Warmth, and peace of mind. For winter preparations, start with knitwear

Knitwear is something we want to wear once winter arrives. Of course there's the warmth, but there are also so many other reasons we're drawn to knits—the way they seem to wrap around you softly, the charm of their designed stitches, and more.

In terms of what "knitting" actually means, even summer T-shirts and the lovely marine-look basque shirts are made of "knit" material formed by connected loops. But the term "knit" tends to be used mostly for warm winter sweaters and cardigans.

Knit is technically a general term for knitted fabric, so strictly speaking, items should be called by the name of the item made from that knit fabric. Still, it's curious how we naturally want to call a loosely knitted sweater or a fluffy brushed cardigan simply "a knit."

One of the charms of knitwear is the sheer variety of materials and the endlessly versatile shapes it can take. During the cold season, when layering can leave your shoulders feeling stiff, it helps to have your own go-to knit—whether it's a design stylish enough to wear on its own, or a classic shape with a bit of extra detail—that suits your personal style and fashion. Having one on hand becomes a strong ally for your winter wardrobe. 

【　Wool　】 

Pants: Viyella Check Pants
Shoes: Clog TEXAS 50 SWEDE

Wool generally refers to sheep's fleece. It has a natural resistance to water and dirt, along with excellent resilience that helps it resist wrinkling—a welcome feature. The material itself also has humidity-regulating properties. The surface of animal fibers has a cuticle layer that opens and closes: absorbing moisture in humid conditions and releasing it when dry, helping to regulate moisture in the air. This natural function is the source of a comfort that synthetic fibers simply can't match.

In terms of insulation, wool traps a layer of air, making it warm, and visually, it's practically the face of winter fashion. 

The TW Kempton Woolly Pully crewneck sweater has a design with a bit of a twist, making it a reliable piece that looks stylish worn on its own. Patches of sturdy cotton-polyester twill fabric are sewn onto the shoulders and elbows. This kind of stitching is often seen on traditional British hunting sweaters, and was originally a way to improve durability. But it also serves as a striking design point. Even with this distinctive detailing, the overall shape remains a classic sweater silhouette, making it easy to pair with both skirts and pants—a truly versatile piece. 

With just the right thickness of a middle gauge, it features ridged rib knitting that stretches well horizontally, allowing it to fit the body comfortably without strain. It's a mini mock-neck type with a collar that rises just slightly at the neckline. 

【　Cashmere 　】

Cashmere, known as the "jewel of fibers" for its rarity, is fine enough not to irritate the skin, and its long fibers create a uniquely smooth texture and an elegant sheen. Using cashmere—a material any adult ought to own at least one piece of—ZUTTO has created these original sweaters and long cardigans. 

The cashmere used comes from Inner Mongolia, the region most trusted worldwide as a source of cashmere. Manufacturing is entrusted to a specialized knitwear factory capable of consistent, integrated production—from raw cashmere fleece, gathered from animals grazed freely across the vast natural landscape under extremely strict management and inspection, through to the finished product.

With 100% cashmere products, purity—meaning the absence of anything mixed in besides cashmere—is naturally a concern. But because this cashmere goes through consistent, integrated processing from raw material to finished product, it undergoes rigorous inspection to ensure it is a reliably genuine material. While the general purity standard is 95% or higher in Europe and 97% or higher in Japan, this cashmere boasts an inspection result of 99.99% purity.  

Inner: Turtleneck Cut-and-Sew
Skirt: Knit Border Skirt LEF173013
Bag: [Special Order] 3WAY WALLET BAG

【　Cotton　】

No matter how warm wool is, some people just can't tolerate the itchiness, or find their skin breaking out in a rash. You shouldn't have to force yourself to keep wearing something that doesn't suit your skin. For anyone in that situation, we'd definitely recommend 100% cotton items. Cotton might seem like it wouldn't be warm enough, but there are also cotton pullovers finished with a plush, thick texture. 

Healthknit is a high-quality American underwear-knit maker. It's a brand known for producing comfortable, well-made garments from good-quality fabric that can withstand hard work. At ZUTTO, we've previously introduced their spring/summer T-shirts and lightweight long sleeves, and now a heavier-weight piece for autumn and winter has arrived.

The Super Heavy Waffle Long Sleeve is made from waffle fabric knitted so densely it's practically at the limit of what the knitting machine can produce. The evenly bumpy texture almost looks like a pattern in itself. Made of 100% cotton, it's thick, highly stretchy, and offers excellent warmth. The cuffs are finished with a special rib knitted on a flat knitting machine. Wear it alone in early autumn, or as an inner layer once the real winter cold sets in—either way, it's a piece you'll come to rely on. 

【　V-Neck　】 

The V-neck, a classic style for the neckline of a knit, can change its impression significantly depending on just how open it is cut or a single detail. This gives a feminine, healthy hint of skin, without the constricted impression that winter clothing often brings.  

The V-neck coat from john branigan is a piece made lovable by its loose, large-gauge knit design. When buttoned, it forms a fairly deep V-line, so have fun coordinating it with the cut-and-sew tops or sweaters you wear underneath.

Though it's called a coat, you can throw it on much like a thick cardigan, so it will serve you well for a long stretch of the season ahead.

The shoulders are cut generously wide, so when worn, they drop slightly to create a rounded silhouette. Large pockets on both sides serve as an accent, too. Navy and black are knitted in alternately, giving the piece depth while keeping it a basic color that's easy to pair with just about anything.

John branigan was born from a long-established factory known for its traditional Irish tweed, founded in 1964 in Drogheda, a town on Ireland's east coast famous for its knitting heritage. The brand upholds the traditional Irish style, distinguished by its unique color combinations and careful knitting, and the fabric produced on looms passed down through generations combines rare design sensibility with practicality.  

【 With a Collar 】

A knit with a collar is quite an unusual design. There are those who want to keep their neck warm but find something that clings tightly like a turtleneck too constricting and uncomfortable. For such people, a collared design like this one might be just right. The neck stands up, yet it doesn't feel tight or closed in.

Skirt: Check Tiered Skirt
Shoes: Tassel Shoes BROWN

The wide, gently curved large collar frames the face and lends a simple sweater a stylish air. The ribbed cuffs and waist, along with the sturdy, carefully finished seams at the parts, show the attention to detail that Fileuse d'Arvor, with its many years of making marine wear, brings even to a simple piece. The fine wool yarn is knitted with a tight gauge, so if you take good care of it, you can enjoy wearing it for many years to come.

Fileuse d'Arvor was founded in 1927 in Quimper, a port town in Brittany in northwestern France. Because the brand was founded in a port town, it has offered a wide range of marine wear since its earliest days, and has a track record of serving as an official supplier to the French Navy.  

【 High Neck 】

A warm high-neck sweater is a must-have as the weather turns chilly. Some styles fit snugly around the neck, while others, like this turtleneck LTW910 from Letroyes, are designed to loosely and softly envelop the neck. Without any feeling of constriction, it creates a relaxed atmosphere that gives off a more stylish impression.

The waffle-knit body uses smooth-to-the-touch cashmere wool (10% cashmere). Fluffy mohair yarn is used to express a border pattern of varying thicknesses, and the interplay of knit textures and combination of different materials creates an elaborate expression, so you can achieve a stylish look just by pairing it with simple bottoms.

Letroyes is a knit and cut-and-sew brand that debuted in 2009 from a long-established factory in France's Champagne region. It carries the high-quality materials and refined fit unique to French brands, and along with a sense of freshness, it also carries a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere. 

Outerwear like coats occupies a large surface area, so it's easy to reach for darker colors that are simple to coordinate — and in autumn and winter fashion, you often end up gravitating toward black, gray, or beige. But if the knits you wear underneath are limited to those same colors, even your mood might end up feeling a bit dim. Of course, easy-to-use basic colors are indispensable in any wardrobe, but for your second or third piece, we'd recommend a knit that shines in a bright color, and one in an earthy tone that blends in yet still lets you feel the season.  

【 Red 】 

An eye-catching, vivid red. Red is a color that adds variation to what can become a repetitive winter wardrobe. It brightens the area around the face, and its presence has the effect of drawing the eye upward as well. It also pairs well with denim, so if you're unsure, start by matching it with denim. In the photo, a white shirt is worn underneath the knit, paired with side-gore boots. Pairing it with menswear-inspired pieces harmonizes nicely with the "feminine feel" that red carries. 

The sailor sweater from ANDERSEN-ANDERSEN is based on the fisherman sweater worn by Danish sailors. The material is extra-spun merino wool from South America, made in Italy. By carefully selecting merino wool that is thicker and longer in fiber than average, the sweater achieves both warmth and softness. It's a thick knit, and the fabric gains its thickness from the use of a double-rib stitch, in which the stitches are packed tightly and the front and back look the same. It's warm enough that you could almost say you don't need a jacket over it.

It's made symmetrical front and back, so it can be worn either way. This is a remnant of a design meant to let busy sailors quickly put it on without worrying about front or back, in the dimly lit interior of a ship. 

【　Pink　】 

Skirt: Cordura Miniura Skirt
Shoes: Side Gore Boots Black
Bag: Shoulder Bag STANDARD

Pink has a feminine, soft feel to it. Rather than assuming it's hard to incorporate, try coordinating with it and you'll find it surprisingly pairs well with many things. The photo shows it paired with ZUTTO's original brushed-back skirt (in black). Pink doesn't just work with black—it also pairs nicely with khaki, and blends well with gray in a similar tone. When you bring pink into your top, keeping the other colors muted lets the pink stand out just the right amount. 

The SOFT WOOL crew neck sweater from C.T.plage is remarkably supple and soft for something made of 100% wool. It features a just-right thickness that keeps it from being sheer when worn alone, along with a smooth, soft feel against the skin, and a neatly finished neckline. A basic, thin-knit sweater like this is convenient to have—you can never own too many.

Its basic shape makes it easy to pair with anything, and the hem looks balanced whether tucked in or left out. 

【　Khaki　】 

Skirt: Knit Border Skirt LEF173008
Muffler: Muffler Rievaulx Navy
Shoes: Professional Black Oiled
Bag: SIBELL bordeaux

Khaki is a color you want to wear once the weather turns cold. There's something warm about it, which may be why it feels reassuring, like a sigh of relief. It works both in a masculine and feminine style, so having one on hand comes in handy.

You can wear it casually on its own, or layer a white shirt underneath to add some brightness, which also broadens the range of bottoms you can pair it with. 

The material, Shetland wool, comes from sheep raised on the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Due to the strong winds of the North Atlantic, the Shetland Islands have almost no pastureland, so the sheep there feed on seaweed instead. Raised in such harsh conditions, the wool is remarkably light and warm, with beautiful coloring that's characteristic of the breed—a beauty that simply cannot be imitated. 

Harley of Scotland has used whole-garment knitting since its founding. This technique, known as circular knitting, produces a body and arms with no seams, so there's no bunching inside when worn, contributing to a comfortable fit. The long-fibered yarn offers excellent softness and moisture retention against the skin, while remaining so lightweight you'll forget you're even wearing it. 

A knit sweater's lifespan is a battle against pilling.

It seems that knitwear more often reaches the end of its life not because it becomes frayed or dirty, but because pilling develops and ruins its appearance.

Pilling is bound to occur with natural fibers, so all you can do is take care to keep it to a minimum through proper maintenance.

What causes pilling in the first place?

So why does pilling happen in the first place? Knit fabric has many tiny fibers sticking out from its surface. Friction causes these fibers to tangle, disrupting the direction of the nap, and further friction against clothing, bags, and other objects causes the fibers to ball up into pills.

The first step in pilling care is smoothing out the nap with a clothes brush whenever it becomes disrupted. Make sure to use a clothes brush after every wear, even before any pilling has appeared.

1. Gently shake the sweater to remove any dust or debris from the surface.

2. Hang it on a hanger, or lay it flat on a table or similar surface.

3. Apply the brush with a snap of the wrist, brushing in one direction along the nap as if sweeping away dust. Be careful not to scrub too hard, as this can damage the fibers or stretch out the knit weave.

A clothes brush isn't just for pilling care, either. Friction on knitwear generates static electricity, which attracts dust and debris and tangles them into the fibers. Since dust and debris can cause moth damage, brushing with a clothes brush also serves to remove them.

It also has the effect of reducing fuzz on the fibers, which helps prevent new debris from sticking.

What if pilling has already formed?

Always remove existing pills with scissors. If you pluck them off with your fingers instead, you'll pull on the surrounding fibers, which makes new pilling more likely to form.

Pill-removing brushes and fabric shavers may make the sweater look tidy by shaving off the pills, but they damage the fabric and, more importantly, cause your precious knitwear to grow thinner and thinner over time, so we don't recommend them. 

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