News Release
SHIPS Unveils Spring/Summer 2023 Collection Featuring Innovative PLA Material 'HIGHLACT®'
HighChem (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Ushio Taka, hereinafter referred to as HighChem) and TAKIHIYO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President: Kazuo Taki, hereinafter referred to as TAKIHIYO) have collaboratively developed "HIGHLACT®," a sustainable material derived from PLA (polylactic acid) sourced from corn. This innovative material has been selected for incorporation into the Spring/Summer 2023 collection by SHIPS Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshinori Miura, hereinafter referred to as SHIPS)..
SHIPS Spring/Summer 2023 collection featuring HIGHLACT®
A sports T-shirt made of a PLA fiber and cotton blend inlay fleece. Made of lightweight and comfortable fleece material, it has a relaxed fit and is a highly versatile piece that can be worn alone.
Price: ¥8,910 (inc. tax)
Color: natural, gray
Size: S/M/L/XL
Composition: <Body> 80% cotton, 20% PLA <Separate fabric> 95% cotton, 5% polyurethane
A relaxed T-shirt made of bare top material made of a PLA fiber and cotton blend. Made of extremely light and highly stretchable material. It is made of high-gauge material and has a beautiful surface, so it is recommended as an inner layer for a jacket.
Price: ¥8,910 (inc. tax)
Color: off-white, black
Size: S/M/L/XL
Composition: (Body) 68% cotton, 24% PLA, 8% polyurethane (Separate fabric) 100% cotton
As we proceed with product development as part of our SDGs initiatives, we believe that in addition to being considerate to the environment, it is important for our customers to first experience the quality of our products and materials. During this process, we came across HIGHLACT®, a PLA material made by HighChem, which has many benefits not only for the environment but also for the customer who wears it, such as its antibacterial and deodorizing effects and its weak acidity, which is gentle on human skin. We have adopted this method from this season, taking into account our ongoing efforts in the future.
PLA explanatory pop-up to be rolled out at Ships stores
Ships PLA special content
https://www.shipsltd.co.jp/pages/sp_shipsm_pla_20230417.aspx
What is HIGHLACT®?
Since PLA uses biomass such as corn as its raw material, it absorbs CO2 during the plant growth process, and is a carbon-neutral material that does not increase CO2 in the atmosphere even when incinerated. In addition, the amount of CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of raw materials is a 1/7th that of polyester, so it can be expected to reduce CO2 emissions during the manufacturing. Furthermore, it is biodegradable, decomposing into water and carbon dioxide under certain conditions, creating an ideal cycle in which it returns to nature after use. Since it is made from lactic acid, it has natural antibacterial properties, and has recently attracted attention as a textile material.
Development of next-generation Sustainable Materials HIGHLACT®
HighChem is working with Takihyo and other Japanese textile companies that boast high technology to develop and use HIGHLACT® in fashion. By taking advantage of the carbon-neutral properties of PLA, we are exploring the possibility of using it as an alternative to polyester materials, in order to realize a sustainable future for fashion that can be achieved even without changing our daily lives. In addition, we are accelerating research and development of materials in order to solve the heat resistance and durability issues faced by PLA.
Ships Corporation Outline of the Company
Company name: Ships Corporation
Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo 1-20-15 Ginza
Representative Director: Yoshinori Miura
Business Sales, planning, production, etc. of apparel products in the men's, women's and kids' categories
Takihyo Outline of the Company
Company name: Takihyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Ltd.
Location: Nagoya Lucent Tower 23rd and 24th floors, 6-1 Ushijima-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City
Representative Director: Kazuo Taki
Business Company Profile: Planning, production, wholesale and import/export of textile products / retail of apparel products / sales, and import/export of cosmetics / food and beverage related business, etc.
HighChem Company Limited Outline of the Company
Company Name: HighChem Company Limited
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo 3-1, Toranomon 1-chome, Tokyo Toranomon Global Square 11F
President and CEO: Takashio (Taka Ushio)
Business： Export/import and sales of Chemicals / outsourced manufacturing / Technology Licensing related business / manufacture and sales of catalysts / Biodegradable Materials import and sales, etc.
Media inquiries regarding this release
HighChem Co., Ltd. PR Division – Eriko Kuroiwa
E-mail: kuroiwa@highchem.co.jp Phone: +81-3-5251-8580 / +81-90-6539-4213 (Kuroiwa)