UltimaFlex®: Current Status and Future Prospects

We have received numerous restock requests for "Ultimaflex® 2.0," but its reproduction has been significantly delayed.
Today, we would like to provide an update on its current status and future.

We want to transparently share with you the harsh reality we faced and our commitment to confront it directly.

We apologize for the length of this message and hope you will take the time to read it.

Since its initial launch in December 2022, "Ultimaflex®" has evolved with the support of many of you.
Last year, when it was renewed as "Ultimaflex® 2.0," it sold out on Makuake in just a few days. Following that success, an encore project received over 20 million yen in support.
Then, when general sales were held this spring, many customers rushed to purchase, and it sold out instantly.

Since then, we have received many inquiries, especially now that it is the season for outerwear, and we have received a truly large number of requests from those eagerly awaiting a restock.

Once again, we express our deepest gratitude for your expectations.

However, reproduction has been severely delayed, resulting in a stockout of over six months. This is because, following the sell-out of "Ultimaflex® 2.0" this spring, we considered switching to domestic production for its reproduction.
As our e-commerce sales expanded significantly last year, we determined that timely replenishment would be difficult with conventional overseas production when needed. At the same time, this also reflected the voices of many of you who requested that it be "manufactured in Japan as much as possible."

Changing the country of production and the sewing factory naturally took time for replenishment.
However, it was originally scheduled to be implemented last month, or this month at the latest.
But we have not yet achieved that.

The reason is that we received a report from the reputable domestic factory we had initially asked to manufacture the product, just before placing the order, stating, "We apologize, but due to the impact of rising minimum wages and other factors, we are considering closing the factory this year."

That factory was renowned for its truly high level of technical expertise. It was also a relatively large factory for Japan, employing 100 people. However, even such a wonderful factory was forced to face the harsh reality that it could not continue, and we were greatly shocked.

Japanese manufacturing is truly on the brink right now. If sewing factories disappear, Japan will become a country that cannot make clothes. Efficient international division of labor is correct, but only if there is a certain balance. Is it okay for all manufacturing to disappear from Japan? We don't think so.

We realized that we must accelerate. Otherwise, Japan's manufacturing and wonderful technologies will surely be lost day by day. We must use all our wisdom, find the right industrial model, gather many colleagues, and protect Japanese manufacturing. We strongly reaffirmed this determination.

We are currently working at full speed with a new factory to create samples. The new factory has not traditionally produced such products. However, they agreed with our vision and promised to put in as much technical expertise as possible and cooperate fully.

The samples, on which they diligently worked through numerous requested revisions, are now scheduled to be completed next month.

They incorporate your requests, productivity improvements from the factory, and everything we could do in this difficult situation.

This product is "Ultimaflex® 3.0." This is because it represents a shift from overseas to domestic production, a challenge to bring manufacturing back to Japan, and an "evolved version" that incorporates as many improvement requests as possible from you.

We plan to offer "Ultimaflex® 3.0" for made-to-order.
This is because we want to ensure that it reaches everyone who needs it.
Orders are currently scheduled for January, and we will proceed with all arrangements to ensure that it can be delivered to all interested parties by spring.

To all of you who were expecting a restock of the conventional "Ultimaflex® 2.0," we sincerely apologize for the long wait and this change in plans.
However, we would be very grateful if you could continue to look forward to it.
Once the details of the restock are finalized, we will promptly inform you, so please grant us a little more time.

Going beyond the extensions of conventional suits,
More and more comfortable and light.
Minimizing constraint and maximizing ease and comfort.

In a changed world. In a challenging modern era.
Still striving for the ideal, gathering Japan's proud technologies.
The "future of clothing" that evolves freely, lightly, and correctly.

That is "Ultimaflex® 3.0."

To deliver that product to you.
To connect Japanese technology and passion to the future.
We will continue to take on challenges.

We hope you will continue to warmly watch over our endeavors.