Swap your sweater for a warm brushed-back sweatshirt. How to choose your winter loungewear, plus our recommendations.

Do you feel the cold easily but just can't get along with itchy wool sweaters?

Even our ZUTTO staff say that, aside from wool, cashmere sometimes just doesn't work for them either, so we imagine many of you share this struggle. Sweaters made from materials other than wool tend to let a bit of cold air through their loose knit, while cashmere feels too precious to wear as everyday loungewear rather than saving it for going out. So in winter, people end up layering functional inner wear, fluffy fleece, and down jackets, piling on layer after layer just to get through the cold season. For anyone in that position, we recommend the "brushed-back pullover" as your go-to winter loungewear. It's incredibly versatile and easy to use.

So, what exactly is "urage" (brushed-back fabric)?

Although we're grouping them together under the term "urage," what we're introducing today actually falls into two categories: "urage" and "ura-kimo" (brushed fleece lining). Generally speaking, "urage" refers to what's known as sweatshirt fabric, with a looped texture on the reverse side. It's also called "ura-pile," and while cozy, it doesn't quite match the warmth of a wool sweater.

Izmir Cotton Urage Pullover (GREY)

On the other hand, fabric where the inner side is brushed into a soft, fluffy texture is called "ura-kimo." It's made by brushing the loop yarns of urage fabric until they become as fluffy as cotton.

Unisex Urage Sweatshirt GRAY

Brushing the fabric increases its thickness and allows it to trap more air. This is the same principle that makes down jackets warm—warmth comes from trapping air within the material.

Top: Looped urage fabric / Bottom: After the brushing process

Furthermore, the delicate, soft materials that Filmelange excels at creating through their yarn-making expertise can be seen in their "Super Urage" fabric.

This Super Urage fabric is knitted using a special knitting machine owned by only one knitting mill in Japan. Through repeated improvements, they succeeded in knitting the surface with a high-count (fine) yarn, something typically considered difficult. By packing more yarn into a coarse gauge, the stitches become densely packed, and by lengthening the loops, the fabric itself gains volume—resulting in an urage fabric with a distinctly different character from ordinary ura-kimo.

Super Urage Pullover

At first glance, it may look like the sweatshirt loops are missing, but this isn't because the yarn is cut—it's because the loop yarn has been brushed to its absolute limit. The result is a fabric with a soft, plush feel that still carries a sense of delicacy. Wearing it feels like being wrapped in something fluffy, making for an outstanding wearing experience.

That said, with some pieces, fibers may come off onto inner layers when you first start wearing them. Since pullovers aren't put on and taken off as often, this likely won't bother you much, but it's a good idea to wash them separately from other items at first.

How to choose urage items for staying cozy indoors this winter

As the weather turns cold, we spend more time "cocooning" at home—streaming videos on weeknights or weekends, trying out new recipes, hosting home parties, or diligently cleaning ahead of the year's end. While lounging in pajamas or loungewear all day has its own indulgent charm, it's also good to change into comfortable everyday clothes to keep yourself from simply drifting through the day. For clothing like this, rather than a sweater you can't wash, an urage pullover that keeps you just warm enough is the better choice.

Key points when choosing urage items for cocooning at home

• ・Can be washed at home
• ・Has enough room to easily change your look with different inner layers
• ・A material that feels good against the skin
• ・A warm, substantial fabric you'll want to reach for even in winter
• ・Doesn't look like loungewear, yet still feels relaxing

These are the five key points.

If you can wash it at home, it's easy to use as everyday clothing, and if it has some room to spare, you can enjoy layering a cut-and-sew top underneath. For relaxation time, something pleasant against the skin is ideal, and it's even better if it keeps you warm as winter loungewear. When choosing "cocooning loungewear," you want something that combines that kind of practicality with a genuine sense of relaxation.

Recommendation 1: Super Urage Pullover / ZUTTO

Washable ○　Roominess ○　Feel against skin ◎　Warmth ◎

This Super Urage pullover is soft, warm, and light to wear. The neckline is a Henley style, fastened with an antique-style silver hook. You can leave the hook undone to reveal a glimpse of your inner layer, or fasten it all the way up and pair it with sharp trousers—offering styling options quite different from a crew-neck cut-and-sew top.

It has a relatively roomy fit, but since it's not a so-called "big silhouette," it still looks neat and tidy from the outside despite the cozy, warm feel it gives the wearer.

Here, we tried layering it over a thin cut-and-sew top. You could also create a gradation effect with a patterned top in a similar tone, or a plain gray cut-and-sew top.

• 【Washing instructions】
• ・Can be washed with water at home. We recommend hand-washing inside a laundry net.
• ・Do not use bleach or a clothes dryer.

Dozume Urage Pullover / ZUTTO

Washable ○　Roominess ◎　Feel against skin ○　Warmth ○

A double-faced knit pullover characterized by a silhouette that wraps the whole body snugly. With ample room in the sleeve length, body length, and body width, it's easy to layer a cut-and-sew top underneath. The diagonal line of buttons at the neck adds a touch of spice, making this a pullover with a special feel.

The fabric is a pile-lined, double-faced material with a tightly woven texture finished to a thick, substantial weight. It has a distinctively plump, springy feel to the touch. Since a single layer alone won't be enough to keep you warm, it's a good idea to pair it with heat-retaining inner wear or a thin turtleneck cut-and-sew top underneath.

• 【Washing Instructions】
• ・Can be washed at home.
• ・Do not use bleach or a dryer.
• ・Some shrinkage may occur during washing. After washing, immediately reshape the garment and dry it flat.

Unisex Double-Faced Sweatshirt / HAAG

Washing ◎　Roominess △　Texture ◎　Warmth ◎

A simple, minimal-feeling sweatshirt from HAAG's basic line. Despite being called "urake" (double-faced), it's actually a brushed-back material. The reason it's so wonderfully fluffy and soft to the touch is that it uses the brand's own original cotton, called "Smile Cotton."

Smile Cotton is a little different from other cottons. It excels in softness, lightness, and heat retention.

• ・Doesn't get stiff after washing: Since the thread itself is returned to raw cotton form once, the fabric becomes softer with each wash.
• ・Extremely lightweight: Thanks to its unique manufacturing process, an unusually large amount of air is trapped between the fibers.
• ・High heat retention: Compared to ordinary cotton material, it retains heat better and doesn't feel cold to the touch when worn.
• ・Gentle on the skin: The texture is so gentle that it has even earned a recommendation from an atopy association.
• ・Dries quickly: Compared to ordinary cotton material, it has higher moisture evaporation and dries faster.

Since it has a standard shape, we recommend wearing it true to size. There's also a gray color option, as well as sweatpants and a hoodie made of the same material, so it's nice to gradually build a collection according to your preference.

• 【Washing Instructions】
• ・Can be washed at home. Please place it in a laundry net and use a gentle water-flow mode.
• ・Please use a neutral detergent.
• ・Shrinkage will occur during washing. After washing, immediately reshape the garment and dry it flat.

Izmir Cotton Double-Faced Pullover / ZUTTO

Washing ○　Roominess ◎　Texture ○　Warmth △

At first glance it looks like a plain design, but this Izmir cotton double-faced pullover looks put-together on its own. This one uses a pile-lined, double-faced fabric for a smooth, breezy wearing feel. The fabric's natural drape keeps the volume in check, and the wide cuffs make the arms look slender. The sleeves allow easy arm movement, making it comfortable whether you're relaxing in a warm room or doing housework without the sleeves getting in the way. We think this is perfect for anyone who finds sleeves bothersome when spending time at home.

• 【Washing Instructions】
• ・Can be washed at home.
• ・Do not use chlorine or oxygen bleach.
• ・Since color transfer may occur, we recommend washing it separately from other items.

Find more winter loungewear for staying cozy indoors here