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Electricity Saving High-Function Textile Products Publicity/Awareness-Raising Action
METI will start “COOLBIZ TECH” project
-Spend hot summer coolly with Japan’s textile technologies-

As a tight electricity supply-demand balance is predicted this summer due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, “electricity saving action” measures are being implemented throughout Japan. As a part of this electricity saving action, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will start the “COOLBIZ TECH” project to publicize and raise awareness of products (clothes, underwears, interior goods, bedclothes, etc.) using functional textiles such as “Cool Contact Sensation” “Sweat-absorbing, Quick-drying” or “Heat Shielding and Heat insulation” that the textile industry of Japan is excelling at, so that people will spend the hot summer comfortably.
To be more specific, METI will hold exhibition/experience events of high-function textile products at Tokyo Midtown (July 29-31) and Shinjuku Takashimaya (August 11-15) in Tokyo. In addition, METI is aiming to publicize and raise awareness of high-functional textile products by posting information on products participating in the “COOLBIZ TECH” project on a portal site.

1. Purpose

Since electricity shortage is predicted this summer due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the public and private sectors are currently working in cooperation on electricity saving action. As a means to conduct such electricity saving action, METI aims at further publicizing and raising awareness of high-function textiles such as "Cool Contact Sensation" "Sweat-absorbing, Quick-drying" or "Heat Shielding, Heat insulation" that the textile industry of Japan is excelling at, so that people will spend hot summer comfortably.

Since the Cool Biz concept was put forward in 2005, manufacturers have been actively developing more comfortable high-function textiles. Publicity of such high-function textile products will contribute to saving electricity and also serve as important measures in a view of revitalizing the textile industry of Japan.

2. Project

METI will hold exhibition/experience events of high-function textile products for consumers at Tokyo Midtown (July 29-31) and Shinjuku Takashimaya (August 11-15) . To be more specific, METI will prepare events where visitors will actually experience and understand high-function textile products by setting up a space where they can actually try on clothes or compare ordinary products and interior products, such as curtains using high-function fiber.

In addition, METI will set up a portal site that provides information on products participating in the “COOLBIZ TECH” project.

Exhibition/experience event

Atrium, 1F floor, Tokyo Midtown: Date:
11:00-21:00, Friday, July 29
11:00-19:00, Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, July 31
Event floor, 1F floor, Shinjuku Takashimaya: Date:
10:00-20:00, Thursday, August 11 to Sunday, August 14
10:00-17:00, Monday, August 15

*Partner firms will exhibit their products such as clothes, underwear, interior goods and bedclothes, at the event site.

*"Kariyushi" (Okinawa shirts) will be also exhibited at Tokyo Midtown.

COOLBIZ TECH portal site

METI will create the COOLBIZ TECH-designated pages in the electricity saving action website in order to provide information on products participating in the "COOLBIZ TECH" project.

http://seikatsu.setsuden.go.jp/event/coolbiztech/(in Japanese)

Characteristics of high-functional textiles for spending summer comfortably

"Sweat-absorbing, Quick-drying materials: These materials are good at absorbing sweat and provide a pleasant feeling by preventing a sticky feeling due to sweating. They will dry quickly after washing.
Cool Contact Sensation materials: As these materials will absorb heat quickly, they will feel cool enabling you to spend the humid summer comfortably.
Aeration-adjusting materials: Air permeability is an important point for preventing a stuffy feeling. By controlling air ventilation in clothing, these materials can adjust temperature and humidity.
Heat Shielding, Heat insulation materials: They reflect sunlight and prevent heat transfer improving air-conditioning efficiency. They are frequently used for curtain materials.