There’s such a rich and fascinating world to explore even in synthetic fibers.
After finishing his sample inspection and leaving Toyama, Mr. Kaneko headed for Sabae City in Fukui Prefecture. He drove there and arrived at “KB Seiren,” a yarn manufacturer.
"Berryma® X," a polyester-nylon blended yarn produced here, is the world’s first ultra-fine microfiber with a segmented structure and is widely used in materials such as cleaning cloths. What makes the "WIND ANORAK" unique is that it adapts this material for use in apparel.
(“Berryma®” is a registered trademark of KB Sereon Co., Ltd.)
"WIND ANORAK" ¥ 30,800
“We chose this fabric because it uses synthetic fibers but has a classic look. The more you wear it, the more character it develops, which fits perfectly with the concept of ”clothes you can wear for 10 years.’ The subtle sheen this fabric gives off is also quite appealing, isn’t it?”
Polyester and nylon resins are melted by heat, then forced through a mold under pressure and gradually spun into fine threads.
An oil film is applied to the surface of the fibers to prevent friction, static electricity, pilling, and broken threads.
We also toured the facility where “Berryma® X” is actually manufactured. Huge machines were lined up across the vast grounds, where ultra-fine synthetic fibers are spun. We were told that a wide variety of fibers are developed here—ranging from fashion to medical and IT applications, as well as fibers used in environmental management.
"I hadn't really thought about it that deeply before, but it really made me stop and think. It's true—synthetic fibers are, after all, fibers that are created with specific functions in mind. I'd always focused solely on natural fibers, but now I realize there's such a rich and deep world out there."
From here, we’ll move on to the weaving shop. First, the spun yarn is fed into a waterjet loom. A high-pressure stream of water guides the weft yarn through the warp, weaving it into a single piece of fabric.
The reason there are so many synthetic fiber factories in the Hokuriku region is the abundance of soft water. The smooth water quality is well-suited for synthetic fibers and ensures consistent quality when weaving on water-jet looms.
The spun yarn is wound onto a large bobbin and transported to the loom. Careful preparation is an essential part of the process when weaving with ultra-fine fibers. It appears that frequent maintenance of the machinery, setting the optimal tension, and removing any fuzz from the yarn in advance are all necessary steps.
"Synthetic fibers are mass-produced, and people tend to think of them as being fully automated, but surprisingly, a lot of human effort goes into them. That’s exactly why we have to create products that many customers will be happy to pick up and use. I feel that responsibility."
