addition to innerwear such as U-neck T-shirts and turtleneck T-shirts, it includes various items like tops and bottoms wearable on their own, as well as socks and gloves..png?w=420&fm=webp&dpr=2)
Why did UNIQLO focus on thermal innerwear?
For a long time, people used layers of clothing to keep warm. While materials like wool, fur, nylon, polyester, and down have progressed steadily, UNIQLO chose to address "cold" with a fresh approach to clothing.Thus, we fundamentally shifted our thinking and decided to create functional innerwear that is thin, light, and warm. Naturally, to craft such innerwear, a new material was needed. We embarked on developing new materials with Japan's leading fiber company, Toray.
How did HeatTech come about?
The curiosity about functional synthetic fibers started with the men's innerwear "Dry" launched in the summer of 2003. At that point, men's innerwear was predominantly 100% cotton. The "Dry" line received high accolades from customers, revealing the potential of synthetic fibers.The development team from UNIQLO and Toray aimed to create "a lightweight, moisture-wicking material that generates heat and maintains warmth." On top of that, since it's a UNIQLO product, it needed to be affordable and user-friendly for everyone.
After much trial and error, the development team advanced the project step by step, eventually leading to the birth of HeatTech.
The Secret of HeatTech's Warmth
Even though it's thin and light, why is it so warm?
In simple terms, HeatTech absorbs moisture released from the body to generate heat and traps that warmth within the air layers between the fibers to enhance insulation.So it utilizes the body's released moisture?
When moisture from the body turns to gas, water molecules move rapidly between the skin and HeatTech. These water molecules are absorbed by highly moisture-absorbent rayon fibers, converting the kinetic energy of the water molecules into thermal energy, thus generating heat.
It's an amazing mechanism. But how does it maintain its warmth?
To keep warm, you must prevent warm air close to your skin from escaping. HeatTech fabric incorporates micro acrylic threads as thin as one-tenth of a hair's thickness, creating countless layers of insulation between the fibers. This allows the warm air generated via moisture absorption using rayon fibers to remain trapped within the fabric, sustaining insulation.So, various fibers are used?
HeatTech consists of moisture-absorbing and heat-generating rayon, micro acrylic that holds warmth with air layers for insulation, stretch-enhanced polyurethane, and quick moisture-absorbing polyester. By intricately weaving these four types of fibers, HeatTech draws out their specific properties, delivering a comfortable level of functionality.
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