This fall, the Mixture on the third floor of the main building of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will be offering four types of wool products under its private brand "ONLY MI" that are resistant to pilling (pilling) even after washing.
These knit items, made with newly developed wool yarn, are not only resistant to pilling, but also shrink-resistant even when hand-washed, making them a great feature. While overcoming wool's weaknesses, they also retain the natural luster and texture.
When developing their new fall/winter products, the company asked women, "What is your most useful winter fashion item for keeping you warm?" The majority of women answered, "knit bottoms and boots."
In response to this, the company created this lineup with the cooperation of Nikko Textile, which has an established reputation for wool products, with a particular emphasis on bottoms. Using a new generation of wool yarn that maintains a high-quality texture while being suitable for hand-washing at home, the new line not only perfectly meets customers' cold weather needs, but also boasts a high pilling resistance rating of "Grade 4.5" for items made with the material (pilling resistance is measured on a nine-point scale: Grade 1, Grade 1.5, Grade 2, Grade 2.5, Grade 3, Grade 3.5, Grade 4, Grade 4.5, and Grade 5). By leveraging the material's characteristics, the brand also strives to eliminate the drawback of the material's tendency to pill. According to Isetan Mitsukoshi, one of the factors driving the increased demand for cold weather protection was the increased awareness of energy conservation following the 2012 earthquake. Therefore, the brand embarked on the development of "knit pants that can be worn both on and off the job, allowing for comfort even in spaces where heating is used sparingly." Of course, the brand also paid particular attention to the silhouette when worn. Aiming for a basic item for working women in their 40s and 50s, the brand produced numerous samples, aiming for a design that could be worn stylishly as a set.
Nikko Textile's material is made in its own domestic factory, using a unique off-scale process from the raw material stage and spinning under special conditions, with a focus on highlighting the lustre and luster of wool. Attention has also been paid to improving color development, with great attention paid to creating a comfortable fit as well as a beautiful appearance.
The four items are knit pants (29,000 yen), pullover (27,000 yen), tight skirt (27,000 yen), and crew-neck cardigan (27,000 yen), each available in three colors, including black and charcoal gray.
