Rick Owens Biker Level Round Neck

The seam down the spine is the point of interest. A crewneck sweater is conventionally knitted in panels joined at the shoulders and sides, with a continuous back, and there is no functional reason to divide it. Putting a seam down the centre of the back does two things: it makes the sweater symmetrical around a visible vertical, and it means the back is constructed rather than merely knitted, which changes how the garment sits across the shoulder blades. It is a small piece of drafting that nothing requires, and it is the house’s mark on an otherwise plain knit.

Ultra-light is the other half. Cashmere at this gauge is close to weightless, disappears under a jacket, and is warm out of proportion to what it feels like, which is the property that makes cashmere what it is.

Why we selected it

A fine cashmere crewneck is a wardrobe staple and everyone sells one. Very few have a reason to exist beyond the fibre, and this one does. The colour is the other reason: red cashmere at this weight is saturated without being loud, and it is the sort of thing a customer buys once and wears for a decade.

Materials and construction

One hundred percent cashmere, made in Italy. Colour: Cardinal Red. Ultra-lightweight knit, round neck, with a seam down the centre back.

Fit notes

An ultra-light knit follows the body closely and hides nothing, so it reads slimmer than a mid-weight sweater in the same size. It layers under a jacket without any bulk at all, which is its main job. Fine cashmere relaxes with wear and recovers when folded and rested.

Styling

Under a black jacket, where the red shows at the neck and the cuff only. On its own with a black trouser if you want the colour to lead. Under the Bauhaus Jacket, where a red neck under black shearling is the best argument for owning both.

Care

Fold it, never hang it. Hand wash cool with a gentle detergent, press the water out between towels, and dry flat away from sun and heat. A fine gauge pills more visibly than a heavy one, and a cashmere comb handles it. Our care guidance covers cashmere in detail.

Related pieces

The Maglia Biker Round Neck carries the same spine seam. Alongside it, the Raglan Crewneck and the Oversize Roundneck, and the Bauhaus Jogger in the same Cardinal Red. There is more on the house on the Rick Owens designer page. Everything we currently hold from Rick Owens is listed together.