The ideal cashmere knit
Hello. This is Miura from THIRD PLACE.
Silver Week has come to an end, and our usual relaxed routine has returned.
I am always happy to see many customers from afar who visit us during long holidays, so it was wonderful to see everyone's faces again after a while.
Import brands like COLBO and CAMIEL have also arrived all at once, giving the shop a fresh new lineup.
As mentioned in our previous blog, we have started stocking womenswear in earnest this season. With the arrival of women's collections from BELPER, KAYLE, and Ernie Palo, the shop feels even more vibrant than before.
For our women's selection this time, we have increased the number of colored and patterned items. Since there are many items with more unique designs compared to the menswear, the store has become quite colorful in many ways.
I believe we can now offer a different perspective than the unisex atmosphere we have proposed in the past.
During this holiday, female customers actually came to see the items, and those with petite figures who share the same concerns as me—such as the difficulty of choosing sizes and styling tips unique to women's clothing—showed particular interest.
Being able to offer styles that we couldn't before the 26SS season makes me feel like I’ve already grasped the significance of newly expanding into women's brands here at THIRD PLACE.
In addition to that, we are putting more effort into unisex brands this autumn/winter. For items that we primarily prepared with men in mind until last year, I’ve started including smaller sizes so that women can wear them beautifully as well, and I have personally picked out items that I thought were "great" from a woman's perspective.
Since we have an increased number of items that can be worn by people ranging from my build (155cm) up to about 165cm, I believe we are now able to introduce our items to a wider range of body types.
One of the iconic brands at THIRD PLACE is "YOKE."
As it is a brand I have had a relationship with since before the shop opened, I have a strong personal attachment to it, and it makes up a considerable portion of my own closet.
Since the brand itself consistently proposes unisex designs, there are many items that even relatively petite people can wear, which is why it has such high support among our female customers as well.
While having the clean tailoring of menswear, the designs naturally adapt to the female body. The subtle textures and treatments are unique, packed with details that tickle the curiosity of clothing enthusiasts.
However, I am personally drawn to the exquisite balance that never strays beyond the realm of daily wear, and for this season, I made my selections imagining the clothes I want to wear myself and the clothes I want women to wear.
Whether you already know YOKE or are discovering it for the first time, I would be delighted if this AW season deepens your interest in the brand.
First, information about YOKE is written in the previous Nishiwaki's blog.
This is the season (26AW) in which the brand held its first runway show in Paris. It is a memorable season in that regard.
Including designer Mr. Terada's current real thoughts and the future prospects of YOKE, I want you all to feel the world view of the brand, and we intend to convey the merits of the brand through our filter by 120%, so please look forward to it.
Now, let's move on to the main topic.
YOKE started in the 2018AW season and has a relatively long career of 9 years, but what image do you have of it?
By now, I think they are well-known for a wide range of items such as leather pieces, coats, and jackets, but for those who have known the brand for a long time, don't many of you think of knitwear when you hear the name YOKE?
Thinking back to the early days of the brand, knitwear accounted for the majority of the lineup, and that continues to this day.
Looking back at the past again myself, I feel that Mr. Terada's forte is still knitwear.
I also love YOKE's knitwear.
The innovative designs—made by utilizing various techniques and the characteristics of materials—that you don't see in other brands excite us every time.
Among the many knits available, what I want to introduce to you today is a "special" item.
It is the "Cashmere Knit Series," which has a high affinity with THIRD PLACE and was selected unanimously by all three of our staff members.
“Cashmere High neck Zip Blouson”
COL: BEIGE
SIZE: 1 / 2 / 3
¥86,000 +TAX
“Cashmere Knit Jacket”
COL: CHARCOAL
SIZE: 2 / 3
¥82,000 +TAX
“Cashmere Crewneck Sweater”
COL: GRAY / CHARCOAL
SIZE: 2 / 3
¥78,000 +TAX
“Cashmere Knit Pants”
COL: GRAY / CHARCOAL
SIZE: 2 / 3
¥86,000 +TAX
As you know, we have a soft spot for cashmere products, so these were the items we jumped on first.
It is a collection luxuriously using 100% Mongolian cashmere from Outer Mongolia, with a total of 4 types: jacket, driver's knit, crewneck, and pants.
The design is very simple.
When you think of YOKE knitwear, you might imagine colorful mohair knits or flamboyant items with patterns expressed through the weave, but this is the opposite.
In a sense, it might be a menu that doesn't feel like YOKE at all. Haha.
We tend to have a habit of being attracted to points that Mr. Terada likely fussed over in parts that are invisible to the eye.
These might be understated items that would get buried among a vast collection, but we truly want you to focus on these unsung heroes.
First, let me explain about that obsessively chosen yarn.
The Outer Mongolian cashmere hair that YOKE adopted this time is on average over 40mm long, which is 6-8mm longer than general cashmere hair, giving it a sturdiness with a slight firmness to the core of the yarn.
It also has excellent moisture retention and breathability, and is resistant to pilling, making it a piece you can love and wear for many years.
Cashmere grown in the harsh natural environment of temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees is, apparently thicker and sturdier in terms of raw wool compared to that from Inner Mongolia, China.
Speaking of items we carry, the knitwear from extreme cashmere is from Inner Mongolia; because the production region is different, the texture of the yarn also differs, and that is reflected as the "color" of each brand.
Even though they are all lumped together as "cashmere," they are completely different, so it's interesting to try on, touch, and compare various kinds.
With that in mind, the first thing I want to tell you is the price.
The price range for this series is ¥85,800 to ¥94,600 (tax included).
Cashmere geeks might have noticed, but isn't it quite surprising that they all stay under 100,000 yen?
Among the cashmere products on the market, it is by no means cheap, but with items from extreme cashmere or HERILL, the image is that you have to be prepared for 100,000 to 200,000 yen if you want to get something made of 100% cashmere.
Depending on the amount of yarn used, the price naturally increases as the amount increases. Since this YOKE knit is characterized by this thickness in particular, we assumed it would be higher, so honestly, we were surprised by this price setting.
One of the reasons is that the Outer Mongolian hair used this time has long fibers, which apparently leads to less waste during production, meaning no extra costs are incurred and the price can be kept down.
Of course, there is no doubt that the quality is excellent, and it is wonderful that there are only benefits for both the environment and us consumers when it is turned into a product.
I also immediately purchased this YOKE knitwear myself.
I bought the knit pants I've wanted for a long time. I finally found the ideal pair.
This "thickness" that I mentioned earlier.
The cashmere knit that YOKE proposes is knitted tightly to give it a feeling like a sweatshirt, and we are proposing it as a cashmere knit that can be worn roughly (casually) in a good way.
If you touch it, you will understand—it has a substantial thickness, and the firmness and presence when worn are unique.
If I had to put it into words, I was very attracted to the feeling of a "cashmere sweatshirt."
I love sweatpants and wear them often, but I could never find any that I wanted to wear in the winter, so I usually relied on knit pants as a substitute.
Antwort "LEATHER PIPED COTTON GABADINE JACKET"
YOKE "Cashmere Knit Pants"
refomed "Sebiro JACKET"
YOKE"Cashmere Knit Pants"
What I look for in winter pants is a comfortable fit and warmth. In addition, the appearance is also important, isn't it?
With sweatpants, it's often difficult to bring out that beauty or refined quality, so I choose when and where to wear them, not to mention the design.
My ideal is to be able to wear them to a nice dinner. I thought that these knit pants could make that a reality.
The luster of the fabric born from the dense knitting and the three-dimensional form of the pants reduce the roughness unique to knit pants, making them look like a very sophisticated pair.
In addition to that, the comfort is guaranteed, and no detail has been overlooked with clever gimmicks.
The waist is adjustable with elastic and a drawstring, and the hem can be adjusted with a spindle.
With this, it seems you can wear both sneakers and leather shoes.
YOKE "Cashmere Highneck Zip Blouson"
ISSUETHINGS "type127（SHIRT）"
YOKE "Cashmere Knit Jacket"
ISSUETHINGS "TYPE126 (TURTLE KNIT)"
ISSUETHINGS for THIRD PLACE "type333(TROUSER)”
The same can be said for the other three tops, but there is a versatility to them that allows you to wear them for everyday use without feeling like you're trying too hard, and I feel they have a certain approachability that makes you want to reach for them casually.
There is no doubt that this cashmere series is an indispensable item for THIRD PLACE this season.
We have stocked a good amount this season so that we can properly share this cashmere with everyone, so I hope you will take your time to find your favorite piece before winter arrives.
Today I mainly talked about YOKE and the cashmere that YOKE creates, so next time I hope to talk about the details of each item and recommended styling, so please look forward to that as well.
If today's blog has piqued your interest, please come by the store and try them on.
They are already listed online as well, so please check the details there too.
(ONLINE STORE: https://thirdplace.nagoya/collections/yoke)