Japan Repro T-Shirt Charcoal

This t-shirt uses cotton jersey from one of the finest mills in Japan. By now, you know we love fabric and we love showing you what the best mills in the world can do. That goal definitely extends to our t-shirts. As we began sourcing fabric for this new product, one thing became very clear to us -- Japanese knits are phenomenal. There is a variety and richness in construction that is hard to match. For our first Japanese T-shirt we wanted to give you a sense of how true attention to cotton, weight and shade can produce a perfect garment. The specific cotton in this style defines the look . It uses 80% recycled cotton. This not only reduces material waste, but also creates a truly unique texture. There is a graininess to the fabric that you rarely see in jersey, which is typically more flat. This textural element is what we love in Japanese selvedge denim ported over to the world of knits. The base is a deep charcoal grey, but the irregularity in the cotton creates highs and lows that usually require the use of synthetic yarns. This style gets the look using 100% cotton as a real vintage shirt should. Finally, this fabric is a hefty 7.5 ounces, giving it a very substantial feel that reminded us of old-school tees from the 70’s. Long story short, this fabrics makes for a truly special garment.

Fit is much more important on a t-shirt than you might think. We set out to strike the right balance between a tailored fit and an easy to wear piece. The shoulders are fitted, which keeps the overall look clean. The sleeves hit at just the right point on the arm and are tight enough to prevent them from winging out. The body is slightly tapered, but easy enough to not be mistaken as an undershirt. Finally, the length hits just right so it falls below the waist line, but does not cover your entire backside. Overall this shirt can stand alone or layer with a button down.

Construction details are classic and sturdy. We start with an inset collar using rib. Neck and shoulders are taped, which adds effort to construction, but provides an extra touch of structure to the garment. Double needle hems finish the sleeves and bottom and a slightly narrower gauge is used to lend a small element of refinement. This is the right way to make a t-shirt, without cutting any corners.

Quality t-shirts made in the USA with high quality Japanese materials are typically priced over $80. The Gustin model allows us to offer you a radically better value.