【ZUTTO Original】A linen stole that helps with temperature regulation and UV protection. Designed so it won't slip off your shoulders even when you move around or the wind picks up, letting you use it stress-free.

A thin, easy-to-use linen stole comes in handy during spring, when the temperature difference between morning/evening and daytime is large, and in summer, when you need something to fend off the chill of air conditioning. But because it's so light, it can slip off with a flutter when you bend down, even if it's wrapped around your neck—or a gust of wind can loosen one side and blow it right off.

To solve this common frustration with thin stoles, we at ZUTTO created our own original design: the "Linen Voile Fringe Stole with Band" featured here today.

A linen stole that's perfect for spring and summer

This stole was born from a casual conversation with our designer. One day, while recounting a story about walking outside with a spring linen stole draped over my shoulders, only to have a sudden gust of wind send it flying—forcing me to chase after it—several staff members chimed in with similar experiences. Some said, "It's never completely blown away, but a small movement makes it slip off." Others mentioned, "You could pin it with a brooch, but then you have to remove the brooch every time you take it off, which is a hassle."

That casual chat developed into a planning meeting about how to solve this problem, and what emerged was the idea of using a band sewn directly onto the stole to hold it in place.

From there, the conversation kept expanding—wouldn't it be fun if this band could not only keep the stole from falling but also be used to create different ways of wearing it?

And so these ideas came to life:

・The band can be used to secure the stole so it won't fall off

・The same band allows you to arrange how you wear it

・And when folded up, the band makes it packable—easy to fit in a bag and less likely to become a wrinkled mess

From prototype to finished product, made at ZUTTO's atelier

To turn an idea born from everyone's shared experiences into an actual stole, the designer first put it down on paper as a design sketch, then moved on to creating prototypes. At ZUTTO, when we make original wear and small goods, we usually create prototypes in-house at our atelier, refine them through repeated adjustments, and then have the final sewing done externally. This time, however, the designer handled everything for the "Linen Voile Fringe Stole with Band" from start to finish.

Because the same person who understood the concept, selected the materials, and made all the adjustments through prototyping also creates the finished product delivered to customers, the quality remains consistent throughout. This also means we can offer repairs—so if the thread starts to pull after catching on something, or if the fringe comes loose after continued use, please send it back to ZUTTO's atelier. We'll do our best to repair it and return it to you.

Linen voile, easy to handle with its natural wrinkles and simple to carry around

We chose linen for the stole's material for these reasons:

・It has a smooth, breezy touch that's comfortable in the sweaty days of spring and summer

・Its natural wrinkles give it character, avoiding a flat, featureless look

・It can be hand-washed easily, so you can keep it clean day after day even after sweating in it

What we ultimately chose was "linen voile," made with fine-count yarn for a delicate touch.

The secret behind its plump feel and silk-like sheen lies in a liquid ammonia treatment. This process causes the cellulose fibers to swell, rounding out the cross-section of each individual fiber, resulting in a finish that's smooth and free of twists.

At the prototype stage, we debated whether to finish the fabric with ironing for a crisp, polished look, or to embrace a gentle wrinkled texture. In the end, we opted for washing to bring out the wrinkles. This is because a spring or summer stole gets taken in and out often—wrapped around the neck when it's chilly, then rolled up and tucked into a bag once the day warms up—so we wanted something you could handle freely without worrying about wrinkles.

Thanks to the band, you can wear it many different ways—and it's packable too

Now, about that "band" mentioned at the start—here it is, made of matching fabric and attached to the back of the stole.

Using this band also prevents the stole from coming undone or blowing away in the wind.

Here we'll introduce two basic ways to wear it, with photos.

【The "Secure Wrap," perfect for UV protection at the back of the neck】

・Photos 1–3: Hold the end of the stole and tuck it into the band

・Photo 4: Wrap it once around your neck

・Photo 5: Pass the other end through the opposite side of the band

・Photo 6: Adjust the shape, and you're done!

With this style, if you shift the hanging part of the stole to the side of your neck and let the ends drape front and back, you get an arrangement like the one shown below.

【The "Loose Drape," ideal for quickly covering your arms when they feel a bit chilly】

This one is even simpler.

・Photos 1–2: Hold the end of the stole and tuck it into the band

・Photo 3: Pass the other end through the band

・Photo 4: Adjust the shape, and you're done!

You can also use this band to keep the stole secure when it's folded up. It prevents the fabric from unfurling and getting all tangled up inside your bag.

Here are the steps for making it packable:

This is what the packable form looks like when finished. Since it's held together with the band, it won't come undone and get messy inside your bag.

In spring, when there's still a big difference in temperature between morning, evening, and daytime, it's nice to keep a thin stole on hand for warmth on your way to and from places. In summer, it's handy for protecting against the chill of indoor air conditioning—it's great that the size is large enough to cover your arms even when wearing short sleeves. It also makes a wonderful choice if you're thinking about a Mother's Day gift.