Choosing Gloves for Grown-Ups, to Give the Gift of Warmth

Now that full-fledged winter has arrived, many of you are probably

busily pulling coats and mufflers out of the closet to prepare for the cold.

One thing you shouldn't forget in the process is gloves.

Fingertips, being at the extremities of the body, tend to get cold easily, so it's important to keep them properly warm with gloves.

But since hands are visible to others, you'll want your gloves to look put-together, too.

This time, we'd like to introduce some tips for choosing gloves for exactly that kind of person.

【From Ceremony to Fashion】

Gloves are said to date back as far as ancient Greece.

Depending on the era, they were regarded as sacred items used by clergy,

or as symbols of power and authority.

Considering that bishops of the church and kings of nations wore gloves during ceremonies,

perhaps the meaning gloves carry hasn't changed all that much even today.

That said, nowadays gloves are widely recognized simply as

one type of cold-weather gear used to protect the hands.

In Japan too, illustrated scrolls from the Heian period depict people wearing gloves,

and a type of armor called kote, which covered the hands, was also made.

It seems gloves have long been recognized as a way to protect the hands.

Later, with the introduction of knitted fabric from Europe,

gloves began to take on the form we know today.

Among Japan's regions, Shikoku is especially known for its glove manufacturing, which flourished from the Meiji era onward.

It's surprising to learn that even today, 90% of Japan's leather gloves are made in Shikoku.

Gloves aren't just fashion accessories, either—they're also treasured

as sports equipment and protective gear for work, making them useful items across a wide range of fields.

【Gloves Actually Come in Many Shapes】

You might assume there isn't much variety among fashion gloves,

but in fact gloves come in many different shapes, and different materials offer very different feels when worn.

When people think of a typical glove, they usually picture the short length.

This type reaches just to the wrist, is easy to put on and take off, and works well for both men and women.

Gloves from ROBERT MACKIE, born in Scotland,

feature distinctive repeating patterns and the vivid Nordic-style colors the brand is known for.

The Fairisle series uses a pattern that originated on Fair Isle in Scotland's Shetland Islands

and has been knitted continuously for over 400 years.

The bright textile design brings warmth and lifts your spirits just by looking at it.

Made from soft yet resilient Shetland wool,

ROBERT MACKIE gloves are perfect for everyday wear.

Being short and made of wool, they allow easy finger movement, so tasks like carrying a bag are no trouble at all.

The brand also offers berets and mufflers in matching patterns,

so pairing them together makes it easy to put together a Nordic-style outfit.

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A type of glove called the gauntlet has an opening that flares slightly outward,

and is made a bit longer than the short-length style.

The lambskin gloves from RANDERS HANDSKER are a leather glove close to this gauntlet type.

The supple lambskin feels distinctly feminine, and its surprising softness makes it addictive once you try it on.

Lambskin is considered especially luxurious among sheepskin leathers,

known for its fine, smooth texture that seems to cling gently to the hand.

The inside of the lambskin gloves is a wool-and-acrylic blend,

so the outside has a soft, moist-looking texture while the inside keeps your hands cozy and warm.

RANDERS HANDSKER got its start in 1811 in Randers,

a Danish city once known for its thriving glove industry.

The mayor himself recruited craftsmen, and as their skills in cutting, sewing, and tanning gradually improved,

the brand became known as a long-established glove maker with a 200-year history.

Loved by notable figures around the world, RANDERS HANDSKER gloves

are prized not only for their warmth but also for a beauty achieved by paring away everything unnecessary.

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lapero, founded in 1913 in Kagawa Prefecture—a region known for glove production—

also makes a gauntlet-type glove, though with quite a different feel.

The covered button at the wrist, along with the stitching and piping worked into the fabric,

serve as accents on a glove that fully expresses a grown-up sense of cuteness.

Precisely sewing a seam allowance of just 2mm to match the stretch of the fabric

requires millimeter-level adjustment—truly a feat only a skilled craftsperson can achieve.

While leather gloves are the norm overseas, this glove combines wool and nylon into a felt-like,

uniquely soft material that fits gently and snugly against the hand.

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Even though the main purpose of gloves is to keep hands warm, fingerless styles—

deliberately made with the fingertips left open—are also popular for their convenience.

SHOKAY gloves are made from the wool of yaks that live near the Himalayan mountains.

Yak wool is said to offer excellent warmth, antibacterial properties, and durability, and its appeal lies in its soft feel that isn't itchy against the skin.

Carefully knitted by hand by members of the Tibetan community,

each glove carries a sense of human warmth that seems to warm even the heart.

The best thing about fingerless gloves is that, with the fingers exposed, they make fine, detailed movements so much easier.

Taking your smartphone out of your pocket to use it, or fishing coins out of your wallet.

You don't have to take your gloves off every time you need to use your fingertips, and at the same time they still keep you properly warm.

That kind of functionality is exactly what you want from gloves in winter.

【A trusty companion for going out】

Now, you've got your cold-weather wear sorted—but gloves are surprisingly the kind of item that

can end up looking out of place in your outfit if you don't coordinate them with your clothes and bag.

The key is to match the material or design, or to balance the color tones.

Combine them well, and a single pair of gloves can create all kinds of different impressions.

GL709 Zig Zag Jacquard Gloves / ROBERT MACKIE

Paired with: Work Coat, Beige・SERGE Border Basque Knit LTC901・2-Way Square Bag, Black

The bright Fair Isle pattern of these ROBERT MACKIE gloves adds a nice accent to a casual outfit.

Paired with a white outer layer, the beautiful pattern really stands out.

Oliver Twist Hand Warmer / SHOKAY

Paired with: Stole, Quilted, Tibetan

With their charming, chunky knit, these SHOKAY fingerless gloves

blend in beautifully when paired with a stole or similar item made from wool or another yarn.

Red and ivory are also classic winter colors, giving off a warm feeling just by looking at them.

Lambskin Gloves, BRANDY / RANDERS HANDSKER

Paired with: LONDON TRADITION Duffle Coat, Black・2-Way Bag, Mini, Red

Leather gloves might seem tricky to incorporate into an outfit at first glance, but pair them with other leather accessories and there's nothing to worry about.

These RANDERS HANDSKER lambskin gloves

sit naturally alongside a classic duffle coat, pulling the whole look together with an air of elegance.

【To make your gloves last】

Winter is the season when gloves take center stage.

Since they're only used for a short part of the year, it's worth taking your time to choose ones you really love, so you can keep using them for a long time.

Just like other clothing items, gloves should be cared for according to their particular material and construction.

◇After you're done using them

Once you've finished wearing your gloves, be sure to align the left and right glove neatly so that no wrinkles remain.

Also, direct sunlight can damage the product, and damp locations can cause mold, so

please store them somewhere well-ventilated and out of direct sunlight.

◇Washing your gloves

※The appropriate washing method varies depending on the product, so

please always check the care label and follow its instructions.

Since gloves can easily lose their shape, we recommend having them dry-cleaned once each season.

For products that can be hand-washed, dissolve a mild detergent in water,

and submerge the gloves. Rather than pulling on the fabric,

gently swirl the water so the detergent soaks into the gloves,

then rinse. Try to move the gloves as little as possible during this process as well.

Once rinsed, wrap them in a towel to remove excess water, then dry them flat in the shade.

◇Caring for leather gloves

Leather gloves are vulnerable to water and can wear out quickly with daily use.

Try to give them a rest between wearings, and at the end of the season, follow the care steps below.

Brush them gently with a soft brush to remove dirt and dust.

After that, moisturize the surface of the leather with a leather-specific cream, and let them dry in the shade.

When storing them for a long period, use a dehumidifying agent and moth repellent.