GLADHAND ROYAL CLASS T-SHIRTS
The ROYAL series was born, featuring a new woven label, for cut-and-sew items represented by GLADHAND's signature pack T-shirts.
The body of these T-shirts is made on a loopwheel knitting machine, the same type used for vintage T-shirts.
These loopwheel knitting machines, over 100 years old, are now extremely rare worldwide. Compared to modern knitting machines, they knit at a very slow speed, about 1/20th.
However, despite the inefficient production, the body, knitted slowly in a tubular shape, becomes plump by incorporating a lot of air. With repeated washing, it develops a texture reminiscent of vintage garments.
The ROYAL series is crafted by artisans in a factory where a rare loopwheel knitting machine operates in Japan, and an air of "ROYAL" quality emanates from the production site itself.
There are only a handful of factories in Japan where loopwheel knitting machines, which are rare worldwide, are still in operation.
Here, approximately 80 loopwheel knitting machines operate, each for a different size.
With 0 to 1200 needles, the body is knitted. The speed is
extremely slow and production efficiency is poor compared to modern sewing machines,
so they were phased out over time.
The ROYAL series features a special woven label.
The stress-free comfort, a hallmark of bodies knitted on loopwheel machines, and
the texture that develops with wear are exceptional.
With a loopwheel knitting machine, the inside of the body is knitted facing outwards, so
it is necessary to check the condition of the inside to ensure the outer fabric is properly knitted.
This can only be done by highly skilled craftsmen.
The Henley neck is cut from fabric and each part is sewn with a flat seamer.
Born from the pursuit of the highest quality achievable in Japan today,
these exquisite T-shirts are worthy of the ROYAL title.
Source: CLUTCH Magazine Vol.81 / P136-139