Every step done in ZUTTO's atelier. A summer pullover that lets a refreshing breeze pass through.

The ZUTTO Atelier Line Craft Washer Cotton Pullover is made from a lightweight fabric with the natural, gently rumpled texture of washed cotton. Its generous body width gives the top a relaxed mood, while the dry-touch feel that doesn't cling to the skin keeps you cool—wear it and you can feel the breeze pass right through.

This pullover is one piece from the newly launched "Atelier Line" series. Made in the atelier set up inside ZUTTO's office—housed in a former school building—these garments are designed and sewn from start to finish by a single designer, which raises the overall quality and allows for flexible alterations and repairs. This series was created in response to requests from customers who wanted clothes they could keep mending and wearing for years, unaffected by trends, rather than pieces that end with a single season.

From ZUTTO's Atelier

ZUTTO's warehouse is located in Hyogo Prefecture. We repurposed a former elementary school that had been closed down, turning the gymnasium into a warehouse and the staff room into an office. This project of reusing the elementary school began with our wish to add new value to a school building that had lost its students and fallen quiet, and to turn it back into a place where people gather again and which is loved for a long time, even if its purpose has changed. 

ZUTTO's atelier is located in that school's former arts and crafts room. It's here that ZUTTO's original garments are designed, patterns are drafted, and samples are sewn. The garments that actually reach you are made at an outside sewing factory, but this Atelier Line is the one range of items completed entirely here, in this room.

In the apparel industry, work is generally divided among specialists—designer, pattern maker, production staff, and sewers. But for the Atelier Line series, a single ZUTTO designer handles everything from fabric selection and design to pattern making, cutting, sewing, and finishing.

In terms of labor, effort, and efficiency, dividing the work among specialists is often the better approach. But by setting that aside and having one person carefully finish each garment by hand, we gain benefits that are exactly what we've wanted for ZUTTO's clothing. First, because one person handles everything from start to finish, a high level of quality can be maintained throughout—which, in turn, leads to sturdier garments. Second, this approach allows us to offer the best possible support for alterations and remaking, so the clothes can be worn for a long time. Since the same person who designed and made the garment also handles the alterations and remakes, they understand exactly what will work best for both the fabric and the design, and can deliver the most suitable result.

The more clothes you wear, the more you realize that the ones you want to keep wearing for years are the ones you love down to every detail. This series began from our wish to finish each piece, whenever requested, to perfectly suit each individual customer's body type and taste.

A pullover you can wear comfortably in summer, letting the breeze pass through

This pullover isn't a T-shirt, but it's finished so you can wear it just as easily as one. By giving it a generously wide body, we aimed for a piece that lets the breeze pass through for a refreshing feel. It has a cool, airy look, and one nice point is that it covers your upper arms without feeling stifling even in the height of summer.

How the Craft Washer Cotton Pullover is Made

1. Choosing the Fabric

Once the concept and design are settled, the next step is choosing the fabric.

For this piece, we chose lawn fabric, which is often used for spring and summer blouses thanks to its cool, smooth feel against the skin and its refined body and crispness. We then gave it a one-wash treatment for a natural texture. Its matte look and light, dry hand bring out the best qualities of the cotton material.

It struck just the right balance—not as casual as a T-shirt, but not as crisp and formal as a dress shirt either, giving off a nicely relaxed impression. It's also easy to care for; you don't need to iron it sharply. Simply wash it as usual, smooth it into shape before drying, and it's ready to wear the next day, still with its natural texture intact.

2. Cutting

Next, a pattern is made, and the fabric is cut based on it.

When placing the pattern on the fabric, it's crucial to carefully check that the grain of the fabric isn't off. Even with a plain, unpatterned fabric, if this is off, the finished impression will be quite different.

Because many layers of fabric are stacked and cut by hand, the scissors tend to push the fabric out of place as they cut through it. This is done carefully so the fabric doesn't shift.

3. Sewing

Each of the pieces is sewn together.

After sewing one section, we check both the front and back sides, carefully making sure the thread tension isn't off and that no stitches have slipped away from the seam allowance, before continuing with the sewing. For the parts that need extra care, like visible stitching on the outside or the neckline, the sewing is done a little more slowly and carefully, while straight lines are sewn quickly in one continuous motion—this rhythm of speeding up and slowing down is how the machine sewing is done. Each piece is finished with care, so that it comes together beautifully.

Once the sewing is finished, the garment has taken on its shape, but it still isn't complete. The finished garment then goes through a process of washing in water, tumble drying, and a final ironing. This helps reduce shrinkage when the garment is washed at home.

5. Final Check

The finished garment is finally put on a mannequin (torso form) so the whole silhouette can be checked. The overall balance is reviewed, and any oddities or sewing mistakes are carefully checked one by one before the piece is considered complete.

STYLE SAMPLE

This time, we've prepared three colors: "IVORY" and "CHARCOAL," which pair effortlessly with clothes you already own, and a summery, light "KHAKI." Since the length is made a bit longer, it opens up variations in styling—wearing it slightly oversized over a long skirt, or tucking the hem in for a simple look with denim.

IVORY

Skirt: Cotton Lawn Embroidered Tiered Skirt

Sandals: W0162 NERO (BLACK)

KHAKI

Cut-and-sew top worn underneath: Cotton Belgian Linen Jersey High-Neck Sleeveless Top

Pants: Cotton Cocoon Pants

Shoes: TRAVEL SHOES TR019 BLACK

Bag: GOAT MESH Mini Shoulder Bag

CHARCOAL

Pants: UPT1000L31 easy baker pants

Shoes: Tornado17 Lea Off white

Bag: Mini Bucket

For inquiries about length adjustments or remakes, please contact Customer Support

I'd like to shorten the length or the sleeve length just a bit more.

I'd like to add slits on the sides to create a difference in length between the front and back.

Garments in the ZUTTO Atelier Line can accommodate even these kinds of detailed requests. If you're wondering whether something might be possible, please feel free to reach out to Customer Support with your questions.

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