Tempura Beanie

A tempura beanie whose stitching mimics a fried surface

A battered prawn, tail raised, embroidered on the turned-up cuff of a ribbed knit beanie. The tempura beanie is the badge in this run where thread most obviously outperforms ink, and the reason is texture.

Good tempura batter is deliberately lumpy. The flour is barely mixed, the water is ice cold, and the irregularity is the point — a smooth coating would fry into a shell rather than a shatter. That rough, uneven surface is impossible to convey in flat print at badge scale, where it becomes a beige outline. Stitched in short directional rows, it gains actual relief: the thread sits proud of the knit and catches light unevenly, which is exactly what the food does.

There is a second reason it suits a knit hat. Rib texture and batter texture are both irregular surfaces, so the badge does not fight the fabric it sits on. Designs with clean geometric edges have to overcome the ribbing; this one works with it.

It comes in black, dark grey, heather grey, baby pink and white. Black gives the strongest contrast and makes the golden thread carry. Dark grey is quieter and more everyday. Heather grey is the classic knit colour and the closest to the batter itself in tone. Baby pink is the softest, and white the cleanest.

Double-layer turn-up cuff, stretch rib knit, one size. Worn folded, the cuff sits above the ears; unfolded, the hat pulls down over them into a taller, slouchier shape. The badge stays flat in both positions because it is stitched on the outer face of the fold.

Wash by hand in cool water and dry flat. Embroidery is the most durable decoration you can put on a garment — it is the knit that needs the care, not the badge, which will outlast the hat it sits on.

• Type: Cuffed graphic beanie
• Construction: Ribbed knit, double-layer turn-up cuff
• Design: Cuff embroidery — tempura prawn
• Fit: One size, stretch knit
• Colours: Black, dark grey, heather grey, baby pink, white
• Care: Hand wash cool, dry flat, do not hang wet
• Wear it with: An oversized hoodie, a technical shell