Our Original Wool Crewneck Sweater Is Known for Its Excellent Texture.
Our original sweater feels good to wear, with a soft texture. It's a simple design, but the slightly dropped shoulders and wide silhouette make it perfect for a casual look. Made using the Wholegarment technique, the sweater naturally conforms to the wearer's body shape. Ribbing is added to the bottom, sleeve ends, and neckband. You can roll up the sleeves easily with the ribbed cuffs during everyday activities, such as working in an office or doing household chores.
Wataru Shibuya, a Knitting Director
Mr. Shibuya's grandfather ran a knitting factory, while his father ran a factory specializing in twisted yarn. Mr. Shibuya learned sewing and pattern making from his grandmother, and started making his own clothes in his middle school. When he was around 25, he decided to pursue a career in knitting and started his own brand.
However, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he changed his mind. He said, "At that time, I sacrificed sleep every day to work toward my goals, develop my brand, and do what I wanted to do. Eventually, I realized that I was only pursuing my own ambitions and not helping those affected by the disaster. When I work tirelessly without a break, my goal is to use that hard work to benefit others. That's when I began to focus on preserving Japan's textile industry as the core of my activities."
The secrets and origins of high-quality wool
While researching yarn materials and textures, Mr. Shibuya became interested in the soft and durable wool from sheep in Uruguay, South America. With little information available about Uruguayan wool, he spent a month in Uruguay, living with local gauchos and working on ranches to understand the environment in which the sheep were raised.
Uruguayan sheep graze freely on the vast grasslands. Gauchos on horseback move some 12,000 sheep to designated pastures, monitor their health, assist with births, and shear their wool once a year. Young sheep with unsteady feet are gently guided, and newborn sheep have sometimes been carried on the gauchos' laps.
Uruguayan wool is known for its softness and elasticity.
The softness comes from the fine texture of the raw wool, while the elasticity comes from the natural crimp of the sheep's wool. Mr. Shibuya collects wool from about 200 sheep and inspects it. Of these, the Uruguayan Merino sheep have a consistent crimp that is quite pronounced. This crimp contributes to the elasticity of the sweater.
Made in Japan Quality
Motivated to protect Japanese factories, Shibuya partners with artisans by visiting domestic factories and collaborating with craftsmen to develop knitwear.
For this project, Fukaki Woollen Textile, known for its expertise in luxury materials and often referred to as the "Fukaki of Cashmere," handled the dyeing and spinning processes. The sweaters were made with yarns from Fukaki Woollen Textile and manufactured by Knit Okazaki, a factory specializing in the production of "wholegarment" knits. Ishikawa Senko is responsible for the final details and washing that determine the texture of the knitwear.
These trusted artisans, specially selected by Shibuya, played an essential role in realizing his vision.
