Story
message
The challenge of creating
new materials in Hokuriku
Thank you very much for your interest in “QUARTECH”. We would like to share a bit about why we, who are involved in the textile industry in Hokuriku, developed this material, our thoughts on it, and the background of “QUARTECH,” which was jointly developed with Sanyo Trading Co., Ltd.
We hope that by reading this, you will learn a little more about the environmental issues that are becoming increasingly serious and our efforts to address them.
Moritsune Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President
Tsunehide Mori
prologue 1
Hokuriku, the center of
the textile industry
The majority of Japanese textiles are made in the Hokuriku region. One of the companies operating the textile industry in Hokuriku is Moritsune Co., Ltd., located in Ishikawa Prefecture. We have been involved in all aspects of yarn dyeing and processing for over 75 years since our establishment in 1948.
Since the bubble economy period, Japan's textile industry has been shrinking, and some of the companies that supported the local community have closed down. Even so, we have worked hard to create superior materials with our enthusiasm that "There must be something that only we can do."
prologue 2
Specialized trading company
that has been dealing in
genuine leather for about 40 years
For approximately 40 years, Sanyo Trading Co., Ltd. has been a specialized trading company handling genuine leather. They have been involved in the import and sale of genuine leather for many years, delivering high-quality leather to their customers.
In recent years, however, the environment surrounding leather products has changed drastically, and there has been a shift away from genuine leather due to the environmental burden caused by livestock farming and leather processing, as well as animal welfare.
Additionally, the environmental impact of synthetic leather, which has established itself as an alternative to genuine leather, is also being discussed. Synthetic leather, which is made by combining petroleum and various chemicals, cannot be recycled after use, and some countries in Europe and the United States have begun to regulate its use. In response to these changing environmental conditions, Sanyo Trading Co., Ltd was also pressured to do something new.
decision
A new material that is
neither genuine leather
nor synthetic leather
"What can we do by using the textile technology we've been working on for many years?'' When I realized this, I asked myself the question. Therefore, we decided to cooperate with Sanyo Trading Co., Ltd. who is a very reliable partner for rare and unique commercial products, both domestically and internationally.
We then decided to create a completely new material that combines the texture and functionality of leather with environmental friendliness. This was the beginning of our challenge to create fabrics that look just like genuine leather from fibers.
challenge
Continuous new challenges
The textile industry has a well-established division of labor, and until now we have been responsible for upstream processes such as yarn dyeing and processing. In contrast, with this new material, we handle the entire process from thread to fabric. This was an initiative that significantly changed the conventional business style, and it was a series of efforts with a mind "let's learn by trial and error".
Also, shipping the products in the form of fabrics means that we work in a position closer to the consumers than ever before. Thus I felt under a lot of pressure, which was incomparable. Even so, we continued through trial and error with our motivation to create new materials that could make an impact on the world.
potentiality
“The Fourth material”
with infinite possibilities
The material we developed is fabric, but the texture changes greatly depending on the processing. It can have a luxurious texture like genuine leather, or it can have excellent functionality comparable to synthetic leather.
Depending on customization, you can make it closer to the existing three types of material; fabric, genuine leather, and synthetic leather. The "Fourth material" has such like a potential. which we named it "QUARTECH". This was come to mind in someone of our colleagues indeed.
eco-friendly
Environmentally friendly materials
currently required
QUARTECH is made of high-quality polyester fiber and can be recycled again after use. This material fits with the times when the word SDGs is becoming established.We believe that spreads of QUARTECH is equivalent to contributing to environmental conservation. Also companies can demonstrate their attitude for environment by using this new material for their product.
We would like to protect the earth by letting many people know about QUARTECH and then use it. That's our hope.