loose

Hello. This is Miura from THIRD PLACE.

Starting this week, we have added another women's brand to our lineup.

The brand is called rus.

It was founded in Spain in 2019 by two sisters: knitwear designer Pati and industrial engineer Inés.

With a muse described as "a woman involved in a global movement who believes in choosing rather than accumulating," the brand offers high-quality items designed to last.

My first encounter with rus was through an Instagram feed that happened to appear on my screen.

The first things that caught my eye were the colorful visuals and the unique silhouettes of the clothes.

I also recall being captivated by the very interesting ways the items were styled in the lookbook.

The use of color, the layering, and how they incorporated accessories were all so wonderful that I used to look to them for styling inspiration.

 

(The lookbook is incredibly cute, so please take a look. →→→ rus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusthebrand/ )

 

 

 

 

At the time, knowing absolutely nothing about the brand, I tried searching online, but there wasn't much information available back then (probably 2-3 years ago?). Furthermore, as there didn't seem to be an official agent, very few shops in Japan carried it, so I spent my days diligently researching while watching their collections appear on Instagram.

Last year, I happened to find out that a friend’s shop had started carrying the brand, and they introduced me to the Japanese distributor.

Thanks to the sales representative in charge, my heartfelt request reached them, and I am happy to say that, starting this season, we are now able to carry rus at THIRD PLACE.

“HAKO sweater”
COL: CHOCOLATE / BLACK
SIZE: S
¥52,000 +TAX

 

 

 

I feel that many of their pieces have a feminine use of color and material, yet are casual enough to fit into a boyish look as well.

With their gentle textures and uplifting color schemes, they offer comfortable daily wear that makes you want to reach for them every day.

I found myself resonating with much of the brand’s concept and approach. As it also has a strong affinity with the other brands we already carry at THIRD PLACE, I decided to select it, confident that all of you would love it too.

This was a brand I was really looking forward to personally, so seeing it in the shop makes me very happy, and I am truly excited to share it with everyone here in Nagoya.

It is already available in-store and online, so please check it out if you are interested.

 

 

To help you get to know rus better, I will explain more about the brand while highlighting some of the items we selected for this season.

True to its roots as a brand started by a knitwear designer, rus’s true expertise lies in knitwear.

rus is headquartered in the Galicia region of Spain. Because it is located near family-owned knitwear manufacturing companies in Portugal, they visit them frequently to build strong relationships of trust with their suppliers and engage in locally-focused production.

They use high-quality yarns carefully selected from excellent Italian spinners, focusing on the unique texture, shape, and color that those materials possess.

 

 

Environmental consideration is also a key theme for rus, and they focus on providing high-quality products that can be cherished for a long time while reducing their environmental impact as much as possible.

By producing locally, they can minimize their carbon footprint. Furthermore, building trusting relationships with their factories through local production allows them to manufacture goods to higher ethical and environmental standards.

“FURERU sweater”
COL: TOMATO / BLACK
SIZE: S
¥41,000 +TAX

 

 

All of rus's knit products are manufactured using "full-fashion" or "whole-garment" technology. They create perfectly shaped knit panels that are then sewn together like puzzle pieces to complete the garment.

 

Traditional cut-and-sew methods inevitably result in leftover fabric scraps, but full-fashion knitting keeps yarn waste in the production process to nearly zero. All of their products are made this way.

While sustainable initiatives have become quite standard for companies to adopt, I find great peace of mind in how they provide such a clear answer to the massive problems of mass consumption and waste that have long plagued the apparel industry.

Because I believe the fashion we want to propose is on the opposite side of disposable fast fashion, I felt a deep sense of empathy for this approach to craftsmanship.

And as I mentioned earlier, the foundation of a rus wardrobe is high-quality yarn carefully selected from Italian spinners.

Their pieces are primarily made from natural materials—alpaca, super kid mohair, cashmere, merino wool, organic cotton, certified viscose, and linen—as they place great importance on these materials being natural and sustainable.

These high-quality items, which can be cherished for years, are delivered to us while reducing their environmental impact as much as possible.

I believe that rus’s warm, inviting clothes are the crystallization of their team's efforts, made by valuing craftsmanship and carefully examining materials and manufacturing techniques.

 

 

 

 

“COPERTA skirt”
COL: BLACK × TAUPE
SIZE: S
¥48,000 +TAX

From their latest collection, what we at THIRD PLACE wanted to propose are mainly the staple knit items that can handle the depths of winter.

Among them, this plaid item is one of the signature rus designs, and it’s something I really want those discovering the brand for the first time to take note of.

We have prepared the top and skirt as a set, and this skirt—a personal favorite—is a wrap-style design. It can be layered over trousers or tights, making it a piece that is fun to think of new ways to wear.

Since this is also our first time carrying skirts, I would like to push this as a new style for our ladies' lineup this season.

“KOKOCHI sweater”
COL: BLACK × TAUPE
SIZE: S
¥53,000 +TAX

Additionally, the rus collection is influenced by the beauty of nature, art, architecture, and design. Beyond their signature essential knitwear, the brand’s charm also lies in its textiles utilizing superior knitting techniques, original color palettes, and sculptural cuts.

Being an international brand, they feature color combinations we don't often see in Japan and structural silhouettes, giving us a fresh aesthetic perspective that differs from what we are used to.

“KARAMU sweater”
COL: GRAPHITE / TAUPE
SIZE: S
¥49,000 +TAX

 

 

For example, this ribbon-adorned knit allows you to change its look by letting the ribbons hang or wrapping them around. The silhouette looks different depending on the wearer, as does the overall mood.

Because it is a light knit fabric, it can be used as an inner layer, and personally, I recommend layering it while showing off the ribbons.

There are many visually interesting items that those who love art and culture will surely enjoy. I thought those aspects were a perfect fit for THIRD PLACE as well.

Like YOKE, HERILL, and KAYLE, I personally love knitwear, so before I knew it, I had picked out only brands that specialize in it. Haha.

Since there will be more opportunities to wear knitwear especially in the winter, I would be happy if you all could find your favorite piece.