Fabric factory
An integrated fabric&blanket making factory in Japan
~ with the original techniques of skilled craftsmen ~
WOOL
Sheep has uniquely evolved to withstand both heat and cold, depending on their climate. This is because, since ancient times, sheep have lived in places with intense temperature differences.
The greatest features of wool are “scale” and “crimp”. The fiber’s surface contains a humidity control valve called scale, which will automatically adjust to a comfortable humidity level by opening and closing. In addition, the crimped, coiled pile produces soft and fluffy fabrics.
Moreover, wool’s thermal conductivity (to learn more, about thermal conductivity, go to >> What makes a warm fabric? ) is overwhelmingly lower than that of other fibers. Wool keeps cold air out and has excellent hygroscopicity and moisture release.
However, wool has a few weaknesses. The presence of scale means that the fibers are entangled and felt and cannot be washed. However, since our wool is shrink-proofed, the fibers do not get tangled easily even after washing. This makes it possible to wash our wool freely.
How we handle fiber
ACRILIC
Acrylic is a fiber made for wool . Acrylic blankets contain a lot of air and are plump and warm because they form a crimp, just like wool. In addition, it was found that animal fur has a two-layer structure made up of “guard hair” and “down hair”.
While the guard hair is soft, the down hair firmly supports the guard hair and plays a role in improving heat retention. Acrylic has a two-layer structure like animal fur. When used as a blanket, it prevents cold air from flowing in (to learn more, go to >> The secrets of acrylic warmth).
As with wool, the thermal conductivity of the fiber itself (to learn more about thermal conductivity, go to >> What makes a warm fabric?) is also excellent. The fiber can be finished into a more delicate touch by changing its cross-section and fineness. The feel and high-quality gloss when using ultra-fine fibers are similar to those of animal fur, such as mink or fox.
The fibers themselves are resistant to light and aging, and they can represent any colors. This is because the refractive index of the fiber itself is relatively low and color fastness is high. For instance, the Mona Lisa blanket is reproduced faithfully by combining deep colors and taking advantage of acrylic’s unique properties.
COTTON
Cotton is very good in terms of hygroscopicity. It is hot and tends to be stuffy in the summer. If the humidity in the bed is too high, sweating will cease and heat dissipation from the hands and feet will be impeded, resulting in depression that may interfere with sleep.
This explains why people have difficulty sleeping in the summer and why elderly people can suffer from heatstroke while sleeping. However, cotton sucks up the steam that is created. In addition, the electrification train is a fiber similar to human skin, so it is gentle on our skin . This makes cotton perfect for baby bedding since babies have sensitive skin.
Long pile cotton fabrics can be used not only in summer but also in winter by placing a cotton blanket under a comforter. Doing so absorbs moisture and also increases warmth.
In addition, cotton is a fiber that has been popular since ancient times in Japan, and it has a texture unique to natural fibers. At our factory, the Raschel knitted blanket returns to its original cotton state so you can enjoy its texture to the fullest.
Now, our cotton fabrics are not currently manufactured overseas, only produced in Izumiotsu, Japan.
Special features
There is also an increasing need for blankets to be given special functions. In addition to the above three types, we also handle special yarns such as flame-retardant materials.
In addition to the characteristics of the material itself as described above, there are roughly two ways to add more functions.
The first is a type in which functional ingredients are kneaded directly into the yarn or modified. In this case, the function lasts longer. The second is a method of adding functions during the blanket manufacturing process. Even in this case, in most cases, the washing durability required by 10 times or more. Below are some examples of adding functions.
・ Antibacterial: Extracts natural fibers such as camellia, aloe, and grapefruit
・ Deodorant: Sweat odor, long-term care odor, room drying odor, Bincho charcoal
・ Anti-allergy: mites, pollen, PM2.5
・ Moisturizing: Moisture absorption, heat generation, resistance to stuffiness, antistatic
・ Others: Anti-virus, cool contact feeling, water absorption and quick drying, eco-friendly material
