The Pioneer of Warm Functional Wear, Mizuno's 'Breath Thermo' Evolves Further on its 30th Anniversary!

Although the importance of choosing base layers and first layers for their features is well known today, cotton underwear was the norm 30 years ago. In the 1990s, when even functional summer wear that absorbed sweat and dried quickly was not yet widespread, 'Mizuno' was quick to release the 'heating' function winter functional wear 'Breath Thermo', and has been refining it ever since. As we celebrate its 30th anniversary, let's see how far it has evolved. We spoke with Masanori Inoguchi of the Life & Health Division at Mizuno Corporation.

Enhanced Deodorizing Added to the Already-existing Heating, Insulation, Sweat-cold Prevention, & Sweat Blocking

"Mizuno", which conducts research and development on sportswear and gear for all types of sports, continuously introduces excellent products that support the performance of top athletes. These technologies are then applied to produce items that contribute to a comfortable lifestyle. The 30th-anniversary 'Breath Thermo' is one such product.
 
"Breath Thermo was born from our pursuit of warmth in ski wear development. Originally, it was the stuffing for ski wear. We discovered a 'high moisture absorption and heat release material' that generates heat by absorbing moisture in 1992, and applied for a patent based on our unique 'moisture-absorbing heat theory' in 1993. It was 30 years ago, so the details are only known through internal stories," Inoguchi explains the beginnings of 'Breath Thermo'. Recognized as an ideal material that maintains warmth while minimizing clothing volume, 'Breath Thermo' was first adopted in the ski wear of the Japanese national team at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, and its advanced technology received high praise from the athletes.
 
"While heating fibers did exist in natural materials like wool and some acrylics among synthetic fibers, they were not popular due to low heating efficiency. The advent of 'Breath Thermo', a functional heating material, had a significant impact with its warmth," he added.