For sale here is a shirt from Japan’s Sacai label, one of the perhaps more avant-garde designers going at the moment that is not directly affiliated with Comme des Garcons (although design Chitose Abe got her start with CDG and Junya Watanabe). Like the best of the Japanese labels, Sacai has a very strong visual aesthetic, incorporating technical elements, a liberal use of color, and some very high quality knits. They tend to run a close parallel to the Kolor label, which happens to be run by her husband Junichi Abe.
What we have here is Sacai’s pretty unique take on the classic tee. Abe seems to really enjoy doing different variations of these tees, as Sacai seems to release different iterations each season. It’s similar to what Yohji Yamamoto does, with his endless variations of the classic black blazer (and black tees for that matter). In this case we have a very high quality, knit cotton fabric done in a solid gray color. This is one of those designs that is actually more complicated than it appears on first glance. Probably the most interesting part is the pattern, where this does not quite follow a standard t-shirt pattern. Notice that the under arm seams form a separate block and curve out on the sleeve rather than the more typical pattern of making a simple circle. Sacai have also incorporated buttoned cuffs onto the shirt, which is more typically something you see with a button down rather than a tee.
Sacai is one of those labels that produces in very limited quantities, and can be particularly hard (and expensive) to purchase outside of Japan. Retail on these tees was about $200 in Japan (and even more abroad). Get it here much more reasonably.
Size is labeled a 3 and fits a between a medium and a large, depending on how you like the fit. I measure the chest at 21”, shoulders at 17.5”, length at 26” and sleeves at 28” from the shoulder. The shirt comes lightly used, very good shape with no holes, tears, stains or visible signs of wear. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $24.