OSAKA -- Major sporting goods manufacturers are focusing on making corporate uniforms for factory workers, medical staff and others, using the technology they have cultivated in making sportswear to produce a high level of functionality.
The companies are hoping to develop this business into a new source of revenue as sporting events have been suspended and downsized due to the coronavirus.
Mizuno Corp. has received an order from Kubota Corp., a giant in the Japanese agricultural machinery business, for polo shirts, pants and hats for about 9,700 workers at its plants. The fabric will be made more elastic to make it easier to stand and squat in and will also be treated to reduce the smell of sweat.
Kubota appreciates the lightness and breathability of the products, which makes it a good solution for the summer heat, as well as its design.
In fiscal 2019, Mizuno's sales in its uniform business reached about 5.3 billion yen, about double the level of fiscal 2016, when they were about 2.8 billion yen. The company aims to reach 10 billion yen in fiscal 2021.
"More and more firms are looking to create an environment in which their employees can work comfortably," a spokesperson for the company said.
Descente Ltd. has also entered the work clothing business in earnest. The company has developed uniforms that use Sunscreen, an original material that reflects sunlight to reduce heat, and they have been adopted by Zenrin Co., a major map publishing company. The uniforms are said to have been well received by staff members who conduct surveys in residential areas during the summer.
Asics Corp. is also increasing its sales of work shoes, which it has been selling for about 20 years, gaining support from those in charge at work sites who place importance on safety and ease of movement. In addition to work shoes for the construction and transportation industries and shoes for nurses, the company is now also selling shoes for kitchen use.
According to the results of a survey released by Yano Research Institute Ltd. in August 2019, the domestic market for uniforms worn in factories and offices has increased by about 7% over the past five years and is expected to reach 536.1 billion yen in fiscal 2020.
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