Up for sale here is a very nice vintage-style sweater from Buzz Rickson. Although the Buzz Rickson label is perhaps best known for their military reproductions, they also venture into vintage sports and causal wear reproductions as well. This sweater is based on classic 1930s and 40s sweater silhouettes, done as usual to exacting quality standards.
The basic look is a black, clean sweater. Exterior is tough and sturdy, while the interior is brushed and very soft. These sweaters are made using vintage flatlock machines, which creates a smooth, flat seam. By contrast, most clothes are sewn with overlock seams which are cheaper, faster and easier to produce. The downside of the overlock seam is that it leaves a chunk of fabric under it, making it more bulky. A flatlock seam leaves a smooth, long surface, minimizing the bulk and feeling of having a seam there.
Construction is loopwheeled, a kind of specific old-school looming technique.
Loopwheeling was actually the way vintage sweaters were originally made, where you have a tubular fit (no side seams), allowing the sweater to better keep its shape and once again have minimal worry about seams. The fit is ultimately better and the sweater more durable. The downside to loopwheeling is that it is much more costly and time consuming to do. There aren’t many loopwheeling machines left, and they all seem to be located in Japan now. Of course, Buzz Rickson is not one to sacrifice quality or authentic detailing, so they went for the real thing, keeping it as authentic as possible.
Other details include the classic double banded collar, “V” neck collar sweat catch, and a set-in sleeve. All the specs have been obsessed over, as is typical with Buzz Rickson, ensuring that you have a garment as authentic as possible and at the best quality available.
Size is labeled a medium and fits true. I measure the chest at 21” / 54cm, shoulders at 17” / 44cm, length at 25” / 62cm and sleeves at 25” / 63cm from the shoulder. The sweater comes in used, generally good shape. There is some fading to the fabric as you can see, visible on the body and neckline. This is actually an intended part of the design. These sweaters are produced with fading dyes, where like a good pair of denim this sweater will pleasantly fade and develop with wear. Aside from the fading there are no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $26.
