Japanese company develops fiber for `wearable cosmetics`

A Japan chemical company has presented "wearable cosmetics" (photo) that keeps skin moist by simply wearing it.

According to Japanese media on Tuesday, fiber and textile company Teijin has announced it will release its new product "Rafinan," which is worn like clothes to keep skin moist, from March next year.

The company has developed the product by taking inspiration from the fact that healthy skin maintains a slight acid to prevent the propagation of germs. As the skin becomes sweaty or dry, the resulting alkalinity causes skin troubles. The company has instilled this malic acid, which is used for food and cosmetics, into polyester fiber.

The company explains that the item goes through a special process that enables it to keep its cosmetics function even after washing it 50 times. Teijin has presented only six kinds of women`s underwear with prices ranging from 1,500 yen (approx. 12.2 U.S. dollars) to 4,000 yen (32.54 dollars).

"In addition to direct sales, we will also open up various markets such as supplying the product materials to other clothing companies," Teijin says. "We aim to raise the total sales from 1 billion yen (8.13 million dollars) next year, to 6 billion yen (48.8 million dollars) in 2020."

peacechaos@donga.com