High value-added finishing auxiliaries
2. Trends in textile finishing auxiliaries
Recently, there has been a sudden burst of new products characterized
as being environment, comfort or health-oriented in the Japanese
market, reflecting the general concern for resource exhaustion,
ozone depletion, environmental disruption due to car exhaust,
endocrine-disrupting substances and VOC, or the fear of O-157
and MRSA.
Biodegradable resins are examples of 'eco' products. Garments
are now finished with moisture-absorbent/releasing, pH-balancing
or deodorant properties for improved comfort. Health-oriented,
skincare finishes, which allegedly produce moisturizing, skin-lightening,
UV-shielding or anti-allergen effects, are an example of a ripple
effect coming from the field of cosmetics. Some products are
given 'relaxation' properties based on the use of far-infrared
radiation, anions or fragrance. The boom for anion finishes two
years ago in Japan spilled over into all kinds of commodities,
including air conditioners, hair driers, bracelets and accessories.
The rapid growth of hygiene products with antibacterial, anti-odor
or bacterial control properties, triggered by the O-157 epidemic
and in-hospital MRSA infections, is still fresh in our memory
(see Table 3, Fig. 5).
Table 3 Japan's textile functional finishes in chronological order
| Year |
Social phenomena |
Textile functional finishes |
| 1987 |
Morning-shampoo boom, new-rich |
Super-absorbent towels, functional finishes
based on superconductivity |
| 1988 |
Fitness boom |
The rise of Shingosen 'New Silky' 'Dry & Drape' |
| 1989 |
Orientation towards genuine, high-end goods |
|
| 1990 |
The Garden and Greenery Expo, abnormal weather |
The birth of eco products |
| 1991 |
'Earth-friendly' (global environment issues) |
|
| 1992 |
Ozone hole |
UV-shielding cosmetics |
| 1993 |
Shape-memory boom, the collapse of the bubble
economy |
Shape-memory shirts, perspiration-absorbing,
light-weight stretch finishes |
| 1994 |
Collapse in prices |
Non-see-through pale swimsuits, fragrant fiber,
sericin, fibroin, collagen, Japanese cypress & leaves |
| 1995 |
Antibacterial, deodorant goods, co-existence
with the earth |
Chitosan, tencel |
| 1996 |
O-157, MRSA |
Anti-mite futon |
| 1997 |
Tamagochi boom |
Water-repellent, permeable shoes, 1/f Yuragi |
| 1998 |
Endocrine disruptors, skin-lightening cosmetics |
Anion finishes, electro-microwave-shielding
materials (silver-plating) |
| 1999 |
Environmental conservation, health and comfort |
Corn fiber, polylactic acid fiber, anti-cigarette-odor
finishes |
| 2000 |
IT revolution |
Shark-skin swimsuits, natural ores |
| 2001 |
Anion boom, BSE |
Rare-earth minerals, flavonoids |
| 2002 |
Football World Cup, tea boom |
Catechin, anti-pollen finishes |
| 2003 |
SARS |
Biocompatible fiber, photocatalysts |
| Fig. 5 Natural-component-based finishing auxiliaries |
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