LOT.601 TEE SHIRT

The T-shirt is one of the garments that symbolizes American clothing culture. Originally developed as an undergarment worn beneath uniforms and military wear, this simple item embodies the rational and functional approach of American manufacturing.

Its defining feature is a waste-free construction: a tubular body, knitted in a continuous tube known as marudō, with only openings cut for the neck and arms and sleeves attached. While its appearance may resemble modern everyday wear, its nature is fundamentally different. The design faithfully reproduces period-specific details such as shoulders without slope, a boatneck-like neckline, and double-layered neck ribbing constructed to prevent stretching.

The tubular jersey fabric is slowly and carefully knitted on an existing hanging knitting machine. Hanging knitting machines were introduced to Japan during the Taisho era (1912–1926), and today, Wakayama Prefecture is the only place in the world where these machines remain in operation. Although extremely inefficient—capable of knitting only one meter per hour—the slow process allows the fabric to retain air within its structure, resulting in subtle irregularity and a rich, dimensional texture.

Using USA cotton gives the fabric a dry touch and a distinctive character. CHARCOAL and BEIGE are finished with garment dyeing, in which the piece is ded after construction. This process creates natural tonal variation around seams and across the surface texture of the fabric. Combined with the inherent unevenness unique to hanging-knit fabric, the result is a monochrome garment with a quietly shifting expression.