Paper Yarn OJO+
Natural fiber made from Washi

CONCEPT

Known as “Shosenshi”, paper yarn has older history than hemp or cotton in Japan. Although having excellent quality, paper yarn was hard to mass-produce and expensive. Oji Fiber applied its own know how, state of the art facility, and high technology from the experience of being involved with paper products to establish its own production system for paper yarn. Oji Fiber successfully produced top quality “Paper yarn OJO⁺” which is environmental friendly and mild to skin at available price.

CHARACTERISTICS

Fiber both friendly to mankind and to the environment

 

Abaca from Ecuador, which is stronger and high quality when compared with others, is applied as base material of the paper used to make “Paper Yarn OJO⁺.” Not only having outstanding toughness, it is also very light, soft to the touch, and does not have fluff. Paper used as base material must be strong, thin, and homogenous since the yarn is made by twisting paper, which is sliced down to 1mm in width. Compared to wood pulp, abaca has longer fiber, enabling to make stronger paper.

Material aspect

Environmental aspect
  • Very light (specific gravity with paper: 0.5 g/cm3)
  • No fluff
  • Water resistance strong enough to be washed・High water absorbency and quick-drying
  • Highly absorbent and quick-drying ・ Gentle on the skin
    (certified under Oeko-Tex Class 1, a global safety standard for yarns)
  • More elasticity and firmness than hemp
  • Dry and refreshing to the touch
  • Excellent air permeability
  • Cool feeling as summer wear
  • Lightweight and warmth retention for winter wear
  • Versatility suitable for composites with other fibers
  • High sustainability (Manila hemp is a fast-growing hemp plant that takes only 3 years to mature)
  • Manila hemp is an excellent absorber of carbon dioxide
  • No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Manila hemp is an excellent absorber of carbon dioxide.
  • Biodegradable
    （Biodegradable (decomposed into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in the soil)
  • No toxic substances are generated when incinerated

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Wonderful encounter between Japanese tradition and technology of Oji Fiber.

1. Cultivation process

 

Cut down abaca at the base.

2. Scutching process

 

Tear the sheath to pull out the fiber.

3. Pulp production

 

Decompose tough fiber of abaca by using special caldron to produce pulp, the base material of paper.

4. Paper making process

 

Produce at least 20,000m of paper yarn base sheet from pulp.

5. Slit Process

 

Slit the Washi, the base sheet, to 1~6mm making it into long and narrow tape form.

6. Twisting process

 

OJO⁺ is completed when paper yarn tape is twisted by applying original technology.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER FIBERS

There are chemical fibers and natural fibers and each has filament and short fibers. Using the vegetable short fibers as the base material, filament is made by plowing long paper making it to become the one and only vegetable filament. Made by abaca, OJO⁺ is a filament finished yarn, having smooth touch with excellence of organic material.

Natural fiber

Chemical fiber

Botanical

Animality

Long fiber

(filament)
  • Paper thread fiber
    (Extracted yarn)
     
  • OJO⁺
    (Filament processed yarn)
  • Silk (raw silk）
  • Polyester
  • Acrylic
  • Nylon
  • Chemical fiber
  •  Rayon

Staples

(span)
  • Cotton
    (Spinning method)
     
  • Hemp
    (Spinning method)
  • Wool
    (Spinning method)
     
  • Silk
    (Spinning method)

When asked about the base material for paper, we normally associate wood, but the base material of OJO⁺, abaca, is a type of perennial plant. Abaca is a Musaceae plant that inhabits in Philippines, and Ecuador. It takes about 3 years for the plant to grow as tall as 5~6m and 40cm in width, to become as base material. Abaca is very lightweight since its fiber is porous, consisting rich amount of oxygen. It is also highly water resistant not only to pure water, but also to sea water.

PRODUCT

Tape and twisted yarn are our main products.

Tape

Paper yarn

CERTIFICATE

OJO⁺ is certified by two globally known organizations with strict standards.

OEKO-TEX®

 

OEKO-TEX an independent certification system for textile products, which head quarter is located in Switzerland, certified OJO⁺ as product class 1, articles for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age (underwear, rompers, clothing, bed linen, terry products etc.)

>> OEKO-TEX®

CERES

 

OJO⁺ is certified as organic product by CERES, Germany, for non-use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides during the farming of base material.

>> CERES