Over the years, lightness has become prized in outerwear. Responding to demand with technological innovations in thread and textiles, UNIQLO has made a number of lighter items, but among the lightest is the Pocketable UV Protection Parka. Those who haven’t felt the difference for themselves should visit a store and try one on. More than simply light, the thin fabric allows for compact stowage. This inconspicuous bestseller has become the favorite of no small number of commuters, students, travelers at home and abroad, and even mountain climbers.

The first iteration of the design came in 2005 with a packable light jacket. Two decades later, UNIQLO’s constant quest for increased functionality has led to the upheaval of the lightweight parka status quo. The result is a UV-blocking jacket that almost makes wearing sunscreen unnecessary. The UPF rating is 50+, the highest in Japan. Light enough to wear indoors to ward off chilly air conditioning. This item has been made without the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) since 2017, but this season, to ensure water-repellency, the men’s model boasts even more new technology.

Marked increases in rainfall due to climate change and the popularity of outdoor activities and live events has increased demand for a higher level of water-repellent items. This has necessitated innovation at the textile and fiber level, the pocketable parka being one such example. As it turns out, the ideas for these water-repellent mechanisms came from plants.

Toray Industries, who worked on the men’s items, referenced the leaves of the lotus, the surfaces of which have minutely irregular structures. These water-repellent structures were recreated using NANODESIGN^®︎, a multi-component fiber spinning technology for creating ultrafine threads with a unique cross section made from disparate materials. Microscopic threads are made from components having different shrinkage. One of the components enwraps the other like a thin skin. When heat is applied, the components shrink at different rates, creating a minutely weblike effect as shown in the illustration. The irregular surface of the fabric translates to increased surface area, increasing the effectiveness of the water-repellent coating.

Teijin Frontier, who worked on the women’s fabric, referenced the mechanics of straw, which was traditionally used for rainwear in Japan. Specifically, the leaves of the rice plant have irregular surfaces that readily shed water. Recreating these effects in textiles gives a fabric that sheds water longitudinally and has decreased lateral surface tension to keep the water droplets moving. Microscopic bumps minimize contact points between droplets and fabric, while the air space between the water-repellent treatment and surface divots increases water repellency.

Hiding in plain sight, these helpful lessons from the natural world resulted in an even more functional parka. Read on for more info on use and care.

Women’s has an adjuster on the back of the hood for a good fit.

This season features six colors for men and seven for women (with black for each).