Loopwheeled/Vintage T-Shirts

[dada mafiosi]

215 men's loopwheeled T-shirt, 7,2oz/sq.yd, classic fit

Bought size 6 "L" and 7 "XL", size 6 for smart fit and size 7 for loose / standard fit

Tees 215s supposed to loose 1 inch to 1.5inch length after first wash, wash upto 30C possible as per instructions

Size 6 "L" , measurement in centimeters

Shoulder = 43.5

Chest = 51.5

Hem = 52

Length = 68.5 before wash

'---------------------------------------------------

Size 7 "XL" , measurement in centimeters

Shoulder = 46

Chest = 55.5

Hem = 56

Length = 70 before wash

[dada mafiosi]

size 6 "L"  measurement pics

[dada mafiosi]

Merz 215 : size 7 "XL" measurement pics and fit pics (before wash)

[Newman]

Looking for a tubular shirt but merz is sold out everywhere. 

Has anyone tried Bronson or Non Stock (from Aliexpress) that is suppose to have tubular tshirt? 

[Geeman]

5 hours ago, Newman said:

Looking for a tubular shirt but merz is sold out everywhere. 

Has anyone tried Bronson or Non Stock (from Aliexpress) that is suppose to have tubular tshirt? 

I have 3 from Bronson. They are fine. 

[Well27]

I have a lot of loop wheeled t-shirts which I enjoy, but the favorite one is the one from Deluxeware.

The fabric is soft and feels a bit brushed, it is a good mid-weight fabric. The construction and the collar holds up nicely.

The fit is good, sleeves a bit on the shorter side and the length coming down below the belt, which I prefer.

The colour is most true in the picture were I'm wearing it - the black is still really black despite a lot of wear and washes. The sun is out, so it looks more gray on the other pics. 

I'll deffinetely be getting more stuff from deluxeware

 

Edited March 8, 2025 by Well27
Insert photos :)

[mlwdp]

Phigvel naval tshirt, with button holes at the bottom for trousers

 

[Broark]

@mlwdp I thought those holes were for hang drying directly on a clothesline? Not 100% sure on that though.

[MJF9]

^ yeah that's the purpose. Some repro brands issue them with rope for hanging dry too

[mlwdp]

Never knew that! Might have to try drying them on the clotheslines I have with the holes when the time comes to wash this one and the white one I have.

[Broark]

Warehouse actually included the rope on theirs like MJF mentioned. 

[mlwdp]

Phigvel 

 

[Double 0 Soul]

Does anyone have a size med Whitesville tee from their '2-pack' which has been washed?

Can you measure the length and across the pits for me please?

Ideally washed at 40 and line dried rather than max shrinkage through the dryer.

Size charts are all over the joint and some retailers are suggesting 1-2cm of shrinkage (which is what i would expect) while some are suggesting 2"

[MJF9]

Different sizes Neal but this might help

XXL from 2 pack in white

Original out the box 58cm p2p

Wearing one today so just took it off (especially) and measured p2p at 60cm

Worn quite a bit. Washed at 30C, hang dry only

[Double 0 Soul]

Oh, ok.. So it shrunk from new then stretched back beyond the new measurements?

Something i hadn't considered.

[MJF9]

That one has.  I just remeasured to be sure.  That's after wearing it since 8am today.

In other news, I just measured the other white XXL and a black XXL from a 2-pack - both measured 57cm.  That's after 30C wash, hang dry.

I could try wearing one of these last two for a day to see if they also stretch beyond new 

[Double 0 Soul]

If you could?

Size small Gildan works out at 49cm p2p

Size med RMC works out at 51cm p2p

These^ are the parameters for my best fitting tees

Having taken average measurements from the entire interwebz.. the med Whitesville are around 47-50cm across the pits.

A shrink below 48cm would make them too small but a stretch back to 50cm would make them perfect.

[MJF9]

On 9/14/2025 at 6:13 PM, MJF9 said:

That one has.  I just remeasured to be sure.  That's after wearing it since 8am today.

In other news, I just measured the other white XXL and a black XXL from a 2-pack - both measured 57cm.  That's after 30C wash, hang dry.

I could try wearing one of these last two for a day to see if they also stretch beyond new 

@Double 0 Soul
So I wore the black one today.  I wore it for 10 minutes then remembered to measure it - it was 58cm.  After a day of wear it was 60cm.  There of there about. See pics.

I don't know if there is variability in Whitesville fabric or sizing.

I got these from Hoosier who sent me measurements first - worth getting some precise new measurements from him.

Good luck!

Edited September 17, 2025 by MJF9

[Double 0 Soul]

Thanks MJ.. there was a size large listed on eBay at the weekend with measurements in the pictures which did confirm what you're saying regarding stretch..

Folks around the interwebz are saying 'size up one' but these folks are westerners so 'size up one' probably translates to size up one from your American brand t-shirt.. but if you've been wearing Japanese brands for the last 20yrs.. i'm not sure the same rule applies.. even if it does, i would be sizing up from Gildan Small to Whitesville Med.. 

Appreciate the Hoosier advice but the pre-washed size isn't really what i'm looking for.. i'll probably wait till there is a used Size M with measured sizes listed on ebay.. then i'll buy a 3 or 4 packs from Rakuten... there is one at the mo, but they've only measured the length 

I'n the time it's taken me to type this, i could have just asked them to measure across the pits 

[MJF9]

No probs Neal.

The actual photos of the measured item (jeans etc) from Seiichiro are useful if there's a view of post wash behaviour but yeah defo if you can get that for a washed and worn one, bingo, assuming Whitesville are consistent with their spec. 

I think they're good value tees bought at Japan prices. Not in the UK though - I've seen them at £50 for one, split from a 2 pack...

[Double 0 Soul]

Niro’s ? 

[CSL]

Random musings unrelated to the current conversation but relevant to the T-Shirt rabbit hole.

A few months back I visited the Self Edge store in San Francisco. They have a rack of T-shirts, and it was interesting to compare the many different brands they stock for fabric and fit. 

Unexpectedly for plain T-shirts I found I liked SDA best. Something about the feel of the fabric and the way the seams are sewed was pleasing to me. I say unexpectedly because it's not a brand I've ever messed with.

Merz I found fit weird, at least for me. This was a bit of a surprise since I like their henleys.

I also tried Strike Gold but these have side seams in my size which was a deal breaker. I should mention SDA also have side seams in XL and XXL but since I was ok with L that wasn't an issue.

I was curious about Flat Head but can't remember why I didn't try one on...

I also bought one of the Whitesville striped T's.

 

 

 

[Le Clown Bleu]

Always down to try a new T-shirt. As someone with fairly wide shoulders and a bit of a V taper, my options are limited — but I thought I’d share some of my thoughts.

Whitesville XXL – Very good after a wash. It tightens up the looseness in the body without taking too much off the shoulders. It’s also long in the body, which works well for me since I have a long torso.

Flat Head – Much thicker compared to the others. Fits nicely in the shoulders and is slightly boxy on me, but not too much (wouldn’t really be an issue anyway, as I wear size 46 Freewheelers shirts).

Merz b. Schwanen 214 – The neckline didn’t survive a wash and it’s now relegated to an undershirt that stays out of sight. I have to wear the largest size. Honestly, it’s my least favourite and also the most expensive. Compared to the others, it feels overpriced, especially with that fragile neckline.

Planning to explore more options, so feel free to throw some my way.

[Double 0 Soul]

13 minutes ago, Le Clown Bleu said:

Always down to try a new T-shirt. As someone with fairly wide shoulders and a bit of a V taper, my options are limited — but I thought I’d share some of my thoughts.

Whitesville XXL – Very good after a wash. It tightens up the looseness in the body without taking too much off the shoulders. It’s also long in the body, which works well for me since I have a long torso.

I was under the impression that Whitesville were short in the body?

[Le Clown Bleu]

29 minutes ago, Double 0 Soul said:

I was under the impression that Whitesville were short in the body?

For many of my friends they find them to long in the body for me I find them normal despite my long torso

Edited September 20, 2025 by Le Clown Bleu

[Double 0 Soul]

There is a fit guide here (skip to 30 seconds) from The Shop Vancouver..

.. the size large (24.5") barely kisses his belt

Edited September 20, 2025 by Double 0 Soul

[Well27]

@Le Clown Bleu I really enjoy Deluxeware (might be short on you) and Sunray Sportswear (has a nice long body, but not exaggerated)

Good On also has a nice lightweight t-shirt, which was nice during summer. Mine has a boxy fit, but works fine for me (also a slightly longer upperbody)

Edited September 21, 2025 by Well27

[reallypeacedoff]

On 9/18/2025 at 12:34 AM, CSL said:

Random musings unrelated to the current conversation but relevant to the T-Shirt rabbit hole.

A few months back I visited the Self Edge store in San Francisco. They have a rack of T-shirts, and it was interesting to compare the many different brands they stock for fabric and fit. 

Unexpectedly for plain T-shirts I found I liked SDA best. Something about the feel of the fabric and the way the seams are sewed was pleasing to me. I say unexpectedly because it's not a brand I've ever messed with.

Merz I found fit weird, at least for me. This was a bit of a surprise since I like their henleys.

I also tried Strike Gold but these have side seams in my size which was a deal breaker. I should mention SDA also have side seams in XL and XXL but since I was ok with L that wasn't an issue.

I was curious about Flat Head but can't remember why I didn't try one on...

I also bought one of the Whitesville striped T's.

I have tried so many tees over the course of the years, wanted to buy some Whitesville/Merz/et al but none fit me right or had large enough sizes. I like my tees somewhat longer so that usually cancels anything Japanese and/or repo out. There were some Samurai tees at SELA that were awesome but too thick (and $$$) for me. Long story short, stumbled upon Dehen 1920 Heavy Duty tees. Absolutely love them. Perfect weight for all year too.

[CSL]

^^^I'll have to check those out. 

Like you, I'd prefer longer than what seems to be the default length. 

Personally I've reached the point of 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'...

[Double 0 Soul]

The only reason I like a shorter tee is because I’m not a tucker and I hate to see too much t-shirt underhanging a denim jacket, I don’t mind an inch but I don’t want to see 3” or more, it looks too untidy.. most of my sweatshirts hang at a similar height to a 506 so I want my tees to follow suit..

I think you can swing a couple of inches of underhang if it’s unbuttoned.. I rarely wear a shirt under a denim jacket for this same reason.