— A New Dimension of Product Experience Co-Created by Fabric and Insulation

■ The Core of Fabric Development: Built on Layers of Experience

“There are three key principles in outdoor fabric development,” says Mr. Horikawa, fabric developer at GELANOTS® — target weight, productivity, and application of experience.　“Fabric development is a process of accumulation.　Success rarely comes on the first try — every failure becomes the foundation for the next step.”　Through this constant refinement, the team developed a new material that strikes a balance between lightness and functionality.

　
■ Technology within Recycled Materials: Coexistence of Lightness and Character

The newly developed B103 and B203 fabrics utilize discarded fishing nets as raw materials for recycled nylon, making them ultra-lightweight and sustainable.　We combined superfine 10-denier recycled yarns with thicker 70-denier recycled yarns (flat yarn and false-twisted yarn), creating a pronounced texture and a natural sheen through differences in yarn thickness and structure.　“The greater the difference in yarn thickness, the more difficult the weaving. Achieving it is possible only through Japan’s superior craftsmanship — true mastery of the loom,” Horikawa explains.　Another material, B126, uses 20-denier yarns in both warp and weft. Slight variations in processing temperature or dyeing speed result in rich diversity in hand feel.　“Sustainability is no longer the goal — it’s the baseline. What we truly pursue are values you can feel — lightness, beauty, and softness.”

　
■ Design Challenge: Structural Aesthetics Revealed through Transparency

Mr. Oshima of Mist Design, who led product design, describes the changing expectations for modern outerwear: “Today’s users move fluidly between the city and nature.　The old categories of ‘heavy’ or ‘light’ jackets no longer suffice.　We needed a seamless piece that feels comfortable in both environments.”　Our answer was Platform × Customization — a concept explored through four models that combine insulated jackets and shell outers, allowing configurations that adapt to different climates and purposes.　Most striking is the design where the Airflake® pack subtly appears through the translucent fabric.　“With ultra-thin nylon, we wanted to let the overlapping layers and changes in insulations become expressions of functional beauty — not decoration,” says Oshima.

　
■ Where Fabric and Design Intersect: From 2D to 3D

“This project inspired me,” says Horikawa.　“I used to see transparency as a weakness, but turning it into a design strength was eye-opening.” Oshima reflects in turn, “His approach of designing backward from the fabric’s performance was deeply inspiring.” By setting a shared goal — the final product — both teams transcended their respective domains of expertise.　“Fabric is two-dimensional. Design gives it depth and turns it into a three-dimensional form. The key is sharing the same destination.”　That philosophy defines GELANOTS®’ approach to development.

　
■ Looking Ahead: Apparel that Adapts to Climate and Personality

“In the future, we aim to develop modular outerwear that can adapt to shifting climates and diverse lifestyles,” Oshima says.　Horikawa adds, “We aim to reduce environmental impact further and advance the development of climate-adaptive materials.”　The two conclude with conviction: “We always work backward from the final product, pursuing the performance required of the fabric.”　“That’s why we believe we can become the best partner for brands.”

　
Interviewees:
Mr. Horikawa – Material Developer, Gelanots® 　
Mr. Oshima – Founder & CEO, Mist Design LLC