Consumer Agency: Uniqlo 'Airism' Needs Antibacterial Improvement... Exchange and Refund Measures Taken

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The antibacterial performance of Uniqlo's functional innerwear 'Airism Crew Neck T' was found to vary significantly depending on the individual product.

On the 15th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced the results of tests and evaluations on functionality, safety, and durability of seven functional innerwear products. The Consumer Agency conducted this evaluation to provide consumers with objective product selection information, as various brands emphasize quick sweat absorption and rapid drying functions for summer functional innerwear, but there is a lack of quality information regarding these features.

The tested products included Days’ ‘All Season Men’s T-shirt No.1’, BYC’s ‘Body Dry Cool U-neck T#1’, SPAO’s ‘Crew Neck Short Sleeve Solid’, 8Seconds’ ‘Crew Neck Short Sleeve’, Uniqlo’s ‘Airism Crew Neck T’, Uniqlo’s ‘Airism Cotton Crew Neck T’, and Topten’s ‘Crew Neck Short Sleeve’, totaling seven products.

Test results showed that all products met the relevant safety standards and had no issues in washability, durability, or blend ratio. Absorption performance was excellent for all products, rated grade 4 or higher (graded from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best), but drying speed showed performance differences between products.

Among two products labeled and advertised as having antibacterial performance, Uniqlo’s 'Airism Crew Neck T' showed inconsistent performance and requires improvement. Some products did not maintain antibacterial effectiveness of 99.9% after washing, making it difficult to expect uniform antibacterial performance. The company plans to voluntarily offer exchanges or refunds following recommendations from the Korea Consumer Agency.

All products demonstrated excellent absorption performance, rated grade 4 or higher, indicating quick sweat absorption, and maintained functionality even after 10 repeated washes. When testing drying speed, which measures how quickly absorbed sweat or water dries, all products dried faster than general cotton fabric products, but performance varied by product.

Days’ ‘All Season Men’s T-shirt No.1’, Uniqlo’s ‘Airism Crew Neck T’, and Topten’s ‘Crew Neck Short Sleeve’ maintained relatively faster drying speeds compared to other products even after 10 washes, showing excellent performance.

Tests on durability and washability, including shrinkage, deformation, and pilling caused by washing, showed all products met or exceeded the Korea Consumer Agency’s recommended quality standards for textile products. Formaldehyde tests conducted under the ‘Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Control Act’ confirmed that all products met safety standards.