The charm of a blended fabric that brings out the best in its materials. hatsutoki's jacquard wool muffler is perfect for the changing of the seasons

Winter is drawing to a close. Still, there are days when it's chilly even in the daytime, and the shifting temperature differences from day to day can make you worry about catching a cold. It's still a bit too cool for spring clothing, but a full winter outfit would be too warm. For this in-between season, it's handy to have a muffler you can keep wearing into early spring.

The item we're featuring is the jacquard wool muffler from hatsutoki. Let us introduce the characteristics of this blended fabric, which takes "the best of both worlds" from its materials.

Discovering the appeal of blended fabric through the jacquard wool muffler

The muffler features a two-tone design with different colors on each side, scattered with patterns evoking twinkling stars in the night sky, snow, and sparks from a bonfire.

At first glance it looks like a simple, warm-looking muffler, but the key point is that it's made from a blended fabric with 100% cotton in the warp threads and 100% wool in the weft threads. A blended fabric is one made by combining different materials, such as cotton and wool. By blending the materials, the best qualities of each are brought out.

So what exactly are the material qualities that this blended fabric brings out? Let us introduce them.

First, there's the three-dimensional feel.

The cotton used in the warp threads of the jacquard wool muffler is a relatively firm yarn, and combined with the dense weave of the jacquard fabric, this gives the fabric thickness, creating suppleness and body throughout. As a result, it can be wrapped in a way that holds its shape more than a 100% wool muffler. While wool mufflers tend to go limp once wrapped around the neck, this jacquard wool muffler keeps its fabric standing up. That's a welcome feature for an item worn around the neck to block out the cold air.

The jacquard wool muffler gains its three-dimensional feel thanks to the blended fabric.

You might think that a blended fabric would be less warm than one made entirely of wool, but the jacquard wool muffler is woven as a double-layered fabric, with the front and back essentially bonded together. This creates a layer of air, which blocks out cold air while keeping the inside insulated and warm. The wool that appears on the surface as weft threads is also fluffy and brushed, so you can really feel the warmth.

Warmth is ensured by the double-layered weave.

hatsutoki is a brand that originally worked with Banshu-ori textiles using cotton thread. Nearly all of its products use 100% cotton in the warp threads. The jacquard wool muffler follows this brand characteristic while combining it with wool to create a fabric suited to the season.

The wool used is a type called U-bride wool, produced in Uruguay. U-bride wool is a rare breed, with only 4 to 5 tons produced per year. It combines firm strength with a lustrous suppleness, and is so delicately fine that it could be mistaken for cashmere, without any itchiness. It also pairs well with cotton, giving the muffler a smooth, comfortable feel when worn.

Reversible for early spring: lightness and warmth, both at once

The front side of the jacquard wool muffler has a dark-colored base, with dotted patterns in a contrasting reversed color standing out nicely. This gives a warm impression suited to winter, but when you want to bring in a bit more lightness as spring approaches, you can flip it around so the white-based back side faces out, creating a look that feels more like spring.

Coat: Cotton Linen Stand Collar Coat　　Shoes: Sneakers MARATHON CLASSIC BLACK

Even though it's a wool-blend muffler, simply changing which color faces out lets it pair naturally with a spring cotton coat, without feeling out of place. When moving on from winter attire, incorporating bright, pale colors is the way to go, and this makes such easy coordination possible.

Top: Cardboard Pullover　Shoes: chausser Lace-up Heel Boots BL

Once you no longer need an outer coat, we also recommend wrapping it once around your neck over a top. Whether you're out for a stroll or a quick errand, it's reassuring to have the jacquard wool muffler keeping your neck warm.

▽You can find the hatsutoki Jacquard Wool Muffler here