At first glance, the new PUFFTECH pieces by Uniqlo may look like any other puffer jacket. The key difference lies in the “tech” part of the product’s name. The brand has reinvented how puffers are made and the result is PUFFTECH, which provides warmth while remaining incredibly light. In line with its LifeWear ethos, Uniqlo has constantly harnessed the power of design and technology to refine the essentials we live in and with. The brand has already revolutionised categories like cashmere, fleece, denim, and quick-drying or heat-insulating technical fabrics. Now, it levels up the puffer jacket with the PUFFTECH range, which comprises vests, jackets, parkas and coats.
One of the most impressive feats that Uniqlo has pulled off with this new line is that it provides all the warmth of down, but without the weight or bulkiness. This was achieved through 10 years of research and development together with Toray Industries to create the PUFFTECH fiberfill, which mimics the structure of down but with the use of air instead. The technology behind it is astounding: At one-fifth the width of a human hair, each PUFFTECH fiber is hollow and spring-like, allowing air to be the main ingredient of insulation.
Most winter clothing tends to require extra care, but Uniqlo has made sure that PUFFTECH is as easy to care for as a t-shirt. Natural down loses volume and warmth when wet, and usually takes a long time to dry, but PUFFTECH is resistant to moisture absorption, so it retains warmth much better. And thanks to the use of 3D padding—rather than the more typical granular padding—PUFFTECH pieces spring back to their original volumes faster and easier when they get wet.
Inspired by the way lotus leaves function in nature, Uniqlo engaged Toray’s NANODESIGN technology to create a fabric surface that leaves a layer of air between the fabric and water droplets—thereby making the PUFFTECH water repellant. Even if your PUFFTECH sports a little dirt and grime from facing the elements, all you need to do is hand-wash it at home and it’ll be good as new.
Because of its many colours—dark and light neutrals, pastels, brights—and its lightness, PUFFTECH makes the perfect layering piece. When the temperature dips, it can be effortlessly paired with the brand’s fleece jackets and cashmere sweaters. For those who don’t like to travel with big, bulky coats, the PUFFTECH can be layered over lighter fare like a blouson, shirt and knit. Or one can opt for the vest in an eye-catching shade and shrug it over a double-jacket combo—weave in contrasting materials like fleece and corduroy to lend an extra textural dimension to the look.
Photographer JOEL LOW
Stylist JEFFREY YAN
Model KATE TSAI / Mannequin
Make-up Artist WEE MING
Hairstylist GREGO
Photographer's Assistant EDDIE TEO