UTO Cashmere Angle’s Scarf

Where I got it

I am incredibly grateful to receive this lovely piece from UTO Cashmere all the way from Japan. I recently followed them on Instagram and they were seeking reviewer of their items. UTO Cashmere is a cashmere clothing brand based in Japan. They specialise in custom-made cashmere pieces for men and women – scarfs, stoles, cardigans, sweaters, dresses and even pants.

Cashmere is fibre obtained from cashmere goats, inhabiting the highlands of Inner Mongolia as well as regions around the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. All of UTO’s pieces are 100% cashmere and crafted by passional artisans from the city of Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture in Japan.  Each item is produced with careful craftsmanship, the artisans paying close attention to detail with the patience and resolve that people from Japan’s north are known for. Cashmere is one of the most sought-after and luxurious material for clothing pieces, therefore they can be pretty expensive. That being said, this scarf is USD$114 / NZD$199.

What I got

This is the UTO Cashmere Angel’s Scarf in Ecru Beige. Composition: 100% Cashmere / plain stitch. Washable cashmere knitwear: Machine washable at home. 150cm x 30cm. available in 25 colours. Grade A cashmere, Approx. 7-gauge knit.

Care instructions:

UTO’s cashmere knitwear grows softer through repeated washing, and we recommend that you wash it at home. We hope you’ll enjoy this luxurious product by learning the features of the natural material and maintaining it in good condition.

・Never wear the same item for two days in a row so the fibres can regain their natural softness and consistency.
・Use a dry course, hand wash course, or other gentle course from washing to completion of dehydration.
・Wash with room temperature water (less than 30°C). Wash only one piece at a time using detergent for washing wool.
・Shape into the original size, and air dry naturally in a flat, well-ventilated area in the shade.
・Iron the garment to remove wrinkles and restore its shape.
・Fold the item and store it with a natural moth repellent.

How I find it

The special piece was sent to me directly from Japan in a well-packaged parcel. The cardboard box was protected with cardboard and a plastic sleeve. Inside, we have information cards and a paper sleeve around the well-folded scarf. The cashmere scarf was very soft and light. The ecru beige colour looks beautiful. The knit was perfect and everything looked even and no pilling.

I always love a neutral accessory and when it comes to a scarf, I love lighter colours – cream, beige, oatmeal, grey, white, etc. They pair very well with most of my autumn/winter pieces. The length of this scarf is perfect to drape just around my neck as well as around my neck once. It is so lightweight and buttery soft it doesn’t scratch my skin at all.

The edges of the scarf is knitted so that it doesn’t curl inwards and there is a small tag with the brand logo and care instructions that you can easily remove if you want to. Otherwise, it is quite discreet in white.

To care for cashmere pieces, I try my best not to wear them when I know I will be eating messy food. After every wear, I air out the scarf either over a flat surface (clothes dryer or just over my bed), and to store it, I fold it twice and lay it flat inside a card box (from my previous Zimmermann order). It is only recommended to wash cashmere pieces after several wears and if you don’t want to go to the dry cleaners, you can wash them at home. Fill up a basin or sink with cold water and mix in gentle wool detergent. Submerge the garment into the water for only a few minutes. Press the garment into the water and gently flip and press again. If you have spots to clean, just use your fingers and gently work the spot out without pulling or stretching. Do not soak cashmere pieces. Rinse with cold water and squeeze out as much water as you can without twisting or wringing. A good tip is to place the garment on two towels and press out excess water. Lay out the garment to its original shape and lay it flat to dry in a cool place not in direct sunlight but with plenty of airflow. Additional items like cedar balls or blocks inside your storage boxes to keep moths at bay.

To remove pilling, you can use an electric fabric shaver or a fabric comb that is specially made for cashmere/ woollen garments. Just run it over the area gently to remove it. The higher the quality, the less pilling you will get, but all cashmere will eventually pill. Shaving the garment will not ruin the piece, but you just need to be careful not to be harsh or overdo it.

Overall

I absolutely LOVE this angel’s scarf from UTO Japan. It is an absolute dream to drape over my shoulders and around my neck. It is buttery soft and the colour is so easy to wear. You can see throughout my photos it looks almost white or off-white and beige. Different lighting does make the colour change a little bit, but it really is a light beige colour with a hint of oatmeal. I have been wearing it carefully avoiding getting caught in the rain with it or staining it. I always lay it flat to air it out after wearing it and then store it flat in a sturdy box. This piece got me searching around for more cashmere pieces – travel wraps, sweaters, cardigans, dresses, etc. They are all on my wish list, but they are not cheap so it would probably be a one-a-month expense for me at the moment. UTO Japan does amazing pieces which I would love to purchase from them in the future as well because I trust that they are of the highest grade and they claim to be of equal quality to luxury brands like Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli.

I am also looking for good quality cashmere shampoo, a dedicated cashmere brush, cedar blocks/balls and maybe a flat-lay clothes dryer for when I do wash my cashmere pieces. I will put a blog post up when I find something I recommend!