For winter kago bag styling, add warm materials and colors

Are kago (woven basket) bags only for summer?

While there are materials that suit a particular season, aren't there also cases where something can actually be used in any season, but we limit its use simply because of an image we've attached to it?

For example, we tend to think of wool as something for winter. This image comes from the functional idea that wool = warmth, but wool is actually highly absorbent of moisture, and is said to adjust its insulating and moisture-wicking properties according to the outside air and body temperature, keeping you at just the right temperature at all times. Of course, a fluffy knit isn't suited to summer, but thin wool inner layers, for instance, can be worn year-round.

In this way, the image we associate between materials and seasons may sometimes be important for creating a sense of "spring-ness" or "winter-ness." Feeling the seasons through fashion is one of the pleasures unique to a country with four distinct seasons.

That said, I also feel it's a shame to let that image restrict how something can be used.

Kago bags are one such example.

Bags woven mainly from plant materials such as akebi, rattan, or raffia give off a "summery" feel. Because we unconsciously associate baskets with a cool, refreshing impression, we tend to limit their season to spring and summer. However, in terms of their fashion appeal, durability, and the pleasure of watching them change with age, it wouldn't be strange at all to want to use them in autumn and winter too.

So here, we'll introduce some key points for adding a twist to kago bags—which naturally carry a cool, summery image—so that they can be incorporated into the colder season without feeling out of place.

Pair with warm, cozy materials

Pairing a kago bag with something soft and fluffy-looking, like wool or fur, that visually conveys warmth completely changes the bag's impression. It's also a good idea to make use of items you only wear in winter, such as gloves or ear muffs.

【 Wool × Gloves 】

Sweater: Fisherman Rib Polo Knit Sweater / Pure Aran
Skirt: Cordura Mini Interlock Skirt
Shoes: Sabot TEXAS 50 SWEDE

Attached to a Miyamoto Kogei akebi (chocolate vine) basket are wool gloves from lapero. (Sales are scheduled to begin soon.)

Once the weather turns cold, gloves become an essential item, but they can easily get lost inside a bag, or you might take them off and hold them, only to lose one along the way...

By using a chain-type glove holder, you can attach your favorite gloves to your bag and carry them along like an accessory, all while keeping them close at hand.

This special-order akebi basket (plain-woven guni-de style, with shoulder strap) uses leather for its handle parts and shoulder strap. The black leather gives the akebi material a crisp, tightened look, which on its own already softens the "summery" impression—and adding gloves on top makes it feel even more like winter.

Miyamoto Kogei makes akebi products in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Each akebi basket has long been handmade one by one by skilled craftspeople. Beyond the charm that natural materials bring, you can also sense the disappearing tradition of Japanese artisan handwork. Akebi baskets were originally made as sturdy tools for everyday life. Now that they're increasingly carried as fashion items, it's worth cherishing their lovely form and the sheen they develop the longer you use them.

You can find lapero gloves here

【 Fur × Ear Muffs 】

Next up are ear muffs, whose fluffy fur gives off a warm atmosphere. Hooking these onto an akebi basket also transforms the overall impression.

This akebi basket has a round, softly rounded form with a wide opening. In winter, there tend to be lots of small cold-weather items like ear muffs, gloves, and scarves, so being able to pop things in and take them out easily makes this basket especially convenient.

The fur on these ear muffs is sheepskin. The fibers are long and soft and fluffy, so even the inner part that touches your ears is covered in fur. Many people own multiple pairs of gloves and scarves as essential winter items, but when it comes to ear muffs, some may not own any, perhaps because they seem a bit too cute. However, the ears are one of the coldest parts of the body, and on cold days they can become painfully chilled. For warmth—and for a warm-looking style—ear muffs are definitely worth adding to your winter lineup.

The brand Owen Barry was born in 1948 from a family company that has been engaged in sheepskin and leather tanning across five generations. Building on generations of accumulated knowledge and skill in leather tanning, dyeing, and manufacturing, it has grown into a brand offering a wide range of high-quality sheepskin clothing, accessories, leather gloves, cushions, and more.

Paired with colors and patterns that suit winter

It's not just materials—colors and patterns can also evoke a sense of warmth. Colors like red, green, and brown, and patterns like tartan check, are classic examples.

【 Green × Scarf 】

TOINO ABEL baskets are made by combining natural straw with leather. Because of their bright coloring, you might assume they're unsuitable for autumn and winter, but winter outfits tend to lean heavily on black and brown, which can make the overall look feel heavy. This is where carrying a basket bag can help—it adds a touch of brightness to the mix.

That said, using it just as it is wouldn't feel any different from carrying it in summer, so I wrapped a stole around the handle.

The one I chose has a design based on a deep green. It also includes warm tones like beige, wine red, and orange, making it perfect for winter.

By loosely wrapping and draping the large-sized stole, I reduced the visible area of the basket's bright color, creating better balance. Paired with a clean navy coat and heels, this completes a look with mature, feminine style.

TOINO ABEL has been manufacturing handmade baskets in Portugal using traditional methods passed down for over 100 years. All materials used are sourced within Portugal—vegetable-tanned leather (cowhide) is used for the handles, and willow branches secure the handle sections, meaning everything is made from natural materials. Production is mainly carried out by women, who neatly gather bundles of sticks cut to matching sizes, dry them, and then weave them on hand looms while applying color and various patterns with pigments.

The scarf is from GLARNER TUECHLI, an original brand from a Swiss handkerchief and bandana maker that has upheld its own unique manufacturing methods and top-tier quality for over 180 years. Switzerland's mountainous regions, blessed with high-quality water, have long supported a thriving dyeing industry, and since the 17th century, numerous textile printing factories have flourished there thanks to abundant water and hydroelectric power. The delicate patterns cultivated over this long history, along with their rich range of colors and vivid coloring, achieve a beauty that cannot be imitated elsewhere. Printed with advanced techniques onto fabric woven from high-quality Swiss cotton with a smooth, soft texture, this bandana—made from lustrous cotton—is a truly premium piece.

【　Red　×　Tartan Check　】

Sweater: Cable Knit Sweater
Skirt: EASY KILT (59cm) RAVEN POINT
Boots: JOUBER BLACK

Another approach is to leave the basket bag as it is, without any arrangement, and instead balance the overall look with other items. For example, adding a tartan check skirt to your outfit instantly gives it a wintry feel. This kilt skirt is a wrap-style skirt, and the fringe positioned on the left side, along with the black leather belts at both hips, serve as subtle accent points. These also link visually with the leather shoulder strap of the akebi basket, creating a sense of cohesion.

ONEIL OF DUBLIN is a brand that has been making kilt skirts for as long as 160 years, since 1850, and is a truly prestigious name when it comes to kilt skirts. This kilt skirt, made from a single piece of fabric fastened with a belt, features leather belts on both sides at the front, with elastic gathering at the back, giving the pleats at the back a silhouette that falls neatly straight down, while allowing for well-balanced size adjustment. The kilt pin that fastens the front also lends a subtle sense of the brand's distinguished attention to detail.

A red check kilt skirt is, without question, something to aspire to. Though it's a bright red, the check is combined with gray, making it a surprisingly easy color to incorporate. Depending on what you pair it with, you can enjoy a variety of styling options—wearing it low on the hips with a knit sweater or hoodie, or tucking in a shirt or turtleneck and wearing it high-waisted.

【　Pattern・Knit　】

Dress: Camel Tunic-Length Sweater
Shoes: PADRE BLACK

Draping a large stole over a wide-mouthed basket bag adds visual warmth while also concealing the contents from view. On cold days, you can also use it for its original purpose by wrapping it around your neck or shoulders—killing two birds with one stone.

Here, the same basket bag and same outfit are shown with different stoles draped over the basket. The red check stole evokes a winter feel, while the white knit stole, with its cable-knit pattern, gives off a cozy, warm impression.

MUUN's Shoulder Basket 002 comes in black, a rare color choice for baskets. Since this chic hue keeps an outfit looking composed, try pairing it with brightly colored or patterned items.

The material used is a supple yet extremely durable plant known as elephant grass. It's relatively flexible and gentle against the skin, making it a great choice for those who find the typical stiffness of basket bags uncomfortable. The trapezoid-shaped Shoulder Basket 002 can be carried two ways—by hand or over the shoulder.

Made in a small village in northern Ghana, Africa, MUUN baskets are characterized by delicate weaving achieved through advanced patterning techniques—skills that have been applied not only to bags but also to hats, sandals, and accessories. MUUN designs its products by sharing techniques, knowledge, sensibility, and culture across borders, so that traditional African hand-woven baskets can continue to be used as part of everyday life.

Highland Tweeds' tartan check stoles are manufactured in Scotland, the birthplace of tartan. Made with lambswool at a historic textile mill founded in 1837, they have an extremely soft, plush, and warm feel to the touch. As the only mill in the UK that carries out every process in-house—dyeing, blending, carding, spinning, warping, weaving, and finishing—quality control is thorough, and in the detailed sewing, a single line of stitching along the edges prevents the fabric from unraveling.

The white cable-knit stole comes from the Irish brand CARRAIG DONN (Carraig Donn). It carries on the tradition of Aran knitting—an honored legacy nurtured by the long history and unique culture of the Irish islands, an eternal symbol of Ireland. With excellent water resistance and warmth, this Aran knit has a soft, gentle touch. Its reassuring thickness makes it versatile: wrap it around your neck, drape it over your shoulders, or use it as a lap blanket at the office. Please enjoy its warm, nostalgic style.

Caring for Your Basket Bag So You Can Enjoy It for Years to Come

Basket bags are vulnerable to humidity and heat, so the best way to care for them is simply to use them rather than leaving them tucked away. In that sense, using your basket bag regardless of season may be the secret to making it last.

When you're not using it as a bag, it's also nice to display it as storage or as part of your interior decor. By handling it and letting air circulate through it, the basket bag stays in a suitable environment, allowing you to enjoy it for a long time.

[Daily Care]

To remove dirt and bring out its shine, we recommend "wiping" or "brushing." When wiping, use a soft cloth, and when brushing, polish it with a scrub brush or similar tool.

[Storage]

Baskets are woven from dried natural plants, so moisture and humidity are their worst enemies. Exposure to them can lead to mold, insects, and even loosening of the weave. When storing a basket bag, choose a shaded, well-ventilated spot and cover it with cloth; if you have non-woven fabric, we recommend wrapping the entire basket in it.

▼See all basket bags here