Deluxewear flat head Japan rare striped heavy thermal shirt, size XL (fits M/L)

Up for sale here is a pretty rare piece from Deluxewear. Deluxewear is one of the family of “American casual” brands operating in Japan, strongly influenced by vintage Americana and producing some really interesting and unique things. Deluxewear got their start back in 2005 and have been producing steadily in Niigata prefecture since. Given their somewhat remote location and smaller stature focusing primarily on the Japanese market, they have not yet made many inroads abroad. Still, like many similar brands they are well worth seeking out.

This shirt is seemingly straightforward but has an interesting back story. It is called their two inch border thermal, taking inspiration from classic thermal under shirts. Thermals get their name from their dense cotton weave, where the thick cotton is very good at retaining heat. These shirts thus act as an ideal base layer and are great in the winter.

The story behind this shirt is the Deluxewear designer Hayato Muramatsu heard that most sewing machines in Japan were incapable of sewing a thick striped pattern on thermal shirts. Thermals have a much thicker weave than a standard shirt, and reportedly there was only one machine left in Japan that could sew a striped pattern in a thermal bigger than 3 centimeters. One may not normally think about these things but it is actually correct – it is pretty uncommon to come across really any kind of striped thermal, let alone one with a thicker striped pattern. Muramatsu was actually able to get a hold of this machine, and a limited run of the shirt you see before you was made.

With Deluxewear everything they do is in-house, made in Niigata using vintage machinery. They note that the sewing for this shirt was done on vintage union special sewing machines as well. It makes for a rare piece overall, one you are highly unlikely to come across again. Additional details include contrasting red collar and cuffs, contrasting white stitching used throughout, and Deluxewear tag at the bottom of the shirt.

Size is labeled an XL but fits slim, working well for a medium or a large. There is considerable stretch to the shirt, but unstretched I measure the chest at 19”, shoulders at 17”, length at 27” and sleeves at 26” from the shoulder. The shirt comes in lightly used, excellent shape with no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.

Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $24.