Gunze's thermal underwear for the fall/winter 2013 season emphasizes thick fabric, fleece lining, and a natural-material feel. This is in response to the growing demand from older consumers, who say that thermal functional underwear has traditionally been made primarily of synthetic materials and has been too thin and unreliable. They want thicker, more durable thermal underwear made from natural materials.
The company's core product, "Hot Magic," has expanded its lineup to include the "Pitatto Hotto" style, which has raw edges and does not show through outerwear; the "Intensive Heat" style, which is seamless thanks to a special knitting machine and uses heat-generating fibers in certain areas; and the "Stretch Cotton Blend" style, which resembles natural materials. One of the most eye-catching styles is the "Cotton Blend Tile Style," which features a slightly thick, pile-like fabric with a fleece lining. It is said to provide approximately 1.5 times the warmth of the company's previous thermal underwear.
The company will also introduce fleece-lined products to its core men's underwear brand, "Body Wild." The brand offers the "Biz Cut" series, which features raw edges that hide under outerwear. This fall/winter, the brand is adding fleece-lined items to the lineup, while maintaining the same thin fabric. The brand is proposing "Smart Warm," which can be used not only as underwear but also as outerwear cut-and-sew tops, and the fleece-lined items are part of that line. For women's underwear, the brand is offering "Kirei Labo" line of seamless, raw-edge underwear. The torso and sleeves are glued together with special tape, eliminating any seams. This product is aimed at menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 60, and the brand is promoting the menopause as a "adult adolescence" phase. The pantyhose brand "Mirika" is offering dark-toned tights, a stark departure from the trend for vibrant and neon colors this spring/summer. The lineup includes colors typical of the fall/winter season, such as deep green, dark brown, black, and burgundy.
