Retro and intelligent. Ideas to enjoy your scarf twice as much

Like the cabin attendants we once admired

A silk scarf beautifully wrapped around the neck is gorgeous and elegant, yet also stylishly understated.

It brightens up your face instantly, without ever being too much.

We admire that kind of scarf styling and try to imitate it in various ways, but

somehow we can never quite find a style that suits us. Why is that?

And before we know it,

the scarf ends up tucked away in the back of the closet, alongside accessories reserved for special occasions.

We keep telling ourselves we'll find a style that suits us someday, but the chance never quite comes.

Have you ever had an experience like this?

In fact, a scarf can be used in many ways beyond wrapping it around your neck.

Here are some tips for making better use of that scarf sleeping in your closet.

The first thing to know as the basis for using a scarf well is how to "fold" it.

There are of course many ways to tie a scarf, but before that, how you fold it

changes the overall look, volume, and how the pleats appear.

It's enough to remember just two types: the pleat fold and the bias fold.

【Pleat Fold】

1: Place the scarf with the front side facing up.

2: While holding both ends, fold it into pleats of equal width (about 3 cm each).

3: Continue folding all the way to the end.

【Bias Fold】

1: Place the scarf with the back side facing up.

2: Fold the top and bottom corners in toward the center.

3: Fold the top and bottom in toward the center once more.

4: Continue folding to the end and adjust the shape.

The pleat fold creates a fluttering volume when tied, giving a gorgeous impression,

while the bias fold has a more restrained volume and an elegant feel,

and depending on how the pattern shows through, this fold can create many different looks.

When tying it around your neck or on a bag handle,

simply changing the fold changes how the pattern appears and how much volume it has,

letting you enjoy a different impression each time.

Wrapping it around the neck is the classic way to enjoy a scarf, but

the appeal of a scarf also lies in the many other arrangements it allows.

【Wrap it around a summer hat as an accent】

Wrap a scarf folded in the bias style around the brim of a hat.

For the ends, simply tie a bow the same way you'd tie shoelaces—an easy arrangement.

The sheen of the silk scarf stands out beautifully against a simple hat, transforming its look with just this one touch.

This particular scarf features a bold cake-motif print, but

the fun of a scarf lies in being able to adjust the volume by folding it this way.

【Refresh the look of a basket bag】

Tie it into a pouch shape the same way you'd tie a furoshiki, and use it as an inner bag for a basket bag.

With an asymmetrical geometric-print scarf, tying it loosely to make the most of its surface

brings out the pattern beautifully and gives it a lively impression.

A basket bag with a Japanese-style feel instantly transforms into something pop and playful.

It's a lot of fun to rearrange your bag this way,

much like redecorating a room.

(Depending on the type of basket, jagged ends of vine may stick out on the inside,

which can damage the scarf's fabric, so please be careful.)

【Use it as a headband for a hair arrangement】

Use a scarf folded in the bias style for a headband-style hair arrangement.

1: Fold the scarf in the bias style.

2: With both ends coming to the front, drape it around your neck. Pass the scarf under your hair.

3: Twist and cross both ends near your forehead. (See photo.)

4: Tie the ends of the scarf into a bow at the back of your neck, and you're done.

If the scarf measures about 90 to 100 cm long after folding, this arrangement is possible.

For example, even with a simple style of a white shirt and jeans,

using just one scarf as a headband instantly gives you a retro, pop look.

It suits long hair worn down over the shoulders, of course,

and also looks great with short styles or ponytails.

【Notes on caring for silk】

Silk is a material commonly used for scarves.

The secret to silk's sheen lies in the structure of its thread.

The fibers of raw silk have a triangular shape,

and this shape reflects and diffuses incoming light like a prism,

producing a distinctive luster not seen in any other natural fiber.

(Advantages)
・The smoothness and sheen unique to silk
・Being a natural fiber, it doesn't build up static electricity easily
・It doesn't trap excess moisture, and helps maintain a comfortable temperature

(Drawbacks)
・Prone to staining
・Vulnerable to acids and alkalis
・Prone to shrinking when wet
・Susceptible to damage from insects

Another characteristic worth mentioning is that silk readily absorbs ultraviolet rays.

Wrapping silk around your neck offers a nice benefit as a form of UV protection.

However, silk itself tends to yellow when it absorbs UV rays, so

be careful, as prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause it to lose its original texture and feel.

【Tips to prevent wrinkles】

After wearing a scarf all day, hang it on a hanger or the back of a chair, away from light.

(Prolonged exposure to light may cause it to deteriorate or discolor.)

There's no need to have it cleaned after every use.

If it becomes very dirty, have it dry-cleaned.

So, how did you enjoy this read on doubling the fun of scarves?

With just one silk scarf,

you can wrap it around a basket bag or hat, incorporate it into a hairstyle, and try all sorts of arrangements.

Even without memorizing complicated folds or knots,

you can change the look simply by using a bias fold or a pleated fold,

and by choosing which side to show, you can bring out the pattern in different ways—there's so much you can experiment with.

If you have a scarf sitting unused in your closet,

do try putting it to work as a handy styling item.

the PORT is created by

Maruka Co., Ltd., a nassen (Japanese textile printing) print maker rooted in the local industry of Yokohama.

Yokohama has long been a port town where countless people and goods have passed through,

and just as Yokohama once connected with the world and brought color and vitality to Japan,

the brand was born from a wish to add color to everyday life and to create prints suited to the present day.

With that in mind, the factory brand the PORT was launched.

Maruka is known as a long-established scarf maker in Yokohama,

and it is currently the only company in Japan that handles everything in-house, from planning and design to factory production and delivery.

Through this dedication, they create carefully crafted scarves using tenassen, a hand-printing technique.