Taiwanese media ETtoday reported on the 2nd that a person familiar with the industry explained the background behind the assertion that 'it's hard to fail when buying clothes in Japan.' The article stated that 'many people feel that clothes bought in Japan are practical and comfortable to wear,' and introduced a post by '扛布者-為紡織而活的男子,' an influencer and textile industry professional in Taiwan. He stated that 'many people gather information beforehand when traveling to Japan, so the possibility of failing when buying clothes is relatively low.' He further pointed out that, as a more important point, Japanese brands do not use simplistic expressions in product tags or functional descriptions. He explained that 'this is because many consumers understand to some extent the characteristics of materials and their suitable uses, so even if a product is promoted with exaggerated expressions, it will be seen through.' He then mentioned, as an example, that products labeled 'contact cooling sensation' in Japan, even those from low-cost mass retailers, often use nylon for much of their material. He stated that 'nylon is generally superior to polyester in terms of thermal conductivity and moisture absorption rate, and it also does not have the drawback of absorbing moisture and expanding like natural fibers, making it suitable as a material for producing a cool, refreshing sensation.' He also explained that 'even for products claiming extreme cooling, if 'cotton' is written on the tag, many Japanese consumers do not simply believe the advertising claim. It's not because cotton is a bad material, but because many consumers understand that the merits of cotton lie in its pleasant feel, natural texture, moisture absorption, and comfort as everyday wear. On the other hand, there is an understanding that it is not a suitable material for strong cooling or quick-drying properties.' Furthermore, he emphasized that 'in the case of Japanese products, it is rare for them to simply push through with an emphasis on effects; instead, there is a tendency to also explain materials, structure, processing technology, and testing methods.' Don Quijote's cooling products publish test results and measurement methods, and UNIQLO also explains differences in fibers and weaving. He analyzed that behind this stance is a market environment where 'consumers are not deceived by unsubstantiated exaggerated claims.' On the other hand, regarding the Taiwanese market, he pointed out that 'many consumers do not pay much attention to material labels when buying clothes, focusing instead only on silhouette and design. As a result, some manufacturers do not put much effort into providing basic information such as material labels.' He added that especially in some mass retailers and online stores, names of materials common in mainland China are used as they are, without being replaced by Taiwanese names. He appealed that 'to improve this situation, not only thorough supervision and inspection by the government but also an improvement in consumers' own awareness is important.' He then stated, 'Clothes are basically something you wear yourself. If you care whether a restaurant uses U.S.-produced pork, then caring about what material your clothes are made of shouldn't be that difficult,' and called on consumers to take an interest in material labels. (Translation/Editing by Kitada)