In October 2011, we relocated our factory from Yamanashi Prefecture to Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture. At that time, just six months after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, the Tohoku region was in a state of confusion. Nearly 600 people from coastal areas were evacuated to Kitakami City, which was relatively undamaged, and forced to live under austere conditions.
As newcomers to the area, we wondered how we could help as corporate citizens, and decided to make a donation, even if it was modest.
We also decided to donate a portion of the sales of our main business, cashmere knitwear, so that we could offer long-term, sustainable support.
In addition, since UTO's cashmere was selected as a hometown tax return gift from Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, where our factory is located, we decided to donate a portion of our hometown tax donations to Kitakami City (100 yen for each donation) as a joint effort with the city.
As one of the activities to promote donations, we have developed a unique product called "Tenshi No Shiori" (Cashmere Angel bookmark) using leftover yarn, which we deliver to our customers.
We have developed a "Cashmere Angel Bookmark" that is unique to our cashmere brand, making use of leftover yarn produced during the knitting process.
These “Cashmere Angel Bookmarks” are handmade one by one by our own craftsmen from the highest grade 100% cashmere yarn used in our products, while considering the color combination of the body and the tassel.
Each piece costs about 500 yen, but we sell them for 300 yen and donate 100 yen as a way to collect more donations and make more people aware of UTO.
“Cashmere Angel Bookmarks" are sold at museums, bookstores, and ryokans (Japanese-style inns) as well as through our own shops and internet sales.
A junior high school teacher once purchased dozens of bookmarks, saying, "I support this cause, and will give one to each of my students.”
In addition, students at Sakaide Elementary School in Kagawa Prefecture and Akatsuki High School in Mie Prefecture sold more than 50 bookmarks as part of a school event and sent us a donation of 5,000 yen.
We made our eleventh annual donation to Kitakami City in 2023, bringing the total to over 3 million yen!
Using the donation, kerosene purchase coupons and disaster prevention radios were delivered free of charge to evacuees in Kitakami City through the Kitakami City Office.
We have also received a very nice letter of gratitude from a disaster victim, who said, "I am very thankful that I was able to stay warm during the cold winter, and that when I evacuated to an unknown place and felt lonely and anxious, I was able to relax hearing the voices of those around me through the disaster prevention radio.” We are honored to be able to provide you with support.
As social products contributing to the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have been honored with the "2022 Social Product Award" from the Social Products Promotion Association.
By conducting "manufacturing with an eye toward society," the project has changed from a single company initiative to one that involves the entire society (community, schools, museums, bookstores), leading to even greater local support.
As a company that manufactures in the Tohoku Iwate region, we would like to continue our manufacturing and local support with a focus on "social manufacturing.”
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Working as a travel agent, he created and led research tours of London, Paris, Milan, and other cities for people in the knitwear industry. Completely ignorant of fashion, he was greatly helped by Ms. Junko Shimada, a designer based in Paris. In time, these tours led him to make an unexpected career change, joining the knitwear manufacturer “les halles” to become a knitwear maker.
In England, at the head office of John Smedley, he encountered cashmere that was sold in-house, and was fascinated by its light, soft texture. By visiting factories in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Europe, he saw many modes of production. He also visited factories in England and Italy for production requests, where he was exposed to differences both in production methods and other ways of thinking between East and West.
1992
He established the knit brand "bhf International" in Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo with a desire to provide the kind of high quality knitwear fundamental to high fashion. bhf stands for “base of high fashion.”
1994
A new knit brand "House of White Cashmere" was also launched, creating a two-brand system. “Cashmere” was something everyone knew about, a soft, light, warm, material people longed for. "From now on, it's an era of specialists. If you can make everything, that really means that you can’t make anything." Based on this idea, the brand is committed to a focus on cashmere. By sticking to one material, his aim was to become a specialist, as well as the number one cashmere manufacturer both in Japan and worldwide.
〈Future vision of the company〉he made at this time
"Creating the best cashmere knitwear in Japan and the world"
"Integrated production at our own factory, making things that satisfy"
"Production factory, atelier, and headquarters in a dreamy building like the one above"
“Distributing new fashion from a beautiful village in Shinshu, rich in flowers and greenery”
“Guest rooms and promenades where customers and shareholders come to visit and stay (I want to invite everyone to stay overnight and hold exhibitions)”
“The market is global – our sales are both domestic and international”
“Many Shareholders – Recruiting shareholders widely. They’re our best supporters”
“Dividends are held overseas every year for a launch party and shared playfulness”
1996
Mass produced knitwear was common. After going independent, he struggled with the large quantity of lots and inventory, and withdrew from Aoyama. While considering withdrawal from the knit maker, he continued work on knitting contracts at home.
2000
"If I'm planning to withdraw anyway, I'd like to try again with just my favorite cashmere. And if it doesn't work out, I'll give up." With this thought in mind, he changed to a brand specializing exclusively in cashmere knitwear.
2001
With the cooperation of Uchida Knit, a manual flatbed knitting machine, he began offering “made-to-order and custom-made (adjustment of size and sleeve length) knitwear”, which was unprecedented in the industry, and held cashmere order events at boutiques nationwide. His starting point was his experience working with knit factories in Europe and Asia.
2005
Introduced the Shima Seiki SES, a knitting machine, and opened a factory in Yamanashi. A meeting with the factory manager and a strong desire to "manufacture satisfactory products" became his impetus for opening his own factory for the first time.
2006
He published "The Story of Cashmere and Knitwear" with Senken Shimbun. With the book’s publication, the number of OEM offers from department stores and famous brands overseas rose. In addition, he started online sales as a BtoC initiative.
Book "The Story of Cashmere and Knitwear"
(Published by Senken Shimbun)
2007
He took part in a collaboration with Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store to "provide the world's best sweaters that can be traced from raw materials to manufacturing." He visited cashmere pastoralists in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa which produces the world's finest raw cashmere. Using 100% raw cashmere from the region, he provided products manufactured to customer order at the UTO factory.
2007
He visited Alxa, a cashmere production area. Mr. Du, a cashmere farmer, guided him through the cashmere wool harvest, explaining about coexistence and life with local goats. "Humans do not abuse cashmere". With his own eyes, he witnessed the good relationship between humans and goats.
Experience cashmere wool harvesting
2009
The showroom in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo was used as a shop, and had its own store for the first time. His wish was to “create a store where customers can actually touch the cashmere and experience its unique texture, spending time shopping while talking with the creators.”
2011
The Yamanashi factory was closed due to lack of linking craftsmen. It was relocated to Tatekawame, Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture.
Linking is a process unique to knitting
2012
At the time of the relocation, six months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tohoku region was still in a state of turmoil. He wondered if there was anything his company could do for the city, and began the brand “UTO kitakami.” Hoping to help with the cost of kerosene for people to get through the cold Tohoku winter, he began to donate 100 yen to Kitakami City Hall for every UTO kitakami product sold. At the same time, we made and sold "Tenshi no Shiori (Angel bookmark)," and donated 100 yen for each one sold.
"Tenshi no Shiori (Angel bookmark)" made from cashmere.
Click here for the Tenshi no Shiori (Angel bookmark) project>>
2014
He relocated the factory to Ezuriko, Kitakami City. In addition, "hometown tax donation program" began. Since 2014, about 200 million yen has been donated every year through this program.
2016
In November, "Unique Branding for Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers” and "Go for it! Big Furoshiki Travel Shop” were published at the same time from Gentosha Literary Publication
President Uto appeared as a commentator in a segment on cashmere on TV "Nonstop" (Fuji TV). After that, it was introduced in a segment on the hometown tax donation program, on "Shinichi Hatori’s Morning Show" (TV Asahi), "Chokugeki Live Goody" (Fuji TV), and "Gogosuma" (TBS).
2017
He started "fitting at home," a service allowing customers to try on clothes at home. The "free rental of up to 3 items" was a unique service in the industry. In addition, the first overseas expansion began. He started selling at the shop of NPO "J+B Design" in Brooklyn, New York. He also began selling items through a men's boutique in the luxury boutique district of Brera in Milan, Italy.
2018
He received a "Value Prize" from the Corporate Value Organization, which is supported by the The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. The collaboration between Tokyo and Iwate through integrated planning, manufacture, and sales of cashmere, and the contribution of the hometown tax donation program to Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, received a high evaluation.
Introduced on the TV program "Bi no Tsubo" (NHK), during a segment on sweaters.
2020
President Uto appeared in the TV program "Gacchiri Monday" (TBS)’s "Moukaru! Hatake-chigai shacho" segment.
2021
“Amount donated to victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake: Cumulative total of 3 million yen or more for 10 years” and “Hometown tax donation amount: Cumulative total of 1.5 billion yen or more for 8 years”.
Handing over the donation to the mayor of Kitakami City
2022
UTO's "Cashmere Tenshi no Shiori (Angel bookmark)" received the "Social Products Award 2022" from Association for the Promotion of Social Products as a product leading to "recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake".
Sold at art galleries, hotels, inns, bookstores, etc nationwide
President Uto received the Kitakami City Municipal Government’s 30 Year Development Achievement Award (Achievement in Industrial Development).
He gave a lecture at the Kitakami Citizen University’s annual local lecture assembly.
UTO appeared in "Ikiru Kakawaru Sonaeru (Live, Involve, Prepare)," a supplementary textbook for junior high schools published by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education.
Carefully handcrafted and finely knit,
UTO’s cashmere knitwear is made for the satisfaction of people around the world.
As soon as you wear a UTO sweater or scarf, you’ll recognize and feel its fine quality.
UTO knitwear can bring out the best in you.
You’ll feel positive.
You’ll feel like spending time with people.
That’s what genuine cashmere knitwear can do.
Made by experienced artisans using carefully selected cashmere, UTO knitwear is personally tailored for each customer.
We believe every one of our carefully knit products will inspire the people who wear them.
Instead of mass producing clothing that are likely to be thrown away, UTO makes knitwear to last.
We hope our products provide our customers with comfort and warmth for many years, including their future generations.
Our goal is to make clothing that our customers will want to wear forever.
The soothing comfort of UTO knitwear will bring a smile to your face – and smiles are contagious.
Our desire to bring happiness to people over the world motivates us to continue handcrafting UTO cashmere knitwear today.
UTO was founded in 1992 at Aoyama, Tokyo as a knitwear company.
We have our atelier in Kitakami, Iwate prefecture, and are one of the very few knitwear companies that design, manufacture and sell directly to customers.
Our yarn is produced in Japan using only the finest quality cashmere fiber from Inner Mongolia. We proudly take custom orders to create cashmere knitwear to suit each customer.
・Company name: UTO co,.ltd
・CEO: Toshikazu Uto
・Office/Showroom: 607 Tatsumura Aoyama, 5-4-35, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062
・Factory: 3-164 Jiwari 12, Shimoezuriko, Kitakami city, Iwate prefecture, 024-0073
・Date of the establishment: 1992/7/29
Born in Nagasaki Prefecture, Uto is an avid traveler. In the 1970s, he utilized his wanderlust in his role as a professional travel coordinator, organizing unique tours that provided opportunities for amateur musicians to perform overseas and for apparel professionals to experience the European fashion scene. Captivated by the light and soft texture of cashmere, Uto made a career shift into the knitwear industry. His engagements with various countries like England, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea provided him with deep insights into fashion and knitwear. In 1992, Uto founded "bhf International" in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, with the ambition of delivering the world's finest knitwear. By 1996, he launched a "custom order knitwear" service, emphasizing cashmere as the primary material. The company was rebranded as UTO in 2000, and in 2005, they established their own factory in Yamanashi Prefecture to enhance the quality of their custom cashmere knitwear. In 2011, UTO relocated its factory to Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture amidst the chaos ensuing from the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a response to the disaster, UTO began annual donations to the city hall from the proceeds of their cashmere knitwear sales to aid reconstruction efforts. In recognition of these philanthropic activities, Uto received the Development Merit Award from Kitakami City in 2022.
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UTO's factory is located in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, blessed with four distinct seasons.
Here, artisans specializing in cashmere are devoted to their craftsmanship. Piece by piece, they rely on polished expertise, the resolute spirit of the people of Tohoku, and meticulous care to create cashmere knitwear.
By doing all the work in-house, we take responsibility for all aspects of manufacture and are committed to each and every step of the process.
UTO is proud of its "craftsmanship with a face."
I first learned about cashmere and manufacturing when I joined UTO. Until then, I had always seen clothing as something that expressed passing trends, and I had never paid much attention to the texture of material, let alone the quality of the fabric. However, I still remember my surprise at feeling the softness of 100% angel cashmere for the first time after joining UTO. I learned that quality that I can wear forever comes from the materials and the well-honed sense of the craftsman. I had this realization as I thought about how I could support the factory as a craftsman.
The processes needed to create UTO's high-quality products involve pattern making(programming), knitting, linking, finishing, and inspection. As a craftsman, all these skills must be mastered. And each of these processes is done in-house. I’m grateful for an environment in which all of these processes are carried out onsite, and I want to continue creating products that bring smiles to the faces of both UTO craftsmen and everyone who encounters our products.
Since our factory in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture opened in 2011, I’ve been involved in knit-making, which I love. I check received orders, develop new products, and during busy times, I step in on each process and work with staff onsite, so I’m very fulfilled every day.
Since 2014, UTO's cashmere knitwear has become available to many customers as a tax return gift from the hometown of Iwate. We have also increased the number of young staff members, and we are putting a lot of effort into their training. I’m grateful to be able to work in a rare environment in Japan, where we take the product from yarn to finished garment, and I’ll work hard with our staff to make everyone happy with the knitwear we produce.
At the factory, we’re in charge of knitting, inspection, shrinking, and aftercare (repair and refreshment of products that have been used). In particular, both knitting, in which yarn is knitted into parts of products, and shrinking, in which the material is finished to the appropriate texture, are important processes that determine the overall quality of UTO's products.
The appeal of this job is being able to grow through the teachings cultivated by our seniors, and taking advantage of new discoveries you make as you perform various tasks. I would like to continue to polish my skills as a craftsman of UTO, making small discoveries every day, while also being grateful for the delivery of high-quality products and their long-lasting use through after-sales care.
I used to work in sales and returned to my hometown of Kitakami during my job search. I was fortunate enough to find a job here at UTO. I remember feeling shocked when I saw the manufacturing scene for the first time. I was intimidated by the advanced skills of my seniors, but at the same time I felt motivated to be like them one day.
The path to becoming a craftsman is a steep one, and each day brings new discoveries. I’m always happy when I can see my own growth and when my seniors show appreciation for my work. I will continue to hone my skills so that when my children grow up, I can proudly say, "I am a craftsman at UTO.”
It’s been six years since I joined the company with the desire to work in the sewing industry. Every day I polish my skills in an ideal environment, where I can become absorbed in the work of making things. Recently, I feel that I am finally getting close to something I’m satisfied with. I want to deliver products that satisfy me, not just those that barely pass.
Besides my own sewing work, because it’s a small factory, all the processes are visible and everyone supports each other, which makes me feel more attached to each product. I would like to continue to make products that carry those feelings.
I’d been involved in sewing jobs until I had an opportunity to encounter cashmere knitwear for the first time at UTO. I was surprised at the softness of the finished product, but I was entrusted with the linking process, in which the knitwear is joined together using a wedge knitting technique, which is different from the sewing machine work I’d done in the past.
But now I have a sense of accomplishment every day as I join together different parts to complete a single product. I would like to continue to hone my skills with a focus on careful workmanship in manufacturing.
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