Up for sale here is Iron Heart’s IHTB-04 heavy cotton striped shirt. As is typical of Iron Heart, this is a heavy duty piece, with the weight heavier than a standard t-shirt. Iron Heart is one of a number of heavily American-inspired Japanese “repro” brands. They’re not quite simple reproducers of garments, but rather put their own twist on classic designs. There are a number of such brands coming out of Japan, for example Flat Head and Dry Bones to name a couple, but they all have their own emphases and inspirations. In Iron Heart’s case it is definitely American biker culture. Buying in to biker culture isn’t necessary to enjoy their clothes, but they definitely take their rugged and hard-wearing approach from there.
Where Iron Heart really differentiates themselves is in their use of heavy-weight fabrics. Really no one produces this kind of stuff with such crazy attention to detail, quality construction and crazy fabrics. Once you experience it you won’t go back. Details on this shirt are pretty simple. It’s a straightforward crewneck, ribbed at the neck, with navy and white stripes throughout. Fabric is a 6.5oz weight weave, heavier than a standard tee to be sure, but not into sweater weights as Iron Heart sometimes does with their tees. Seams are all chainseamed, resulting in almost no excess fabric and a much better fit. These shirts retailed at $135, although this model is now completely sold out. Get it here much more reasonably.
Size is labeled a medium. The fit is true but intentionally a bit slim. I measure the chest at 19.5” / 50cm, shoulders at 18” / 47cm, and length at 25” / 63cm. The shirt comes in good shape with some general wear, probably most visible on the neckline, but otherwise no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $24.
