Status: In Development
Started on March 25, 2026
Last updated on March 30, 2026

This project is still in its early stages.

It began from a small dog character wearing sunglasses and sticking out its tongue, an image we had been calling Small-Hours. At the same time, it also grew out of a broader direction we have been thinking about recently: how to make our motifs feel a little lighter on knitwear, so they sit more naturally in everyday pieces without always becoming the whole focus.

A lot of our earlier work has been built around stronger, more image-led surfaces. That still feels true to us. But lately we have been trying to see what happens when the motif becomes smaller, quieter, and a little easier to live with. Project No.40 is part of that shift.

Started on March 25, 2026

The starting point

The original artwork behind this project is a small dog in sunglasses with its tongue slightly out.

In some ways, the character sits not too far from No.17 Secret-Agent, our rabbit in sunglasses. But for this project, we do not want the motif to carry the same level of presence. The idea this time is to make it smaller, subtler, and easier to fold into daily knitwear.

At this stage, we have been looking at two possible directions.

One comes more directly from the original artwork, keeping more of the character and its styling. If needed, the sunglasses and clothing details could be handled in embroidery to keep the motif cleaner.

The other direction is a newer, more reduced version of the image. A simpler and more abstract interpretation, intended to work entirely in intarsia.

For now, we are using rough mockups to compare the two and see which one feels better on the garment.

Updated on March 30, 2026

The first decision

At the moment, the second direction seems to be working better.

The motif translated more directly from the original artwork started to feel a little too busy once placed on the knit. For something this small, too much detail begins to compete with the garment rather than sit inside it. It felt slightly too expressive for what we want this piece to be.

What we are drawn to more at this stage is the second version: a simpler image, but not in a polished or overly neat way. It has something slightly rougher and more instinctive in it, which feels closer to the mood we want. A little more reduced, a little more understated, but still with enough character to hold attention quietly.

So for now, we are moving forward with the simpler white dog without clothing.

Because the motif is relatively small, we are also considering a softer treatment for the dog itself. The main body may be developed in a clean white feather yarn to give it a lighter and slightly textured surface, while the sunglasses and mouth may be added with black embroidery.

For now, we are waiting to see how this will look in actual sampling.

The direction is still simple, but it feels clearer than it did a few days ago.