High -tech masks for a summer of pandemic

Sagae, cradle of a new style in the knitting fabric

Satō Masaki, president and fourth generation of the founders of the spinning and tissue company Sato Seni in Sagae, in the prefecture of Yamagata, presents, proudly, his masks: “The idea of a Washi paper mask could be littleattractive for some people since it gives the impression of being hard.We seek to end this prejudice with our thread made of Washi paper for clothing, which has an unmatched quality ”.

Yamagata is a prefecture that suffers great snowfall, where people dedicated themselves to serulture during the winter.Enter the Meiji period, and as part of the new national policies of the era, the wool fabric industry was introduced in the prefecture and the yarn and fabric began to flourish.At their best moment there were 400 textile factories.However, only 20 were reduced as a consequence of price competition with countries like China or Vietnam.President Satō, whose company continues to produce these matters, vehemently expresses his desire to create, from Sagae for the world, a type of point fabric never seen before.

The threads that Satō manufactures, of unique and unique quality in their kind, are highly appreciated by high -end brands from around the world, which buy them exclusively.Its washable and antibacterial masks made with Washi's knitted fabric are another fruit of its commitment to quality.In January 2020, when he learned that the demand for masks began to increase, he decided to take advantage of the potential of his knitting and create masks of common use, but of high functionality.

In the front pocket of the mask a woven fabric with threads with a copper compound bath is placed, something that improves antibacterial and deodorant abilities of the tissue.(Courtesy of Sato Seni.)

Most washable masks that are available in the market are cotton.This material gives them hygroscopicity (the ability to absorb and exhale atmospheric humidity), but, since they take to dry, it also facilitates the emergence of various bacteria.Taking into account that summer is just around the corner, Sato Seni sought to take advantage of the good perspiration and ease of drying that offers the Washi paper.

Traditionally, to make washi threads, the paper is cut into long strips and then twists.It is in that process when the hardness of the material arises.To make the thread softer, after cutting the paper into strips, it wrinkles and spins along with polyester.

The Sini Seni masks use an extremely thin Washi paper that weighs about 12 grams per square meter.They are manufactured with a knitting machine that does not leave seams and have a three -dimensional shape that wraps the face.The company made resistance tests of the mask and could verify that it endured approximately 300 washing in a conventional washing machine without losing its shape.

Satō explains that the crisis of the Coronavirus made him reconsider and realize the potential that the tissue industry of Japan has, as well as the contributions that this country can make to the creation of a new culture of the masks.One of these contributions is the use of a traditional Japanese material such as Washi and the adaptation of Western production technologies.He also says that, in addition to the masks, he would like to experiment with the creation of new products and exploit new demands rediscovering Japan's own culture.

Masks for the care of the skin of a manual job workshop in Kyoto

On the other hand, common use masks Fairy Silk Mask are made 100 % silk, even the tapes of the ears, and are manufactured by Kyoto Silk, a company located in the Fushimi district, in Kyoto.Its products are very popular among women with sensitive or delicate skin.

Silk, a highly appreciated material for clothing, has a very particular luminosity and softness.It is said that it helps to take care of the skin because its main matter is the protein produced by silk worms.In addition, it is also characterized by having a special, fresh texture in summer and warm in winter.

These masks use a silk knitted fabric that is used for newborn clothes.The tapes are also made of silk and are adjustable.(Courtesy of Kyoto Silk)

Yoshida Chie, general director of the company, tells us that Kyoto Maikos usually use pieces of their old kimonos to polish their skin.Kyoto Silk emerged thanks to an idea born from that custom and in 1985 he manufactured the first silk towel in Japan as his inaugural product.At that time the silk was still considered a luxury product and it was described as waste.

Since its foundation, Kyoto Silk has committed to the creation of products that exploit all the natural potential of silk.One of its most popular products since then have been silk tassels to clean the face.His workshop, of just under 100 square meters, is about 10 minutes on foot from the Daigoji Temple, World Heritage of Humanity.The production of the products is in charge of five artisans who manufacture them by hand, one by one, very carefully.This company is a perfect example of a traditional Kyoto workshop.

Kyoto Silk already had experience in the manufacture of masks, but these were to prevent the dryness of the throat during the night.His high efficiency masks for the summer arose thanks to the comment of one of his clients which informed them that his skin improved markedly after placing the sleeping mask below the disposable mask that he used daily as part of the measures to protect himself fromCoronavirus.

Denim masks dyed with natural water

Okayama denim is a famous type of okayama prefecture.The towns of Ihara and Kojima, city of Ihara and Kurashiki, respectively, have been known for a long time for their indigo dyed textiles.In these areas, denim factories are concentrated, manufacturing jeans and processing plants with one of the best qualities worldwide.The company of clothing Aoki Hifuku, founded in 1961 in the town of Ihara, launched a washable denable mask that has achieved great popularity not only among the lovers of jeans, but also among the general public in general in the general public.

Aoki Toshiki, president and designer of the company, tells us that, traditionally, one of the attractions of this material is that it is split as it is used, but that in the case of the masks it is the opposite.The company sought to develop a denim fabric that fell as little as possible, so although it is wash about 30 times it continues to be seen as new.

Mask with folds that use two layers of gauze integrated into the denis, the seams are invisible by the front.(Courtesy of Aoki Hifuku)

In mid -March, the director of the bank branch where Aoki Hifuku has its account, suggested the president of the company to manufacture washable masks with his fabric.For this, Aoki chose Batista Tela, which is used in denim shirts and is characterized by being light and allowing the air passage.At first he had thought that the mask had a three -dimensional form, but finally opted for a fold design.The latter implies more work than a three -dimensional mask, in addition to using denim, greater technology is needed to offer a high quality product.Despite this, they did not give up since the objective was to manufacture an unparalleled mask.

Ihara den.The secret of elegance in the quality of the material is that this is dyed from the moment of yarn.Thanks to this the color is absorbed and can be kept, this technique is known as dyeing by reaction.In addition, natural water of the upper current of the Oda River is used.After dyeing, the water that is discarded goes through a strict cleaning process to protect the environment, is used in planting vegetables and rice to finally return to the river.That is, it is a denim mask made with a sustainable process.

Masks with Olympic Sneakers Material

The new coronavirus was a strong blow to the economy of Japan.The impact was so strong that even the great clothing company Renown declared bankruptcy.Despite this serious situation, some local companies that only sold raw materials to others before, have found hope in the direct sale of products to the public.One of those examples is Hatta Tateami firm, based in the city of Sabae, Fukui Prefecture.

Hatta Tateami, has high density Double Russell fabric machinery, unusual and highly appreciated technology in the world.The fabric of the shoes with which the gold medalists in Marathon, Takahashi Naoko and Noguchi Mizuki ran in the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games, respectively, was manufactured by this company.

Double Russell fabric is characterized by being a three -layer structure, the front, the setback and the union.Has excellent perspiration and elasticity.(Courtesy of Hatta Tateami)

Hatta Tateami has been exploiting in different areas the possibilities of this high efficiency material, for example, in products such as the footwear cover of professional corridors, the inside of other materials for sports clothing or in the covers of the seats of the cars.This company, founded in 1949, always remained behind the scenes, but now, with its Iina mask, it is the first time that it establishes a direct treatment with consumers by selling a product that takes advantage of the technology of the vertical fabric, inwhich are specialists.

Sahco Shōko, in charge of the development of products from the company's sales department, tells us that before the crisis of the Coronavirus there was the idea of selling something directly to consumers and thus having an alternative for the continuity of the company.Realizing the success that masks made for their employees decided to start working on this as a commercial product.

The mask is 100 % made in Fukui, from yarn to manufacturing.It has an adequate thickness, 1.7 mm, and, when placing on the face it creates a space between the face and the fabric, which allows you to breathe and speak easily.In mid -June they plan to sell summer masks with an improved air passage mechanism.

Masks made in the gym of an abandoned school

In the gym of what was the primary school of Koshiji, (town of Naka-Noto, Prefecture of Ishikawa) now abandoned, the pleasant sound of sewing machines is heard.In these facilities, 20 sewing machines were placed and working, maintaining a healthy distance, some 40 employees of Marui Orimono, cutting and ironing fabric, as well as placing the tapes and packing the refreshing masks of summer summer.

The gym of an abandoned school near the company became the production center.Employees manufacturing masks.(Courtesy of Marui Orimono)

Marui Orimono has the highest market share in regards to synthetic fiber fabrics, but like the Hatta Tateami company, he had no experience selling his own products directly to consumers.Okajima Aya, from the Marui Orimono Business Planning Department, tells us that since January they were aware of the situation of the infections since they have a factory in China.For this reason, they concluded that the demand for fresh masks that could be used during the summer would increase to avoid heat blows.His rapid decisions were the origin of his success.

At first they planned to produce 5.000 pieces per month, however, just a month after they started selling the masks on their Internet site in early April, they already had orders for 20.000 pieces.This forced them to work for forced marches even during the weekends.Its sales quintupled the first forecasts.According to the long -term predictions of the Japan Meteorological Agency, the summer of 2020 will be hotter than the average both in the east and western Japan, so the development of masks that increases the sensation of freshness is urgent.

PHOTOGRAW.With the exception of the cut of the fabric, everything is handmade.(Courtesy of Aoki Hifuku)