The Rite Stuff's new Heavyweight Tees are crafted from a substantial 9oz loopwheel fabric. Made in Japan at the historic Kanekichi workshop in Wakayama—one of only two workshops in the world still operating loopwheel knitting machines after over 100 years—these tees embody traditional craftsmanship. The unique knitting process uses gravity as the sole tension, resulting in a fabric with virtually no inbuilt stress or tension, offering exceptional softness and durability. With the loopwheel machine rotating at just 24 revolutions per minute, only 8-10 garments' worth of fabric is produced each day. Maintaining these vintage machines is a labor of love, yielding what is considered one of the finest T-shirt fabrics available today.
The grey version starts as unbleached cotton and is custom garment-dyed in a unique shade of grey, developed exclusively for us and unavailable anywhere else.
The Rite Stuff Heavyweight Loopwheel Tees are meticulously sewn in Japan with all-cotton thread, featuring woven tags from Japan, and hang tags and stickers made in the USA. Produced in collaboration with John Lofgren & Co., these tees meet the highest standards of quality.
Fit Notes: Despite being a Japanese brand, we find the sizing of The Rite Stuff tees to be more Western than Japanese. If you usually wear a size M in American tees, you'll find a suitable fit with this piece in size M. However, as always, we recommend consulting our size chart for the perfect fit.