Up for sale here is an indigo-dyed shirt from Japanese label 45 rpm. 45 rpm is perhaps best known for their indigo products, of which they’re one of the really early adopters. The label has been around quite a while now, producing with a unique mix of vintage-influenced workwear and traditional Japanese techniques. Their use of indigo in particular is almost unparalleled. Others may imitate, but few come as close as 45 rpm.
So what we have with this shirt is a deceptively simple long sleeved polo. The selling point, unsurprisingly, is the indigo dye. What you have here is actually several shades of indigo used on different parts of the shirt. It’s subtle, but you actually have three different shades of indigo incorporated here. The front portion is perhaps the darkest shade of blue, while collar is in a lighter shade. Finally, back side of the shirt is a middle shade of indigo blue.
As you can expect from this kind of dye, it will pleasantly fade with wear. 45 rpm uses natural indigo dyes, a bit more difficult and time-consuming to use compared to synthetic dyes, but with a much richer color given to it. There is already some fading of the material coming through, but definitely lots of life left here. Material is medium weight in my opinion, good for most seasons.
Details are also quite strong here. Probably the most interesting is the incorporation of a multicolored patchwork fabric lining the shoulder on the interior and under the collar. This patchwork detail also uses indigo fabrics and is completely invisible unless you turn up the collar. It also includes a metal top button, embroidered character on the bottom-left side, and a custom neck tag that I have not personally come across before. The neck tag and the patchwork detailing indicate this as one of 45 rpm’s premium pieces, produced in even smaller quantities than usual, given more hand detailing and attention, and of course sold at an even higher retail price than their regular (and already expensive) items.
Size is labeled a 5, fitting between a medium and a large in this case. I measure the chest at 21” / 53cm, shoulders at 20” / 50cm, length at 27” / 69cm, and sleeves at 24” / 61cm from the shoulder. The shirt comes in used, generally good shape. There is a bit of fading all around, but no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $24.
