BK100

The ultimate black towel
- aiming to be 100% black.

Looking for a really black towel.

Did you know that it is actually really difficult to dye fabric black?
That is why traditional black towels have been a weak, somewhat faded color.
Even though it may look black in a photograph, the real thing may not be so black and the color may look weak if viewed in a well-lit place.
For example towels have not yet managed to achieve the same blackness as the dyes used in black formal wear, have they?
At FUJITAKA, we have been working on developing dyeing technology with the aim of producing a completely black towel.

The journey towards discovering
real black started with a
search for dyes.

We wanted to produce a deep black color, as found in lacquer ware or black formal wear.
The first thing we did was to look for black dyes.
The stock of dyes in FUJITAKA’s dyeing plant alone was not enough.
We ordered various black dyes, changed their concentration and tried blending them with other colors.
For each blend we repeatedly carried out the tasks of dyeing the thread, weaving the towels on looms, washing and drying the end products and checking the color.
And finally we came up with this black.
We came up with this shade of black by using a dark dye that is about 1.6 times as dark as the black previously used.

Developing a blacker dyed yarn.

Even with a good dye, we could not dye the yarn a dark shade using the existing thread.
So we carefully selected cotton with a long fiber length to develop new yarn that would take a deeper color.
Through a process of trial and error, we tried to reduce fluff and make the color brighter.
We also used various expertise to figure out the thickness of the yarn fibers and succeeded in increasing the dye absorption rate from 10% to 25%.
Towels that have been impregnated to the limit with the black dye still look completely black, even in a well-lit place.
We have produced a black towel that does not easily lose its color or fade, even when it is washed.

Have a look and compare
the blackness.

In order to further master the shade of black, we carried out a series of tests by trial and error in our weaving methods and all our other processes.
The result we arrived at, was to weave an orthodox, easy-to-use pile.
With our own unique finish, we have produced an exquisite hue like shiny black lacquer ware.
When put beside with an old black towel, you can tell the difference in color at a glance.
Naturally these towels have very absorbent and great to touch, and they are also perfect for that uncompromising work-out style.
If you use them at home, they will upgrade the inside of your bath room. The name is BK100.
Please use these towels, rigorously produced to be 100% black, at home or as a gift.