Recently, there is a material that many fashion brands are adopting. It is featured in magazines, and many designers and fashion writers acknowledge its greatness. That material is Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd.'s "Solotex®."
"Solotex®" is a material with qualities and high functionalities that traditional polyester and nylon could not express. But why is it so popular?
To uncover the secret, we talked to Koji Takeshita, General Manager of Technology Development, and Miyuki Okada, General Manager of Apparel Marketing at the company.
PROFILE
Koji Takeshita
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., Technology and Production Division, General Manager of Technology Development After joining Teijin Fibers Ltd., he was involved in the development of polyester staple fibers, spun yarns, and polyester textiles. Since April 2017, he has been in his current position overseeing product development departments for both apparel and industrial materials.
PROFILE
Miyuki Okada
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., General Manager of Apparel Marketing After joining Teijin Limited, she was assigned to the women's textiles sales department in Tokyo. Later, she moved to Osaka, where she was responsible for the textile sales to Kyoto wholesalers. After transfer to the marketing department, she was involved in new business development, yarn sales to original suppliers in Hokuriku, and textile sales both domestically and internationally. Since around 2016, she has mainly been involved in the branding of materials such as "Solotex®" and has been in her current position since 2020.
"Solotex®" is Also Used in Cushion Materials & Vehicle Seats
Image courtesy: Teijin Frontier
Please share the background of the development of "Solotex®."
Takeshita"Solotex®" was initially manufactured and sold by Solotex Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Teijin Fibers Limited (now: Teijin Frontier) and Asahi Kasei Corporation, as a fiber project using PTT (polytrimethylene terephthalate).
From around 1990, the production of polyester and nylon shifted to China and Southeast Asia, resulting in cost competition. Consequently, Japan had to offer high-quality materials to survive. At that time, production costs for PTT fibers were high, and establishing the technology for spinning them into yarn was a significant barrier. However, Solotex Co. Ltd. overcame these challenges and began manufacturing and selling the new fiber as "Solotex®."
Later, in 2010, the joint venture was dissolved. Teijin Fibers Limited took over the business and has continued selling it in its current form.
Please tell us about the features of "Solotex®."
TakeshitaThe main feature is its stretchability. The polymer has a zigzag structure and forms a spiral, making it excellent in elasticity and shape stability.
It also has a soft texture and can be dyed at low temperatures.
It's used not only in clothes but also in cushion materials and pen tips, right?
TakeshitaThe moderate firmness, stretchability, and shape retention of "Solotex®" make it suitable for repeatedly used vehicle seats and cushioning materials.
We offer a wide lineup of "Solotex®" to meet customers' demands and applications. Since fibers used in industrial materials cannot be used directly for clothing, we adapt the yarn types and thicknesses according to their use cases.
The Advantages of the Spiral Structure
Image provided by: Teijin Frontier
How did the polymer's spiral structure play a role in its development?
TakeshitaWe knew from the beginning that it had a spiral structure, so we started development by wondering if we could use it for textile products. However, once we started, we encountered many challenges that needed to be addressed.
During fiberization and processing, excessive stretchability would appear, and it took time to establish the technology for drawing uniform yarn, among other difficulties. The yarn was extremely delicate, and just developing the yarn took several years. Further time was required to enhance the completeness of the product when it came to dyeing and marketing.
Please tell us the results of comparing "Solotex®" to other fibers.
TakeshitaCompared to nylon and polyester, "Solotex®" exhibits higher elongation and recovery rates. Additionally, it excels in weather resistance, making it a material that can be enjoyed for a long time.
One thing to note is its softness. Depending on the product, it can be softer than polyester and nylon, and some types of yarn are reported to be even softer than cashmere.
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