Enjoy the changing of the seasons with tops made from carefully chosen fabrics

Risshun (the first day of spring on the traditional calendar) has come and gone, and the season has taken on the faint scent of spring. Yet even when the daytime sun feels warm, a sudden chill can catch you off guard, making it tricky to choose what to wear. It's not quite time for a full wardrobe change, but a sweater feels out of step with the season—at times like these, why not pay closer attention to the materials you bring into your outfit?

Start with cotton, the essential material for early spring

Cotton is warm and keeps in heat while still allowing air to pass through. It's handy to have a range on hand—basic cotton, fleece-backed cotton, and the plush fabric commonly known as "cardboard knit" (danbōru knit). This time, we've picked out fabrics from ZUTTO's lineup that we recommend for this particular season.

So, what exactly is cotton?

Let's start with the basics: plain cotton fabric. Cotton is a fiber made from the fluffy fibers harvested from the cotton plant, and depending on how it's processed, it transforms into a wide variety of fabrics—denim, corduroy, knits, and more. It appears in tops, bottoms, and knitwear throughout the year. Unlike the plush, springy feel of wool, cotton offers a crisp, refreshing wearing experience. It does have the drawback of shrinking or wrinkling easily in the wash, but it also offers absorbency, a pleasant softness, and durability. A generously cut cotton sweater is just right for early spring, when you're still reluctant to let go of winter clothes.

Even within "cotton," the look can vary widely depending on how it's processed. Here are some fabrics we at ZUTTO especially recommend for the in-between seasons.

[Exceptional Softness and Warmth] Super Uraga (Super Fleece-Backed Cotton)

A plush, fleece-like backing reminiscent of shearling, paired with a crisp, soft surface. Let's start by introducing "Super Uraga," a fabric renowned for its exceptional softness and warmth. This "Super Uraga" is a special material made by FilMelange, a Japanese cut-and-sew brand. While the fleece backing of ordinary sweatshirt fabric is made by looping the yarn, Super Uraga undergoes a brushing process that adds thickness and traps air to retain warmth. It's made using a specialized knitting machine—owned by only a single knitting mill in Japan—that has been refined and improved to work with thin yarns that are normally too difficult to knit. The result is a densely woven fabric with extra loft, giving this fleece-backed cotton a texture unlike any other.

[Light and Warm] Cotton Double Raschel

In recent years, "cardboard knit" (danbōru knit) has quickly become a wardrobe staple. This fabric answers our wish for something with body and softness, lightness, and warmth all at once. Generally speaking, cardboard knit refers to a fabric with a three-layer structure: a layer of polyester sandwiched between synthetic fiber front and back layers to add thickness, resulting in a soft, plush feel. The "Cotton Double" from Ono Meriyasu used here is a truly unusual material, made with cotton—rather than synthetic fiber—on both the front and back. Why is this so rare? Because knitting machines are normally constrained to work with either natural fibers alone or synthetic fibers alone, never a mix. Since the middle layer of a three-layer cardboard knit needs synthetic fiber to achieve loft and lightness, it's normally very difficult to make the front and back layers from natural fiber instead. This special material was made possible only through improvements to Ono Meriyasu's knitting machines. The advantage of having cotton on both the front and back is, of course, the feel against the skin. It's a fabric well suited to the transitional periods from winter to spring, and from autumn to winter. 
 

[Preparing for the Sweaty Season] Technorama

Technorama is a 100% cotton cut-and-sew fabric prized for its excellent moisture absorption and quick-drying properties. This one, too, was developed by Ono Meriyasu. The raw cotton is a proprietary blend of Indian cotton, and the fabric's unique twisted-yarn technique gives it a fine texture with a subtle sheen. The yarn itself undergoes a bio-processing treatment, giving it a distinctively smooth, dry-touch feel. With its supple drape, this fabric evokes an elegant, vintage-inspired look that sits somewhere between casual and luxury.

Cashmere, a winter material—can it actually be worn in spring and summer too?

Cashmere, with its excellent heat retention and moisture-retaining properties, is generally thought of as a "winter" material. But in Europe and America, it's actually quite common to enjoy cashmere casually throughout the year. Wearing cashmere on a spring outing, or in an air-conditioned room in summer, could be seen as a distinctive form of grown-up style. By choosing a lightweight type of fabric, or one blended with cotton, you can enjoy the unique benefits of cashmere while still adapting to the changing seasons.

Lightweight Cashmere

Woven from ultra-fine cashmere yarn, lightweight cashmere is as thin and light as a feather. Its exquisitely smooth, melting texture has an almost ephemeral quality. It's a perfect material for spring outfits and for guarding against summer air conditioning.

Cashmere Stole 5560/205 / Pin 1876

Cashmere Silk

The stole featured here is made from a fabric called cashmere silk. Compared to 100% cashmere, it has less bulk and a subtle sheen, giving it a refined impression. It traps air easily, lending it a light, breezy feel.

Cashmere Silk Stole Staffa Bowhill / BEGG&CO

*65% cashmere, 35% silk

Cotton Cashmere

This is a fabric made by blending cashmere into cotton. Cotton is often blended with 10–30% cashmere, adding warmth along with the distinctive softness and rich hand feel unique to cashmere.

Cotton Cashmere Sweater / C.T.plage

*85% cotton, 15% cashmere

Cotton Cashmere Cut-and-Sew / MAJESTIC FILATURES (Majestic Filatures)

※Cotton 70%, Cashmere 30%

Cotton Cashmere Boat Neck Long Sleeve / FilMelange (FilMelange)

※Cotton 90%, Cashmere 10%

Picking Out Essential Wear for Every Season

Items you can use for years, pieces that see plenty of wear—these are the values we hold dear when creating ZUTTO's original wear. This time, we've picked out **essential tops** that work all year round. Material, shape, color—we hope you'll find that one piece that feels like your own personal staple.

V-Neck Pullover

Material: Cotton

This top may look just like a knit sweater, but it's actually a cut-and-sew piece made from high-quality cotton yarn. Rather than using a single thick thread, it's knitted with five strands together, creating a texture reminiscent of middle-gauge knitwear. With its relaxed silhouette, this is a piece you can layer and wear across the seasons.

Super Uraike Pullover

Material: Cotton (Super Uraike)

A Henley-neck pullover. While "Henley neck" often brings to mind a casual, button-fastened look, choosing antique-style hooks here gives it a look perfectly suited to adults. It retains the soft, warm feel unique to sweatshirt fabric while also offering a touch of refinement. The appeal lies in the versatility—open the hooks for a casual peek at what's underneath, or fasten them closed and pair it with sharp trousers for a neater look, offering a different styling experience from a crewneck cut-and-sew. Rolling up the sleeves reveals the super uraike (brushed fleece lining) fabric, and with the gray colorway in particular, you can enjoy the contrast between the outer and inner colors. 

Cotton Double Raschel Top

Material: Cotton (Cotton Double Raschel)

Crisp yet soft, remarkably lightweight, and shaped to gently follow the body's contours for a beautiful silhouette—this is the Cotton Double Raschel Top. What stands out is its silhouette: a generously cut neckline worn off the shoulders. The distinctive paneling, the crispness of the fabric, and the relaxed, oversized cut all come together to create an overall impression that's clean and modern.

Technorama Jersey U-Neck Top

Material: Cotton (Technorama Jersey)

The Technorama Jersey U-Neck Top was patterned by a designer with experience at a top Parisian maison house. It makes the most of the fabric's characteristic elegant drape while achieving a design that gracefully wraps the body. The neckline—prone to stretching out with washing—has been reinforced with a fusing tape, and stitching has been added around the neck to keep the seam allowance from feeling bulky against the skin. Whether you look at the design, the durability of the fabric, or the wearing comfort, this piece seems set to overturn conventional notions of what a T-shirt or cut-and-sew top can be.

Extra Edition: Colorful Accessories to Lift Your Spirits

As an extra feature, we also recommend bringing a touch of spring into your look through small accessories. This time, we've gathered pink and blue items that are sure to brighten your mood.

Pink Like Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom, Like Petals Scattering in a Flourish

FLAP WALLET (PINK)

The FLAP WALLET is known for its minimal, compact look. It's already a popular item at ZUTTO, and now, just ahead of spring, a light pink colorway has arrived. The leather's soft, gently rounded feel pairs beautifully with pale colors. This leather, part of what's known as the PAL series, is nappa leather sourced from one of Italy's largest tanneries—one whose materials have been widely adopted by maison brands. It has a soft texture and a sense of depth and translucency.

[Special Order] OCTAGON NECKLACE

The [Special Order] OCTAGON NECKLACE is a lovely pink necklace, colored like sakura mochi. It uses pink opal, a natural stone that often features streaked, lace-like patterns, giving it a rich and varied expression. Since it lacks translucency, it blends naturally with skin tones, making it an easy-to-wear pale color.

Bastille Nude

These are VEJA leather sneakers in a rare beige-and-pink-like color. They start out with a soft tone but develop an amber patina as you wear them in—sneakers that grow with you. Sneakers often bring to mind a casual image, but there's an elegance to these as well. Even during the season when a coat is still needed, catching a glimpse of that beige-pink peeking out at your feet is sure to warm your heart just a little.

Turquoise Blue Like a Clear Sky, Light Blue Like a Stream Glimmering in Spring Sunlight

2R SQUARE POUCH L (TURQUOISE)

This big pouch, in a turquoise blue as bright and clear as a sunny sky, works both as a pouch and as a handbag. That vivid blue really stands out in a suitcase when you take it traveling. The fabric is very lightweight and resistant to stains, so it seems well suited to a variety of uses.

Marche Folding Tote (light blue)

A large-capacity marché bag in a light blue reminiscent of a stream glinting under the dappled sunlight of spring. It's a convenient tote bag, perfect for outings to the park with kids or as a sub-bag for shopping. It comes in handy for outdoor activities, the beach, and other outings where your belongings—and their numbers—tend to grow more than expected.

When it comes to carrying large loads, lightweight and durable canvas material is ideal. Made generously from Kurashiki hanpu (cotton canvas) No. 6 fabric, yet foldable into a compact size for convenience, this bag is ready to accompany you anywhere.

SHELLCAP LOW AI／OFF WHITE

These sneakers, with their captivating deep indigo hue, are made from PRAS canvas dyed with aizome (Japanese indigo dyeing). As you wear them in, you can enjoy a fading of color unique to your own pair, much like denim. The shell motif on the toe, known as "SHELLCAP," is exclusive to PRAS. Each pair is crafted by hand by skilled artisans, and that meticulous handiwork comes through with every wear. When you slip your foot in, the upper snugly wraps around the instep and heel, while the sole offers a stable structure. It's a pair that lets you truly feel how much care and craftsmanship is packed into such a simple-looking design.

▽ZUTTO's original wear, designed to be loved across eras and seasons