As Heatstroke Prevention Becomes Mandatory, Classico Offers a New Choice: 'How to Wear' for Medical Workers, Half of Whom Can't Wipe Sweat

Classico Co., Ltd., a medical apparel brand specializing in tailored lab coats (Founded: 2008 / Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / CEO: Arata Owa), announces the launch of seven new heatstroke prevention products under the 'Medical Layering' concept. Available from July 14, 2026, at Classico's official online store and physical stores, these products offer a new approach to dressing for healthcare workers facing extreme heat, where nearly half cannot wipe sweat or change clothes.

Background: The Challenge of Heat in Healthcare Settings

Starting June 2025, revised labor safety and health regulations will make heatstroke prevention mandatory for employers, with penalties for non-compliance.

With extreme heat becoming the new normal and energy constraints increasing, healthcare facilities are reaching the limits of temperature control relying solely on equipment.

Temperature conditions vary significantly by department, time of day, and job function, and individual health conditions change daily. However, current uniforms remain passively designed, unable to adapt to these fluctuations.

Various surveys have revealed the following realities:

Approximately one in two healthcare workers (48%) work in environments where they cannot wipe sweat or change clothes, and 33% cannot secure time for hydration (*1)

About 76% of home care aides have experienced symptoms close to heatstroke, and about 28% have considered leaving their jobs due to the heat (*2)

This is not merely a matter of personal discomfort; it poses a risk to the entire healthcare and caregiving delivery system.

*1 Source: Classico internal survey (519 healthcare workers / 2023)

*2 Source: 'Emergency Survey on Home Care and Mobility Support in Scorching Heat' by the Association for Building a Care Society (2025)

For more details on the realities of heat in healthcare settings, please see the following note article:

https://note.com/classico/n/n254921d7afcd

Concept: Medical Layering

"The environment cannot be changed. But the way we wear can be."

This series begins with the idea of wrapping different cooling approaches in designs that meet the hospitality standards of medical settings.

Medical Layering is a proposal for dressing: 'layering, choosing, and adjusting.' Even in environments where reliance on air conditioning is difficult, healthcare workers can regulate their own condition through combinations of apparel. This series aims to provide such choices to medical professionals.

The target audience for this series includes home healthcare workers such as visiting physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists, as well as medical staff working in hospital areas with poor air conditioning.

Product Lineup

Fan Series | Air-Conditioned Clothing® Medical Series

Two fans placed on the back create airflow inside the garment, promoting sweat evaporation and suppressing the rise in perceived temperature. It adopts a cooling mechanism using vaporization heat, applying the 'Physiological Cooler®' theory. Unlike typical fan-equipped apparel, this series is redesigned for use in medical settings. Based on the silhouette of a medical Casey (a stand-collar medical jacket) that considers medical hospitality, with cords and parts tucked inside, it eliminates the 'workwear' feel. Designed primarily for outdoor and transit use, it maintains a clean and professional appearance even when entering hospital premises.

Physiological Cooler: The body's natural cooling system. When the skin senses heat, the brain calculates the appropriate amount of sweat and releases it through sweat glands. The evaporation of this sweat draws heat from the body, maintaining a comfortable state.

▼ G74 Unisex: Air-Conditioned Clothing® Medical Jacket ¥21,890 (tax included) ※ Fans and batteries sold separately

▼ G75 Unisex: Air-Conditioned Clothing® Medical Vest ¥19,690 (tax included) ※ Fans and batteries sold separately

▼ G76 Air-Conditioned Clothing® Starter Kit 14.4V ¥17,050 (tax included)

'Air-Conditioned Clothing' uses the patents and technology of Air-Conditioned Clothing Co., Ltd.

'Air-Conditioned Clothing' refers to the fan-equipped apparel, accessories, and brand of Air-Conditioned Clothing Co., Ltd.

'Air-Conditioned Clothing' and 'Physiological Cooler' are registered trademarks of Air-Conditioned Clothing Co., Ltd.

Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Cool Pack Hoodie | UV Cut Ice Pack Hoodie

Features lightweight, thin double-knit fabric. The structure minimizes direct contact with the skin, reducing stickiness and maintaining a smooth, comfortable feel. It includes UPF30 (96% UV block rate) UV protection and eco-friendly water-repellent processing without fluorine. A dedicated pocket at the neck holds ice packs to suppress body temperature rise during transit. Packable and compact for easy carrying.

▼ G79 Unisex: UV Cut Ice Pack Hoodie ¥16,390 (tax included)

Cooling Pod Inner | Evaporative Cooling Inner

Uses the functional fabric 'Coolcore®' from the U.S. It cools through the fiber structure itself, without relying on chemical treatments or special materials, so the effect lasts even after washing. The 'evaporative cooling function' absorbs, diffuses, and evaporates sweat and moisture, lowering skin surface temperature. Designed for home healthcare and outdoor work, it also features UV protection / UPF50+ (over 98.8% UV block rate) and excellent quick-drying properties.

▼ G77 Ladies: Coolcore Ice Pack ZIP T ¥9,790 (tax included)

▼ G78 Ladies: Coolcore Ice Pack T ¥7,590 (tax included)

▼ G80 Men: Coolcore Ice Pack T ¥7,590 (tax included)

Classico is a medical apparel brand that has consistently addressed challenges in healthcare work environments through products, guided by the mission 'Bringing Sensibility to Healthcare.'

With products like lab coats with dedicated tablet pockets (2011) and AI-designed uniforms that reduce fabric waste (selected for Good Design Award Best 100 in 2025), Classico has a track record of capturing social changes within the context of healthcare and responding with innovative products.

This 'Medical Layering' initiative delivers a new choice—'choosing how to wear'—to healthcare settings facing the reality of extreme heat. After launch, Classico will collect usage data and feedback from real-world settings to drive continuous improvement.

Sales Information

Limited quantity sales start on Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Classico Online Store: https://www.clasic.jp/

Fan Series | Air-Conditioned Clothing® Medical Series: https://www.clasic.jp/products/air-conditioned/ Cool Pack Hoodie | UV Cut Ice Pack Hoodie: https://www.clasic.jp/products/outer/ Cooling Pod Inner | Evaporative Cooling Inner: https://www.clasic.jp/products/inner/

Classico直营 stores (Marunouchi Store, Osaka Store,