Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
The label says "cotton 65%, polyester 35%" (綿65% ポリエステル35%) or just "rayon" (レーヨン). Most people read the fibre names but buy without knowing how they affect comfort, washing and lifespan. Japanese labels give fibre names in kanji and katakana, so the table below includes the words to look for. Here is a guide to the main fibres, by situation.
| Fibre (label) | Feel / moisture | Durability | Creasing / shrinkage | Washing | Good for | Weak points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton (綿) | Good. Highly absorbent | Medium–high | Creases; shrinks (2–5% on the first wash) | Home wash; hot water fine | Underwear, T-shirts, shirts, denim, towels | Slow to dry, fades |
| Linen / ramie (麻) | Cool; absorbs and releases moisture fast | High (stronger when wet) | Creases heavily; shrinks | Home wash | Summer clothes | Creasing, fading, first-wash shrinkage |
| Wool (毛) | Warm; absorbs and releases moisture; resists odour | Medium | Creases recover; shrinks (felting) | Hand wash or dry clean; no tumble dryer | Jumpers, coats, suits | Moths, shrinkage, pilling, itchiness |
| Silk (絹) | Smooth, highly absorbent, lustrous | Low–medium | Creases | Hand wash or dry clean | Blouses, scarves, underwear | Water spots, yellows in sunlight, discolours with sweat, price |
| Rayon / cupro (レーヨン・キュプラ) | Smooth, drapes, cool (made from wood pulp / cotton linter) | Low (weak when wet) | Shrinks, creases, water spots | Hand wash or dry clean recommended; no tumble dryer | Blouses, dresses, linings (cupro) | Weak in water, shrinkage, texture changes with washing |
| Lyocell (Tencel) (リヨセル) | Like rayon, slightly stronger | Medium | Shrinks less | Often hand-washable | Shirts, denim blends | Fuzzing |
| Polyester (ポリエステル) | Does not absorb sweat; dries fast; static | High | Crease-resistant; does not shrink | Home wash; tumble dryer fine | Sportswear, outerwear, uniforms, shirt blends | Holds odour, pilling (in blends), heat-sensitive (iron on low) |
| Nylon (ナイロン) | Smooth, light | Very high | Crease-resistant | Home wash | Outerwear, swimwear, tights, bags | Yellows with heat and sunlight, static |
| Acrylic (アクリル) | Warm like wool, light | Medium | Does not shrink | Home wash | Jumpers, scarves, blankets | Pills badly, static, heat-sensitive |
| Polyurethane (PU, spandex) (ポリウレタン) | Stretch | Deteriorates in 2–3 years (loses stretch, peels) | — | Heat-sensitive | Stretch blends (2–10%), leggings | Lifespan; degraded by heat and chlorine |
| Situation | Suitable fibres | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Underwear, loungewear | Cotton; cotton + a little polyurethane | Feel, moisture absorption |
| Sweating (sport, summer commute) | Polyester (wicking / quick-dry finish); cotton + polyester | Drying speed. All-cotton fabric turns cold when wet with sweat |
| Winter warmth | Wool, acrylic, wool blends, fleece (polyester) | Insulation |
| Travel, business trips | Polyester blends; wool (creases recover) | Crease-resistant, quick-drying |
| Formal | Wool (suits), silk, polyester (dresses) | Appearance |
| Children | Cotton; cotton + polyester | Skin, durability, easy washing |
| Allergies, sensitive skin | Cotton, silk | Avoid itchy wool and acrylic, and clammy polyester |
[Verify] The fibre properties are the standard textile-science summary. Check the fibre names used on labels under the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (綿 cotton, 毛 wool, 絹 silk, レーヨン rayon, ポリエステル polyester etc.) against Consumer Affairs Agency materials.
When you sweat, cotton turns cold and dries slowly; polyester is more comfortable. Choose by use.
It is tough and crease-resistant, and ideal for travel, sport and uniforms. Its weak points are odour and clamminess.
Rayon is a regenerated fibre that is weak when wet and shrinks; if the label says do not wash, it is safer not to wash it at home.
If the label shows a hand-wash symbol, you can wash it on a delicates cycle. Shrinkage comes from friction and heat; a gentle cycle in cool water is fine.
Polyurethane deteriorates in 2–3 years and loses its stretch. Think of stretch garments as consumables.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/fiber/
https://www.jcfa.gr.jp/
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/laundry_symbols/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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