“Toray Industries Chairman Reveals 20-Year Partnership with Uniqlo: Crafting the ‘Fabric of Dreams’ from HEATTECH to the 10 Trillion Yen Sales Goal”

When it comes to globally recognized fashion brands, Uniqlo is undoubtedly a household name. However, few know that behind their lightweight HeatTech garments and comfortable LifeWear collections lies a “silent giant” – Toray Industries, a Japanese conglomerate with over a century of history, renowned in chemicals, synthetic fibers, nanotechnology, and advanced material solutions.

Toray goes beyond manufacturing, focusing on innovation to “create new value for society.” From aviation and healthcare to environmental solutions and fashion, the company leaves its mark, most notably in textiles, where it partnered with Uniqlo to turn the idea of “fashion for everyone, everywhere” into reality.

The partnership began in 1999 with initial transactions, evolving into a strategic alliance by 2006. Every five years since, they’ve renewed their collaboration, marking new development phases with iconic products. One such innovation is HEATTECH – a thin yet warm thermal line that revolutionized the fashion industry. In Japan, “HeatTech” has become synonymous with winter wear.

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya, Chairman of Toray Industries, shares this journey. Born in Chiba Prefecture into a textile family, Mr. Ohya has a deep passion for fabrics and material technology. From his early days at Toray to his current leadership role, he’s remained committed to innovation, enhancing the quality of life. In our conversation, he reveals fascinating insights into the two-decade partnership with Uniqlo, a relationship shaping “dream materials” for global fashion.

First, thank you for your time. Toray is known as a material technology conglomerate with diverse business sectors. What’s your core philosophy in textiles?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: Toray’s core principle is contributing to society by creating new value. In textiles, this is evident. We believe materials aren’t just fabrics but foundations for improving life quality. Thus, for every product, we ask: How does it fulfill this principle?

HEATTECH is a prime example. Developed with Uniqlo, it transformed thermal wear: thin, warm, and comfortable. It embodies our innovation spirit.

Can you share more about the Uniqlo partnership?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: We started in 1999, but the real partnership began in 2006. Initially, Toray was technology-driven, developing products from a manufacturer’s perspective. With Uniqlo, we learned to prioritize consumers – Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy. This shifted our focus to consumer needs and feelings, not just technology. It was our biggest transformation in decades.

HEATTECH is iconic. What drives continuous innovation and new business opportunities?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: Two approaches: First, consumer feedback drives improvements using our existing technology. Second, we propose new technologies to Uniqlo for joint testing. HEATTECH exemplifies this – continuously evolving over 20 years. In Japan, “HEATTECH” is now a generic term for thermal wear. My dream is for it to become global.

Reflecting on the Uniqlo partnership, what are the key phases?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: We renew every five years: Phase 1 (2006-2010): HEATTECH launch; Phase 2 (2011-2015): breakthrough products; Phase 3 (2016-2020): LifeWear expansion; Phase 4 (2021-2025): quality and global reach enhancement. Each phase ties to a flagship product. Toray’s growth mirrors Uniqlo’s. Uniqlo aims for ¥10 trillion in sales; we’re committed to supporting this vision.

Our strengths: R&D, large-scale production, and a global network across China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, and India. This ensures we meet Uniqlo’s expansion needs instantly.

How do you adapt products for diverse climates, like tropical regions versus Japan’s four seasons?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: It’s an exciting challenge. We’ve developed basic HEATTECH for winter and thicker versions for extreme cold. Our TechnoRama center simulates climates from -40°C to +40°C, ensuring products are tested in real conditions. This enables us to create region-specific LifeWear quickly.

What future innovations can consumers expect from Toray and Uniqlo?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy guides us: clothing must enhance daily life. We’re “sciencing” feelings like warmth and comfort into measurable standards. We’re also addressing climate change, disasters, and an aging society. Our nano-design technology, unique to Toray, manipulates atoms to create superior materials – the future of LifeWear.

Toray is known for sustainability. How are you creating eco-friendly materials?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: We focus on four core areas: polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and nanotechnology. Combining these yields breakthroughs. For instance, we turn seawater into drinking water and sugarcane waste into nylon 6-6 for apparel. This waste-to-value model, successful in Thailand, can be replicated globally.

Lastly, do you have a favorite Uniqlo product?

Mr. Mitsuo Ohya: (laughs) I use many, but HEATTECH holds a special place. It’s not just convenient but symbolizes our successful partnership. Wearing it reminds me of our innovation philosophy.

Thank you for this insightful conversation!