Up for sale here is a plaid shirt from the Sugar Cane label. Sugar Cane has a long history in Japanese workwear, manufacturing a number of lines including their own highly influential label, Mister Freedom, Buzz Rickson and several others. They are always informed by vintage design and often incorporate vintage techniques like chain stitching and loopwheeled construction into their garments, but at the same time push things forward as much as possible in terms of quality materials and design.
This shirt is a pretty recent release from Sugar Cane’s 2025 spring-summer collection, coming in what they call “true Madras”. The name is referencing madras fabric, a popular light weight plaid material named after the city in India (now Chennai) that popularized it. Madras is always in a plaid pattern and must be handwoven, characterized by subtle irregularities in the fabric. It was very popular in the 1960s, and likely where Sugar Cane draws its inspiration, but has never really gone away. India in general and Madras/Chennai in particular are known for their hand weaving of fabrics, being able to take advantage of the knowledge of generations of skilled craftspeople.
As noted on the tag, this shirt is a true Madras with the fabric woven in Southern India. It is characteristically light weight, with quite a bit of character to it. The plaid design is also pleasantly uneven itself. There are some subtle variations in the pattern throughout. Details include a flat hem allowing the shirt to be worn tucked or untucked, mother of pearl buttons (with only three openings on the buttons), chest pocket, chain stitch construction and nicely contrasting red interior bobbin thread. These shirts retailed at about $200 in Japan, likely more abroad, but get it here much more reasonably.
Size is labeled a small and fits a bit relaxed, somewhere between a small and a medium depending on how you like the fit. I measure the chest at 20” / 51cm, shoulders at 17” / 43cm, length at 26” / 66cm and sleeves at 23.5” / 59cm from the shoulder. The shirt comes in lightly used, excellent shape with no holes, tears, stains or visible signs of wear. Fabric is made in India and the shirt was constructed in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $24.
