A winter staple. A crew neck sweater available in 13 colors

This is the ninth winter that ZUTTO has introduced Harley of Scotland, a traditional Scottish sweater brand. Known for its vivid colors, the brand's long-selling crew neck sweater has a basic shape that is loved for both daily wear and business settings. This year, 13 colors are available, ranging from classic shades to spot colors. Find your favorite piece to prepare for winter.

A sailor captivated by handmade knits from a port town

Harley of Scotland, founded in 1929, is now a long-established brand with nearly 100 years of history. Its founder, Peter, once worked as a sailor and went out to sea. As he passed through numerous ports, the traditional sweaters he saw in places such as Orkney, Shetland, and Fair Isle captured his heart. Practical, with a rustic charm, yet beautiful—one can't help but imagine how they must have looked through his eyes.

It's said that meaning was woven into the sweater patterns themselves, so that people working the ever-changing northern seas could be recognized. The sweaters made in Shetland—which had offered comfort and warmth for centuries—became the starting point for Harley of Scotland, a brand proposing light, soft sweaters suited to everyday life.

What is Shetland wool?

"Shetland wool" is indispensable to telling this history. It is exceptionally light and warm, with vivid coloring, and its beauty is considered unmatched by anything else. Because of the strong winds of the North Atlantic, the Shetland Islands have very little pasture, so the sheep there are said to grow up eating seaweed. Raised in the harsh coastal environment of the islands, with its large temperature swings and high humidity, the sheep's wool naturally toughens as it protects their bodies, resulting in high-quality raw fleece.

The power of "water" to wash wool beautifully and bring out its rich texture

This Shetland wool yarn is rich in natural oils, and when the wool is first spun into yarn it feels rough to the touch. It is the "washing" process that transforms it into a smooth texture. The extremely hard water found in northeastern Scotland is used to wash the Shetland wool, and this is said to be what gives it its remarkably smooth feel. Shetland wool, raised on seaweed by the water's edge, produces this luxurious texture—it's no exaggeration to say that the cold water of this region nurtures high-quality knitwear.

The reason this sweater has remained a beloved long seller isn't only its excellent materials.Harley of Scotland's specialty—"seamless knitting"—is also a technique that helps produce such comfortable sweaters. Normally, knitwear is made by knitting the front, back, and both sleeves as separate pieces and then joining them together, but the seamless method knits the entire shape of the sweater as a single unit, resulting in a comfortable finish with no unnecessary seams.

Finding your own signature color among 13 shades

One of this brand's charms is its wealth of colors—each season, more than 100 yarns are prepared. Basic shades like Medium Grey and New Navy are versatile colors that work both on and off duty. The softly toned Calico pairs easily with a variety of outfits. Nectar has a warm feel, Scots Pine t can be styled to feel either feminine or mannish, and Carmen and Sakura can be enjoyed as accent colors in your coordination.

The possibilities that open up through color coordination

Another appeal is how the sweater takes on many different expressions depending on what bottoms you pair it with, and the combination of colors and materials.

Pairing with white pants creates a clean, refined impression. (Left: Carmen , Right: Denim)

With basic-colored bottoms, basic colors give an intelligent impression, while vivid colors give a bright, light impression. (Left: Silver , Right: Gorse Flower)

A vividly colored sweater also has the effect of drawing the eye upward, making the wearer look stylishly taller. (Left: Scots Pine t, Right: Sakura)

Matching the top and bottom in the same color creates a cohesive impression. Winter-appropriate fabrics, shoes, and accessories also work well as accents. (Left: putty, Right: Blue toon)

It goes without saying that denim pairs well with any of the colors. (Left: New Navy, Right: Tundra )

(Left: Medium Grey, Right: Nectar)

The right size for me

Since this isn't a trendy silhouette, we think you can choose your usual size, but three staff members—156cm, 160cm, and 170cm tall—each tried on and reviewed their respective sizes. You can choose your size according to how you like to wear it: a trim silhouette when worn alone, or a bit of comfortable ease when layering a shirt underneath the knit.

▼Here are three sizes layered together. From the bottom, sizes 40, 38, and 36—the sleeve length increases by about 1–2cm, and the body length by about 2cm, with each size up.

▼Height 156cm (Ms. A) New Navy wearing size 36

▲Ms. A's (156cm) size comparison review

　Size 36... This was the just-right size. No feeling of tightness, and the sleeve length was just right too.
　Size 37... This is the size to choose if wearing an inner layer.
　Size 40... Can also be worn oversized. Since the shoulder line drops, this can be worn without any problem as well.

▼Height 160cm (Ms. B) 　Medium Grey wearing size 38

▲Ms. B's (160cm) size comparison review

　Size 36... Could be worn compactly without any feeling of tightness.
　Size 37... This was the just-right size. Both the sleeve length and the overall length had just the right amount of ease, fitting perfectly.
　Size 40... If wearing an inner layer underneath, this is the size I'd choose. The sleeves are a bit long, but since they stop at the rib knit, there's no problem.

▼Height 170cm (Mr. C) 　Blue toon wearing size 40

▲ Mr. C's (170cm) size comparison review

　Size 36... Too small, so I wouldn't choose this one.
　Size 37... This is the size for when you want to wear it compactly. There's enough ease in the body width, so it pairs well with thin long-sleeve inner layers without any issue.
　Size 40... This was the just-right size. The sleeves are a bit short, but everything else is just right.

This sweater is made with dimensions that work well if you choose your everyday size, but there's also enjoyment to be found in how you choose your size—going up a size for a looser fit to enjoy layering, or going down a size to keep your top compact. It also pairs nicely with layered inner pieces, accessories, or a scarf wrapped around the neck. We're reminded that simple pieces can be styled in many ways, work well with all sorts of items, and never grow tiresome—which is exactly why we've been able to introduce them for so long.

Since we received reviews on size selection assuming layering, here are the four collar patterns for reference as well.

We've introduced this to make it easier for customers to choose, but our three staff members also each picked out the one piece they'd like to welcome into their wardrobe this year.

Ms. A... [Scots Pine] I'm drawn to this deep green color that feels so wintery. I do want to incorporate color, but bright colors still feel a bit much for me, so a shade that's "secretly a colored sweater" is just right. Since the shape is a classic, simple crew neck sweater, I never have to worry about what to pair it with.

Ms. B... [Cobalt] I already own several knits in basic colors and calm tones, so I'm drawn to this beautifully vivid blue that's uniquely Harley of Scotland. Even though it's blue, it doesn't feel cold—it has a warmth to it. I think I could enjoy some fresh coordinating looks for myself, like letting the knit stand out with basic-colored bottoms, or pairing it with blue denim for a one-tone look.

Mr. C... [Nectar] I've been going back and forth for years about buying a yellow sweater. That's because of a bitter memory of once shrinking a favorite yellow sweater in the wash, and I think this year is finally the year for revenge. My bottoms are usually denim, and my winter outerwear tends to be dark colors, so I want to enjoy a winter with some brighter colors incorporated in.

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