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Hello.
I’m Kimura from the ApparelX trend blog.
Have you noticed that blends with washi have recently started appearing in apparel as well?
In the 25SS collection too, we’ve been seeing many brands incorporating washi.
This time, we’ll introduce the features of washi materials and the textiles themselves!
Washi is paper made using traditional Japanese methods.
It is mainly handmade from plant fibers, and its history spans over 1,300 years.
Compared with ordinary Western paper, washi is durable, lightweight, and highly flexible, and it has long been used in many areas of art, craft, and daily life.
Recognized for its beauty and functionality, washi was also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
Lightweight
Washi yarn is extremely lightweight, and because the washi fibers trap air, it has a soft, airy finish. This makes it suitable for lightweight apparel and miscellaneous goods.
Strength
Washi yarn is stronger than it looks. Traditional washi is also known for being tear-resistant even when thin, and washi yarn inherits that quality. In particular, firmly twisting fine fibers increases durability.
Breathability and moisture absorption
The fiber structure of washi provides good breathability and high moisture absorption. As a result, clothing and textile products made with washi yarn are cool and comfortable even in summer. It also absorbs sweat and lets it evaporate easily, maintaining a dry touch.
Quick-drying
While it absorbs moisture, washi yarn is also excellent at drying quickly and allows humidity to escape easily. This means it dries quickly and stays comfortable even when you sweat or get wet. Antibacterial and deodorizing effects Washi has natural antibacterial properties, and washi yarn inherits these characteristics as well. It helps suppress bacterial growth and also has deodorizing effects, making it possible to keep apparel and interior materials clean.
Environmentally friendly
Washi yarn is made from washi, a natural material, and is attracting attention as a sustainable product. Since it decomposes naturally after use, it has a low environmental impact. Washi itself is also recyclable and is considered an eco-friendly material.
Softness and texture
Washi yarn is known as a soft fiber that is gentle on the skin. It is lighter than cotton or linen, and has a silk-like smoothness, making it suitable for clothing and towels that touch the skin directly.
To create a vintage-like atmosphere, this material is high-density woven with 40/linen for the warp and washi for the weft, designed to create lightning-like wrinkles, scuffing, and fading. By adding washi, it gains firmness and a dry touch as its defining characteristics. This woven fabric is carefully finished to express a hard Wash Finish look.
The same greige fabric is also available in OJE353211 (ecru) / OWE35420(persimmon tannin dyed) / OWE35381(binchotan dyed).
Because weather cloth is a high-density material, one drawback is that it tends to become too heavy when you consider the amount of yarn used, but by incorporating washi the weight feeling is reduced, resulting in a fabric with just the right amount of volume.
A comfortable washi-woven material that delivers comfort. It has moisture absorption and a refreshing feel against the skin.
This 100% washi fabric has an appealing rough texture. It becomes more familiar and supple with use, so you can fully enjoy the qualities of washi.
The washi yarn “Saori yarn,” which has been produced in Japan since ancient times. It has little fuzz, excellent quick-drying moisture absorption, and is very lightweight. It is characterized by the crisp, resilient feel and dry texture unique to paper. Air tumbler processing gives it a natural finish. The raw material, manila hemp, grows quickly and is also excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide, making it an eco-friendly, earth-friendly material.
Fabric with natural wrinkles and softness added through air tumbler processing seems to bring out the softness of washi even more.
This canvas fabric uses the washi fiber CURETEX, developed with knowledge from Japan, to achieve “making things that are gentle on both people and the environment.” A 100% washi canvas fabric that makes use of Japanese quality and wisdom. This fabric is a product that uses the Wash Finish processing that Hamamatsu does best, while taking advantage of washi’s distinctive dry touch.
By using washi in canvas, this fabric combines the best of lightness and volume.
Because it has a substantial fabric feel, personally I’d also recommend it for outerwear that lets you enjoy aging effects such as fading.
A medium-weight dobby material made with environmentally friendly washi yarn “OJO+®” and twisted cotton yarn. It has the crisp, resilient feel and dry texture unique to paper.
It is lighter than it looks, and Wash Finish processing further highlights its natural, rough appearance.
[Material supplied by] Oji Fibre Co., Ltd.
This fabric combines the lightness and breathability of paper, the cool feel of panama weave, the three-dimensional design of dobby weave, and the casual texture of dungaree, resulting in a fabric with excellent firmness and resilience.
Since it combines both visual appeal and functionality, it is recommended for summer shirts and cover-ups that can be worn coolly and comfortably.
A medium-weight dungaree made with environmentally friendly washi yarn “OJO+®” and twisted cotton yarn. It has the crisp, resilient feel and dry texture unique to paper.
Its rough, natural look, lighter than the visual impression suggests, is further emphasized by Wash Finish processing.
[Material supplied by] Oji Fibre Co., Ltd.
This color-varied washi-blend dungaree fabric (a plain weave fabric similar to denim, using colored yarn for the warp and white yarn for the weft) has a casual yet calm appeal.
This washi-blend material is ideal for spring and summer, with the moderate firmness and lightness unique to paper, and a smooth, dry texture. The Wash Finish gives it a natural, sun-dried-like fullness.
The refreshing washi material and light check pattern are recommended for ladies items such as soft skirts and dresses.
A bare jersey made with washi. The color names also follow a traditional lineup.
With high absorbency and quick-drying performance, plus a crisp feel, this fabric is perfect for T-shirts/cut-and-sew items you’ll want to wear next to the skin.
Thank you for reading to the end.
We hope we were able to convey at least a little of the appeal of washi-blend fabrics.
If you’re interested, please also visit ApparelX’s [Washi] page!
