UNIQLO DEVELOPS A NEW KIND OF DOWN JACKET

Uniqlo is bolstering its outerwear offering.

Earlier this fall the Japanese retailer introduced its new “Hybrid Down” outerwear program. Made from combining premium down and a newly-developed down with moisture-absorbing and heat-generating padding, the new range is designed to enhance warmth performance while maintaining a functional and stylish-looking coat.

The retailer came up with the idea of this new range from conversations with its global brand ambassador, and a rising star in international sports, Ayumu Hirano. His ideas led to factoring in the freedom of movement he seeks during competition and the structure of the human body to optimize everyday usage.

To make this idea come to fruition, Uniqlo teamed up with fabric technology partner Toray to develop a moisture-absorbing, heat-generating rayon polyester blend fabric for the new lineup. Rayon inherently generates heat from the skin’s moisture vapor, while polyester traps this heat to retain warmth.

The jackets, which retail between $129.90 and $179.90, are now available at Uniqlo stores and online.