Ultra Light Down back again with amazing sensation

27 Sep '11

3 min read

The new Ultra Light Down line, created through the joint efforts of UNIQLO and Toray, hit store shelves in 2010 to universal acclaim. The amazing warmth and lightness of these items completely overturned conventional wisdom about down garments. These products were so popular that they were virtually sold out by the end of December, to the disappointment of consumers.

For the 2011 fall/winter season, UNIQLO is proudly bringing back Ultra Light Down, now even lighter at an amazing 199 grams. And with more design variations than ever before, UNIQLO's new Ultra Light Down lineup will be widely available in abundant quantities.

If there ever was a time to try Ultra Light Down, it's this winter. Put one on and you'll be amazed at the lightness and warmth of these revolutionary garments, which UNIQLO and Toray jointly developed and released.

Debut of "New Ultra Light Down"
For this year's fall/winter season, UNIQLO succeeded in making the new Ultra Light Down line even lighter, at just 199 grams. Last year, stock levels fell because the material was difficult to produce in mass volumes. But in 2011, UNIQLO secured full cooperation from Toray to ensure steady production. The items have also been given a more durable water-repellent finish, to repel rain and moisture better than ever before. This year, experience the amazing sensation of UNIQLO's Ultra Light Down lineup.

The Secret behind the Lightness of "New Ultra Light Down"
The secret behind "New Ultra Light Down" lies in the raw materials that incorporate special technologies.

- A special process enables direct insertion of down into the high-density ultra-fine nylon fabric!
Ordinary down jackets feature a 2-layer structure comprising a bag called a "down pack" that contains the down and the outer fabric layer with the down stitched into the fabric to prevent the down escaping (Fig. 1). For "New Ultra Light Down," heat and pressure has been applied to the high-density ultra-fine nylon fabric to further close the mesh between threads (Figs, 2 & 3), making it difficult for the down to escape. This special process eliminates the need for down packs, thereby reducing the weight of the finished product.

- Use of ultra-thin thread to preserve the softness of the fabric
The use of ultra-thin thread makes it possible to make the fabric slimmer while at the same time preserving the fabric softness and strength. This special thread is as thin and supple as human hairs. A single thread is made up of even thinner multiple fibers.

The Warmth of Premium Down
The use of carefully selected high-quality premium down ensures an ideal level of warmth without using excess down.

Product Lineup
Jacket and parka are pocketable to enhance portability. The number of variations has been increased to 3 models for men (3 models in '10) and 4 models for women (3 models in '10) to realize compatibility with diverse scenarios.

UNIQLO

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