Too Hot! - Japanese Paper-wear about to Burn up the Market

Paper products attracted attention at German exhibition
One of great Japanese products is fine Japanese paper, which is used in many kinds of products. Among these, perhaps the most well-known use of paper is "shoji" which is used in Japanese houses. Shoji is a sliding door made of latticed wood into which Japanese paper is pasted. These doors are situated between rooms and windows or corridors and act like a blind. Shoji enable soft light to filter through the paper and create a calm atmosphere inside rooms. They are almost indispensable in Japanese houses. Japanese paper is used to produce excellent interior goods, and also aid in ventilating and for keeping rooms warm. Shoji, in fact, almost 'breathes' itself - it lets air enter a room and keeps cold air out in wintertime.

Now, clothing made from Japanese paper that utilizes its special qualities is attracting attention in Japan and overseas. At last February's "BioFach" exhibition of ecological products held annually in Nuremburg, Germany, Japanese company KT Knit Co. Ltd's display of underwear, including socks, panties and shirts, drew unexpected attention.

ARAI Kimie, public relations representative of KT Knit says the company was embarrassed at the big reaction, "We did not expect such good feedback," she says. "Everyone was ardently asking me, 'What plant is Japanese paper made from?,' 'Whether it is good for your health,' and so on. After participating in this exhibition, we received 10,000 product orders from France which is more than our production team can handle."

Japanese paper has more characteristics than cotton, not only for absorbing sweat, aiding ventilation and retaining heat, but also for being comfortable to the touch. This paper can make you feel cool in summer and warm in winter. It also helps to moisturize dry skin. Kimie, emphasizing some of the positive feedback she has received, says "People suffering from atopic dermatitis especially welcome our products. Some who had to apply cream to their bodies before wearing cotton garments found they could wear Japanese paper garments without applying anything." The Japan Atopic Dermatitis Association recognized the benefits of Japanese paper and is now recommending these products.

Japanese paper-wear has other beneficial aspects. The manufacturing process is very environmentally friendly. The materials used in Japanese paper are made from the bark of kouzo, mitsumata and gampi, which belong to the mulberry family. These are primeval trees that are raised naturally, and the bark of the trees can be peeled off. The bark regrows naturally in three months. It is not necessary to cultivate and raise the trees. Since products are made of paper, i,e, wood, they can break down to become soil. This is the ultimate ecological product made from the blessings of the earth.

10,000 bank notes will not tear, even if washed
However, behind the development of these products is a story of a large amount of effort by KT Knit. It was approximately 10 years ago that KT Knit, which had been in the knit-wear business, began making Japanese paper fiber. Their home town of Fukui prefecture is known for "Echizen Washi" (Japanese paper manufactured in Fukui) and the incentive came when the local manufacturers decided to promote Japanese paper to the world. ARAI Takashi, president of KT Knit (and Kimie's father) had an idea to create Japanese paper fiber and challenged for it.

Mr. Arai recalls the past. "We tried to make Japanese paper thin and twisted, but it was easily cut. Although we kept failing, I believed we could make it." Five years after beginning development, the company at last created Japanese paper fiber by changing the ratio of the ingredients. Soon afterwards, some trial products were made, but the result was not as expected due to roughness and irritation caused when touching. This meant the company could not move forward with their manufacturing, however Mr. Arai did not give up.

Two years ago, with the cooperation of a fiber manufacturer, the company succeeded in creating a soft Japanese paper fiber - fluffy, but very strong. Kimie says, "When people hear it was made of Japanese paper, they think it will disintegrate when washed. In fact, it is as strong as ordinary fiber. If you put a 10,000 bank note which is made of Japanese paper and a dollar notes which is not, into a washing machine, you will see the dollar notes will tear, while the 10,000 note will not. Japanese paper is very strong."

Sanitary napkins' big failure
The first product KT Knit created was washable sanitary napkins. They tried to grow a large market, but it ended in failure. Except for some women with weak skin, women who are accustomed to disposable napkins did not respond to the product. The next product to be developed was socks, developed by adopting the antibacterial nature of Japanese paper. These socks have ventilation and heat-retaining characteristics and have gained a good reputation, selling well as "Echizen Washi socks." However, since their prices are relatively inexpensive, it is not easy for the company to make a profit.

Next, KT Knit developed the above-mentioned washable Japanese paper underwear, which is sold under the brand name "Como como." Last July, new outer wear including sweaters, one-piece dresses and skirts developed by Kimie went on sale under the name of "je belle" and next spring, polo shirts wearable by both sexes are scheduled to go on sale under the brand name "Lono." Japanese paper is more effective than ordinary fiber at protecting skin from ultraviolet rays and can be created in any color since it is originally paper. Their products were produced taking advantage of this characteristic.

Now, Japanese cuisine is enjoying a worldwide boom. The secret of its popularity lies in its delicious taste and beauty, and furthermore the use of natural ingredients. Soft Japanese paper-wear, in which no bleaching is used, are also made from natural materials and is starting to be accepted by health conscious people around the world. Could a paper-wear boom occur in the near future, just like it has for Japanese food?

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