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Hello, I’m Kimura from the ApparelX trend blog.
This time, we’ll introduce the much-talked-about multifunctional textile “Octa,” for which orders have also been gradually increasing on ApparelX!
What is Octa?
Octa textile is a polyester fiber made with a special hollow-fiber structure developed by TEIJIN FRONTIER.
Ordinary polyester fibers have a round cross-section, but Octa has eight protrusions arranged radially around the hollow fiber, giving the cross-section a shape like a gear or chikuwa-fu. These eight protrusions are also the origin of the name “Octa,” which comes from the Greek word meaning “eight.”
Thanks to this unique structure, air is trapped inside the fiber, creating multifunctional properties that combine warmth retention, moisture-wicking quick-dry performance, and light weight.
Textiles made with this Octa are often used as active insulation (warm clothing for active use / dynamic thermal insulation) in sportswear and outdoor wear, and are an innovative material with the ideal qualities of being “light and warm.”
〈Reference image: https://www2.teijin-frontier.com/research/story/story08/ 〉
Three features of Octa textile
Lightweight
Its biggest feature is its lightness. The hollow-fiber structure makes the fiber itself extremely light, achieving about 50% less weight compared with polyester fiber of the same diameter.
This lightweight textile integrates the quilt batting and lining through a two-layer structure of a fuzzy surface that traps air and a highly breathable mesh surface, so no lining is needed. It is comfortable even when worn for long periods and easy to move in.
Warmth retention
Because of its structure, which allows a large amount of air to be trapped inside the fiber, it delivers high thermal insulation with only a small amount of material.
It protects body heat from outside cold and maintains a comfortable warmth, making it especially ideal for active outdoor scenes in winter and use in cold regions.
Quick-drying
It quickly disperses and evaporates moisture, so it dries fast even when you sweat, allowing you to stay comfortable without worrying about humidity.
Breathability
Because the gaps between the fibers are large, it is well ventilated and comfortable. It is less likely to feel stuffy even during exercise, and keeps a dry wearing comfort even when worn for long periods.
〈Reference product number: KKF9990-W 〉 The fluffy side with pile is the back side, and the mesh side is the front side.
KKF9990-W Octa® tricot mesh wide textile
Tricot has the stretch characteristic of knitted fabric, while also having good shape retention like woven fabric, combining the strengths of both knitted and woven fabrics.
A distinctive Octa textile with a soft, curled-looking pile shape. Compared with SW5500, the pile is relatively flatter, so it has less volume.
Compared with tricot knitting, raschel knitting has a coarser gauge and greater left-right motion of the guide bars, making it possible to knit openwork fabrics and a variety of distinctive patterns.
Although this is a relatively new product that began being listed in May 2024, it is the best-selling Octa textile on ApparelX!
It is very light and has a soft, fluffy volume, making it perfect for those who want some volume/warmth retention, though not as much as quilt batting.
To give you an idea of the volume, even when 1 meter is folded, it is so bulky that it won’t fit in a Nekoposu package. (From personal experience)
1038304 EVALET® Octa Waltz amunzen
Unlike the other Octa textiles, this one does not have a fuzzy back side.
The Octa Waltz yarn scatters light, making it possible to suppress the unique sheen of synthetic fibers to an extreme degree.
The firm, textured surface feels smooth against the skin, and it is a sandwashed (amunzen) weave with a deep, rich texture.
