The quality of imabari towel
The region where imabari towels are produced is blessed with soft water with very little content of
heavy metals, such as the subsoil water of Soja River that runs from the Takanawa Mountain Range
and underground water coming from the sacred Mt. Ishizuchi. Through bleaching using water of
such fine quality, it is possible to produce fabrics that are delicate and soft to the touch and showing vibrant colors.
This has helped improve the dyeing technique of the imabari towel production area, making this area Japan’ s largest towel production area. In addition to this, the Shikoku Towel Industrial Association has devised its own standards to certify products worthy of using the trademark and logo.
The standards stipulate that a towel must set to the bottom of water within 5 seconds of placement
in water (precipitation method) — this is to test a new towel’ s ability to soak up water without having to be washed first before use. imabari towels are characteristic in that they absorb sweat and water quickly and are gentle to the skin, without leaving your skin feeling sticky after wiping off sweat or drying your body after a bath.
heavy metals, such as the subsoil water of Soja River that runs from the Takanawa Mountain Range
and underground water coming from the sacred Mt. Ishizuchi. Through bleaching using water of
such fine quality, it is possible to produce fabrics that are delicate and soft to the touch and showing vibrant colors.
This has helped improve the dyeing technique of the imabari towel production area, making this area Japan’ s largest towel production area. In addition to this, the Shikoku Towel Industrial Association has devised its own standards to certify products worthy of using the trademark and logo.
The standards stipulate that a towel must set to the bottom of water within 5 seconds of placement
in water (precipitation method) — this is to test a new towel’ s ability to soak up water without having to be washed first before use. imabari towels are characteristic in that they absorb sweat and water quickly and are gentle to the skin, without leaving your skin feeling sticky after wiping off sweat or drying your body after a bath.
imabari towel quality standards
| Test Items | Test Methods | Test Methods Standards | |
| Towel characteristics |
Water absorbency | JIS-L1907 / Immersion method |
Sinks within 5 seconds * It has to pass both the test as an "un-washed" towel and after the towel has been “washed 3 times” |
| Thread losing rate | JIS-L0217 Washhing method #103 (Towel testing method) |
Pile: 0.2％ or less Untwisted thread: 0.5％ or less Shirring: 0.4％ or less |
|
| Pile tear resistance | (Towel testing method) | BT.KT 2.45cN /pile or more FT.WT 2.16ｃN /pile or more |
|
| Dye strength | Resistance to light | JIS-L0842 / Carbon arc method |
Grade 4 or more * Pastel and bright colors: Grade 3 or more |
| Laundry | Method No. JIS-L0844 / A-2 |
Changing and fading colors: Grade 4 or more Stains: Grade 4 or more |
|
| Sweat | Method No. JIS-L0844 / A-2 |
Changing and fading colors: Grade 4 or more Stains: Grade 3 or more/Grade 4 or more |
|
| Friction | Method No. JIS-L0844 / A-2 |
Dryness: Grade 4 or more Dampness: Grade 2 or more/Grade 3 or more * There is a 0.5 grade decrease for dark colors and colored prints. |
|
| Physical properties | Pull strength | Method No. JIS-L1096 A (Lapelled strip method) |
Vertical: 147N or more Horizontal: 196N or more |
| Tear resistance | Method No. JIS-L1096 A (Meulen’s form method) |
392.3KPa or more | |
| Change of the dimensions |
Method No. LIS-L1096 G (Electric washing machine method) |
±7％ change | |
| Organic composition |
Free formaldehyde | Ministry of Health and Welfare Ordinance No. 34 Acetylacetone Method |
Difference of light absorption: 0.03 or less |
Notes to the standards
1. Water absorbency Test: If materials other than cotton do not pass the water absorbency test using the immersion method, then they are tested using the water drop method. The materials have to be saturated within 1 second to pass.
2. Thread losing rate test: The standards for materials other than cotton will be reviewed and taken into consideration. Special processed products will have an increased 0.1% standard, and defects have to be noted.
3. Pile tear resistance test: Handkerchiefs, items with gauze backings, and towel scarves are tested with the JIS-L1075B method (Pile durability test). Products have to have 500mN or more to pass the test, and all defects have to be noted.
4.Woven gauze, stretching material (strong pile, spandex, etc.) and woven towel products are exceptions from the change of the dimensions standard. However, defects still have to be noted.
Pull strength test: The horizontal standard for non-pile towel scarves is 98N or more, and consideration will be given depending on the material and its intended use. All defects have to be noted.
Pull strength test: The horizontal standard for non-pile towel scarves is 98N or more, and consideration will be given depending on the material and its intended use. All defects have to be noted.
5.The difference of light absorption of 0.03 or less for free formaldehyde is calculated into PPM, which is 9.6PPM or less.