What kind of fabric is this? The technical terms are a bit hard to understand.
Dr. Gunze has put together a simple summary of commonly used terms.
A row
- acrylicFibers and Materials
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A synthetic fiber with a fluffy texture and good heat retention. It has similar properties to wool, but is much stronger. It is often used in winter clothing. It also has the characteristic of being wrinkle-resistant.
Representative brand: HOTMAGIC
- Hemp (Linen/Ramie)Fibers and Materials
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A type of natural fiber. Linen and ramie, which are representative of hemp, are characterized by their excellent moisture absorption and dissipation properties, and have a smooth and cool feel, so they are often used in summer clothing. While they are the strongest natural fibers, they also have poor elasticity, are prone to wrinkling, and tend to shrink when wet. Hemp, which looks cool, is popular in the summer!
- Amayori (softly twisted)Fibers and Materials
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This refers to thread that is twisted fewer times when it is made. Fewer twists make the thread softer and fluffier to the touch.
- Knittingmaterial
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This is a fabric made by connecting the stitches (loops) of yarn. Compared to woven fabrics, it is possible to create a softer fabric with more elasticity. It is also called stockinette.
- American CottonFibers and Materials
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This is cotton produced in the United States. The famous types of cotton are Upland cotton and Pima cotton. Upland cotton is the most commonly used. Pima cotton is extra long staple and high quality.
- Argoform CutGunze terminology
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This refers to Gunze's unique three-dimensional design of underwear. It is designed based on ergonomics to distribute pressure evenly all over the garment when worn. It is ideally cut to prevent stiffness even in the "shoulders" and "armpits," which are particularly affected by body movements. Gunze named this "Argoform Cut" after ergonomics.
Representative brand: YG/ KAITEKIKOUBOU
- Ultimate Pima® CottonFibers and Materials
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This is a high-quality cotton with roots in Sea Island cotton. It is an extra-long staple cotton characterized by its luster, extremely long fibers, and moist fluffiness, making it truly worthy of the name "ultimate" organic cotton.
*"Ultimate Pima®" is a registered trademark of Taisho Boseki Co., Ltd.
- WoolFibers and Materials
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It is an animal fiber obtained from Merino sheep. It has excellent heat retention and moisture absorption/release properties, so it is often used in winter clothing. Just imagine the sheep and you can see how warm it is!
- Aatrox Smoothmaterial
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This is a variation of the smooth knit. While the usual knit is 1 stitch on the front and 1 stitch on the back, this is a modified smooth knit structure with 2 stitches on the front and 2 stitches on the back. Air is trapped between the skin and the fabric, which improves heat retention. It is thick and suitable for winter.
- Egyptian CottonFibers and Materials
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This is the general name for cotton grown in Egypt. It is produced along the Nile River. The fine and long fibers are used as high-quality cotton, and can be used to make fine threads of 60 or more count.
- OverpantsProduct name
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These are women's bottoms worn over shorts. In winter, they protect the waist from the cold, and in summer, they reduce the stickiness of outerwear caused by sweat.
- Woven fabric (fabric)material
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This fabric is made by crossing warp and weft threads. It doesn't have much elasticity, but it can be used to make a firm fabric.
K row
- Cutoff (Kirippa)Gunze terminology
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This is a design where the edge of the fabric is cut with scissors. Since there are no seams on the edge of the fabric, it feels good against the skin and the lines of the underwear are less noticeable on top of the clothes. It is also called kirippa.
Representative brands: KIREILABO/SEEK/YG
- Kanokomaterial
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It is a type of flat knit with a variation in texture, and has a pique-like unevenness. It reduces the surface area that comes into contact with the body, so it always feels smooth to the touch. It is also breathable and does not get stuffy even when you sweat, so it is often used in products for spring and summer.
- Completely seamless®Gunze terminology
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It refers to a technique for finishing without using sewing thread, or to items that use this technique. Instead of sewing together parts such as the body fabric and sleeves, they are glued together using a special technique, the hems and cuffs are left unfinished, and the washing tags are transfer printed instead of sewn on, resulting in underwear with no seams at all. This reduces the irritation caused by seams that cause stress to the skin. Also, because there are no rough seams, you can experience a feeling of wearing nothing at all.
*"Completely Seamless®"is a registered trademark of Gunze Limited.
Representative brand: KIREILABO
- Brushedmaterial
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The process of scratching the surface of the fabric to produce fuzz is called raising. This makes the fabric softer to the touch and increases its heat retention. Fabric that is raised only on the skin side is called raised back.
- CupraFibers and Materials
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It is a regenerated fiber with a soft feel and drape. It is made from cotton linters. Cotton linters are short fibers that are made by removing the long fibers from the cotton seed.
- Hard twistFibers and Materials
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This is yarn that has been twisted more than usual. The more twisted it is, the stronger the fiber becomes and the smoother it feels against the skin. It is often used for summer products.
- Kirippa (Cutoff)Gunze terminology
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This is a style where the edge of the fabric is cut with scissors and left as is. Since there are no seams on the edge of the fabric, it feels good against the skin and the lines of the underwear are less noticeable on top of the clothes. It is also called cut-off.
Representative brands: KIREILABO/SEEK/YG
- Crepematerial
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This material is made with tightly twisted yarn, giving it a textured feel. It has less surface area that comes into contact with the skin, making it less sticky and refreshing. It is a fabric used for spring and summer underwear and pajamas, and has a crisp feel.
- Antibacterial and deodorizing treatmentprocessing
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This is a processing method that inhibits the growth of specific odor-causing bacteria on textiles and prevents the generation of odor.
Safety (SEK Mark)
Products that meet the standards of the Textile Products Sanitary Processing Council are allowed to display the "SEK Mark." The SEK Mark guarantees not only "antibacterial and deodorant effects," but also "durability of effects (washability)" and "safety of processing." It is a mark of trust that is given to products that do not contain harmful substances and have passed skin irritation tests.
- Synthetic fiberFibers and Materials
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A chemically synthesized fiber. Polyester, acrylic, and nylon are said to be the three major synthetic fibers.
- Corduroymaterial
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A familiar example is the material used to make blackboard erasers found in schools. It is characterized by its ridged weave, and is a strong, thick fabric.
- Compact SpinFibers and Materials
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This thread is made by twisting fibers that will cause fuzz to form during the thread making process. It has less fuzz and feels smoother against the skin when used for underwear.
Representative brand: YG
S row
- Regenerated FibersFibers and Materials
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It is made by dissolving plant-based fibers and regenerating them into other fibers. Examples of this include rayon, cupra, and lyocell.
- soccermaterial
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This material has a wavy texture on the surface. It does not stick to the skin and has a refreshing feel. It is often used for spring and summer pajamas. In Japan, it is called shijira weave.
- satinmaterial
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This fabric is woven so that the warp or weft threads are longer on the surface. It has a glossy, luxurious feel.
- Sarumata (Monkey-legged)Product name
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These men's boxer style pants have a gusset under the crotch for extra room. They are a perennially popular item at KAITEKIKOUBOU.
Representative brand: KAITEKIKOUBOU
- Sea Island CottonFibers and Materials
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Also known as sea island cotton, this cotton is produced in the coastal regions and nearby islands of the southeastern United States. Its fibers are very fine, with long hairs and a silky luster. It is an extra-long staple cotton that can be used to make fine threads of over 100 count, and is known as the finest cotton.
- seamlessothers
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In underwear, fabrics and products without seams are generally called seamless. They are used for the hems and cuffs of innerwear, and the waists of shorts, making them feel flat when worn.
- Jacquardmaterial
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This fabric has a pattern that is created by knitting or weaving, rather than printing. The uneven surface pattern appears to stand out.
- Chambraymaterial
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This fabric uses colored threads for the warp and white threads (or threads of a different color from the warp) for the weft. It has a iridescent luster and a unique marbled texture.
- SilkFibers and Materials
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It is a high-value fiber also known as the "Queen of Fibers" and is a type of animal fiber. The raw material is raw silk spun from silkworm cocoons. It is a long, thin fiber with an elegant and beautiful luster, excellent moisture absorption and release properties, and is a delicate fiber. The trade route between the East and West in ancient times is called the Silk Road, and silk has fascinated people all over the world from that time to the present. Gunze's origins were in the sericulture industry.
- Skin-touch processingprocessing
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Gunze's original "moisturizing processing". By recreating the moisturizing structure of skin on the surface of the fabric, a layer that stores moisture is created, suppressing moisture evaporation from the skin. A veil of moisture gently wraps around dry skin.
Representative brands: KIREILABO/pied clair/Skin Touch Cotton
- Squalane processing (moisturizing processing)processing
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This is a fiber made from stabilized squalene extracted from the liver of deep-sea sharks, which is also used as an ingredient in cosmetics. When applied, squalene supplements the anti-drying function of the sebum film, helping to maintain a high level of skin moisture.
- Smooth knitmaterial
- SleevelessProduct name
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This refers to a sleeveless shirt. At Gunze, we distinguish it from running and tank tops, and refer to a shirt that is like a T-shirt without the sleeves. Compared to running tops, it is less likely to show through the back of an outer shirt, and is popular among people who don't like shirts with sleeves.
- Bonded knit gauzematerial
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This material is made by partially fastening two layers of woven or knitted fabric together with thread. It is often made of two layers of thin, flexible fabric, and has a soft feel against the skin. It is sometimes used as a pajama fabric for spring and summer.
Ta row
- Warp knittingmaterial
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This is a fabric in which loops are knitted continuously in the warp direction. It is generally thinner than weft knitted fabrics.
- Double Gauzematerial
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This material is made of two layers of coarsely woven gauze. It is light and soft, and is often used for pajamas.
- Cardboard knitmaterial
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It is made by joining two pieces of fabric together, and its cross section is structured like cardboard. The layer of air between the pieces of fabric stores the warmth of body heat, making it a light and warm fabric. It is used as a fabric for pajamas and innerwear in the fall and winter.
- DenierFibers and Materials
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The thickness of long fibers is expressed in units called denier. The higher the denier number, the thicker the thread. The denier used in tights is a unit of thickness that represents the thickness of the fabric. 1 denier is equivalent to 1g of fiber with a length of 9,000m.
*If 9,000m of thread weighs 80g, then the thickness is 80 denier. For comparison, a human hair is about 60 denier thick. Stockings are mainly made of 20 denier thread, so you can see that they are made from very thin thread.
- Tenjikumaterial
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All the loops are pulled out to the front side and knitted, so the stitches on the front and back are different. It has less elasticity than milling and is the most common knitting material often used for T-shirts.
- Natural FibersFibers and Materials
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These are fibers produced by nature. They can be divided into plant fibers such as cotton and linen (ramie) and animal fibers such as wool (cashmere) and angora.
- Dobbymaterial
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Satin fabric is a typical example. It is characterized by small woven patterns, and stripes are the norm. It is highly absorbent and smooth, so it is used for spring and summer pajamas.
Na row
- NylonFibers and Materials
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It is one of the strongest synthetic fibers. It is light, stretchy, elastic, and wrinkle-resistant. It also has relatively low moisture absorption and tends to yellow when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is often used for stockings and women's underwear.
- Knitted quiltmaterial
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This is a knitted fabric with padding (polyester, etc.) sandwiched between the front and back fabrics. It has excellent heat retention and is often used in winter.
- Knitted TrunksProduct name
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These trunks are made of knitted material. Compared to typical woven fabric trunks, they are soft and stretchy. Recommended for those who prefer a looser fit than boxer shorts.
- Knitted ponchomaterial
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It is a material similar to jersey. It is double-knitted and has a tight weave, making the fabric thick. It is not see-through.
- Nextra Cotton®Gunze terminology
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This is Gunze's original cotton trademark. It retains the good qualities of cotton while further enhancing the performance of the cotton itself.
Compared to regular cotton,- Excellent dirt removal
- Does not get stuffy
- High deodorizing effect
- Retains shape
(GUNZE comparison) It is used in the GUNZE.
Representative brand: the GUNZE
Ha row
- pilematerial
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This material has pile that forms rings. It is soft and has excellent water absorption. It has a towel-like texture.
- NumberFibers and Materials
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It is a unit of thickness for cotton, linen, and wool threads. The larger the number, the thinner the thread. In other words, the higher the number, the thinner the fabric.
- Foot CoverProduct name
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These socks are not visible when you wear shoes. There are a wide variety of types, from shallow types for pumps, deep types for loafers and sneakers, cushioned types, and five-toe types. They are a fashionable item that can be used in a variety of situations, from casual to business.
- friesmaterial
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This material can be used all year round. It has good elasticity (especially in the horizontal direction) and is soft to the touch. The fabric is knitted by pulling the yarn loops alternately on the front and back, so the stitches look the same on both sides. It is easy to wear and soft to the touch.
- Broadmaterial
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The same thickness of thread is used, but the warp threads are woven at a higher density. The surface has a smooth luster, and it is often used for shirts, pajamas, and aprons. The same thickness of thread is used, but the warp and weft threads are woven at different densities.
- Bear Jerseymaterial
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This refers to a jersey fabric with polyurethane woven into the outer thread. It is a stretchy material. It is used for boxer shorts, etc.
- Herringbonematerial
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This material has a pattern similar to herring bones. It has a continuous V-shaped pattern. It is often used for jackets, coats, tights, etc. In Japan, it is called Sugiaya (cedar twill) because it resembles the shape of a cedar tree.
- Velourmaterial
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This is a fabric with fine nap on the surface. It has a smooth luster and the color changes depending on how the light hits it, which is also an attractive feature. It is sometimes used for loungewear in the fall and winter.
- Boylematerial
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It is a thin woven fabric with a smooth feel. Its low density makes it light and transparent. It has a dry feel to the touch, making it suitable for spring and summer, and is used for pajamas, etc.
- PolyurethaneFibers and Materials
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A synthetic fiber with strong elasticity. It is used for lingerie and stockings that require compression and elasticity.
- polyesterFibers and Materials
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It is the most widely produced synthetic fiber. It is strong and heat resistant, and does not stretch or shrink much when washed, so it does not wrinkle easily. It also has the advantage of being resistant to ultraviolet rays and insects and mold. It dries quickly when used in fabrics, so it is often used in summer materials.
Ma row
- Circular knittingmaterial
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This fabric is knitted into a tubular shape like a belly warmer. By knitting it into a tubular shape, we can create underwear with no seams at the sides.
- CottonFibers and Materials
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The raw material is the "cotton" that grows from the seeds of the cotton plant. It is durable and has high moisture and water absorption properties, making it the most popular material for underwear. The finer, longer, more flexible and lustrous the fibers are, the more luxurious they are considered to be.
- ModalFibers and Materials
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It is a type of rayon. It is stronger than rayon and has a soft texture and flexibility.
- Molded CupProduct name
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This is a bra whose cup shape is processed by heat processing. It features a smooth surface and is less likely to show through outerwear, so it is often worn in the summer when people wear light clothing. Many of the designs are simple, and they are popular with women of all ages.
Ya row
- Long-lasting softness processing (Dua Soft processing)processing
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Even after repeated washing, the fabric will not be damaged and will retain its soft texture for a long time.
Representative brand: KAITEKIKOUBOU /YG
- Weft knittingmaterial
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This fabric has loops knitted in the weft direction. It is made from a single thread. It has higher elasticity than warp knitted fabric.
Ra row
- 3D moldingmaterial
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The knitting is designed to follow the contours of the body. In order to naturally fit the contours and movements of the body, multiple knitting methods are used for each part, and the stretch rate of the fabric is changed. This creates a good fit and comfort. Another feature is that there are few seams in the front gusset area.
Representative brand: BODY WILD
- Ribbed knitmaterial
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This is a method of knitting by alternating front and back knitting. It has excellent elasticity in the horizontal direction and is also called rib knitting. The name comes from the fact that the raised stitches resemble ribs. It is characterized by a knitting pattern that stands out in stripes.
- RayonFibers and Materials
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A regenerated fiber made from wood pulp. It has a luster and drape similar to silk, and has excellent moisture absorption and water absorption properties like cotton and linen. It is used in a wide range of products, from underwear to leggings.
- Long hoseProduct name
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These are knee-high socks for men. They are mainly used in business styles. They hide your shins even when you cross your legs, making your suit look elegant. They also prevent stickiness caused by sweat and protect your suit from damage.
Wa row
- wafflematerial
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It is a fabric with a lattice pattern like a waffle. The unevenness means that less of the fabric comes into contact with the skin, making it less sticky and more comfortable to wear in the summer. The recessed parts trap air, so it also has good heat retention. It is often used in shirts.