Vintage Sweatshirts

[Double 0 Soul]

15yrs ago.. i bought a bunch of JMC sweatshirts

10yrs ago the gray one, still looked like this

..and today, i've never worn it for work

..bit of bleach.. bit of bitumen

..even though it's battered, and by far the most worn of the bunch, i always choose it from the wardrobe.. i can't help it.. it just feels so comforting   i think that'll only change when i buy a new one to replace it.. alas, with McCoy's prices

Edited November 2, 2024 by Double 0 Soul

[ATWM]

Anyone have experience with the strike gold’s sweatshirts and sizing comparison? I see a lot of size up with it, but I’m looking for a slimmer/less bulky fit that can go under denim jacket. Shorter is better. If I fit into a 38 of freewheelers/powerwear (sweat), can I get away with a medium - or should I really go to a L? I know a M will fit my arms and torso length, it’s just the damn shoulder/chest thing. 

Edited November 12, 2024 by AlientoyWorkmachine

[jkbrwn]

On 9/5/2024 at 7:26 PM, jeash90 said:

I concur 100%. I have 4 now haha, 2 regular and 2 freedom sleeve. Prices are pretty good at Takeoff BTW and they ship fast too.

Appreciate this! was tryna find somewhere that had them in stock that shipped to the US. $100 a pop certainly beats $205 from Clutch…!

Edited November 12, 2024 by jkbrwn

[Mr Black]

On 11/1/2024 at 2:02 AM, Mr Black said:

Has anyone tried the Allevol raglan sleeve sweats sold through Clutch cafe? Very tempted by the grey marl in the hope they fit short and boxy.

I picked up one of the sweats at the weekend. Dark grey marl, size Medium.

Really happy with it. Mid weight. Prob similar to the duck digger/warehouse sweatshirts. Good cut and shape. Boxy and short with a nice deep waistband and cuffs. I'm told that shrinkage is minimal and will report back once I've washed it.

Already a firm favourite.

[Double 0 Soul]

@Broark has just reminded me of South Korea..

Check out the lovely navy to purple fade on this sweatshirt

Seller was advertising this^ on eBay as a MiA 1940s-1950s era vintage sweatshirt.. after a little research, i found they're made by Swing Time.. Korea c1990s

Very short in the body but they look lovely and if you keep your eyes peeled, you can pick them up for not much more than £40 on Mercari

When i say short.. this was 21" long on a 40 chest.

[Double 0 Soul]

No response to my msg?

Oh well, someone bought it for 4x what it was worth ..

[Mr Black]

They're very similar to the Reminiscence sweatshirts. Also out of Korea i think?

I've got a lovely black one with some Sukajan embroidery that I bought off a fella from here a good 15 years or so ago. Not sure which of the above brands it's made by,as the brand label has disintegrated.  But it's definitely out of Korea. Lovely deep waistband & cuffs

[Maynard Friedman]

^ Never mind that, we’re still waiting for you to wash the Allevol one (from a few posts up) and report back!

[Mr Black]

15 minutes ago, Maynard Friedman said:

^ Never mind that, we’re still waiting for you to wash the Allevol one (from a few posts up) and report back!

Thank you for paying attention and apologies for keeping you waiting. You must have been on tenterhooks these past few months.😀

Negligible shrinkage. A little growth after a few wears,  but shrinks back down when  washed.

Edited September 26, 2025 by Mr Black

[Maynard Friedman]

Thank you, I can stop repeatedly refreshing the page now and get on with my life! 😆

[MJF9]

I gave up waiting and bought one last week . Good to know I can wash with confidence now. 

PS also see this becoming a firm favourite

Edited September 26, 2025 by MJF9

[Double 0 Soul]

I like a short sweatshirt hem.. bottom of beltloops / inline with pocket opening is about perfect.. an inch or two longer is still wearable but an inch shorter ruins it.. I have an old Stussy sweatshirt at work where I mark the length of potential sweatshirts with a marker pen.

..then I fold the hem under at the line bulldog clip around, carefully put it back on and check the length in the mirror 

 

[jeash90]

Does anyone have a Cushman afterhood sweatshirt? What are your thoughts on it? Sizing seems to run a bit smaller than for the same tagged size in their typical crewnecks which I really like.

[Thicolas Rage]

On a similar note -- for anyone who was ordered a cushman freedom or set-in sleeve sweatshirt from takeoff, was there shrinkage after a wash? 

The medium in both would be a perfect size for me now, but takeoff warns of additional shrinkage (almost as if it is unwashed) while other western retailers list the sweatshirt as a one-wash garment. Don't mind shrinkage in length but p2p would need to stay similar. 

Thanks!

 

[CSL]

I've had the freedom sleeve versions (from Takeoff) and have not noticed any shrinkage with cold, gentle wash, line dry.

[ATWM]

Same here - the freedom sleeve - though I have it in two colors in the medium and the oatmeal one is shorter than the black, to the point where I've essentially given it to my wife because I can't much wear it. They've never been in the dryer. These are the shortest sweatshirts I've owned. 

[Thicolas Rage]

@CSL @ATWM Thanks! Looks like I'll be joining the Cushman club shortly then.

 

[CSL]

6 hours ago, ATWM said:

Same here - the freedom sleeve - though I have it in two colors in the medium and the oatmeal one is shorter than the black, to the point where I've essentially given it to my wife because I can't much wear it. They've never been in the dryer. These are the shortest sweatshirts I've owned. 

I think the various fabrics they use have different characteristics. I have a two tone sweat that is not very stretchy, and a solid color version that has much more give.

[Alec Leamas]

14 hours ago, Thicolas Rage said:

@CSL @ATWM Thanks! Looks like I'll be joining the Cushman club shortly then.

 

My grey marl freedom sleeve Cushman sweat, size M, currently measures:

53cm p2p

58cm back length

56cm pit to cuff

It's had many washes (no drier, yet) and many wears - has also been worn out of the last wash for these measurements.

Hopefully that's useful to check against size charts.

The one dimension that doesn't work perfectly for me is the sleeve length, I need to cuff the ...cuff, to get it to the right length. An issue I don't have with my new Butcher Products raglan sweat.

 

I've noticed different materials wear & age differently, which sounds silly to say, but I'm meaning even on garments you'd expect to function the same. e.g. I have 2 Toys McCoy tshirts of the exact same size and style, bought together that have aged substantially differently and shrunk / stretched differently.

Edited November 20, 2025 by Alec Leamas
Changed to cm as Takeoff's charts are in cm, for ease

[Thicolas Rage]

@Alec Leamas I ended up grabbing the grey in a size medium so this is very helpful! If it ends up at a similar measurement to yours it’ll be spot on for me (less a similar issue I will have with long sleeves it sounds).

I noticed the same with my whitesville tees. My black ones shrunk more than my off-whites, but even then my white tees have puckered and formed to my body in different ways to each other (noticed the most in the tightness of the sleeves). All part of the fun! 

[jeash90]

Same experience as those above with the Cushmans. Have both freedom sleeve and standard crewneck models and shrinkage was minimal with cold wash, line dry. Also echoing that the freedom sleeve ones run a bit shorter.

[cultpop 0217]

LVC 1950s hoody

[MasonAlexander]

On 9/27/2025 at 4:43 AM, Double 0 Soul said:

I like a short sweatshirt hem.. bottom of beltloops / inline with pocket opening is about perfect.. an inch or two longer is still wearable but an inch shorter ruins it.. I have an old Stussy sweatshirt at work where I mark the length of potential sweatshirts with a marker pen.

..then I fold the hem under at the line bulldog clip around, carefully put it back on and check the length in the mirror 

 

I have similar views/issues regarding fit, have you any that fit our tastes? I find everything SO long.

I have one Knickerbocker hoodie that I swear religiously, and that is the hoodie that I consider perfect measurements for me (20” chest, 23.5” length) but unfortunately their newer lines do not follow this same pattern

[Double 0 Soul]

Hi Mason, up to 2010 i had a plethora of sweatshirts / always on a quest for perfect fabric and fit, then i stumbled upon the 12oz Joe McCoy Ballpark sweats (top of page^) they are a perfect weight and fit for me.. i bought every colour in the range and wore them constantly.. since then a lot of my other sweatshirts were not getting worn so i either sold them, swapped them or relegated them to workshop duties..

RMC changed the fabric to 10oz which i didn't like, then a change to 12oz loopwheel fabric which i didn't care for either.. I can measure them up when i get home if you like? but it might be a waste of time if they're no longer manufactured.. the product code of the navy / fade to purple version is MC11118 (still my favourite sweatshirt)  i can check the other PC's tonight.. it's easier to search with the product code.

The only other sweatshirts i've been buying have been vintage.. hence the lines^^ but regarding something off the peg, my main criteria is length.. i don't want it to underhang a denim jacket by anymore than 1" because it looks sloppy.. also it can't be too wide and boxy because the arm holes of a denim jacket can sometimes be cut quite high which pulls the excess sweatshirt fabric into the pits..

My grey JMC B-Park is just rags now.. i'd love another one if they still make them?.. i lost touch with the RMC brand due to quality issues.. not the sweatshirts i might add 

edit- I'll also add that i don't like a loose neck hole (one of the reasons i sold my Whitesville sweats) .. if the neck hole is sloppy and doesn't sit symmetrically.. you can end up with 2" of t-shirt showing on one collarbone and nothing on the other.. (exacerbated with a shoulder bad) this might just be my OCD 

Edited March 30 by Double 0 Soul

[Geeman]

I'm the same with sweats @Double 0 Soul either the neck is high/tight enough to not show any tshirt underneath or has to be just right to show an equal/symmetrical amount of tshirt poking out. Sold plenty of sweats for offending so.... 

[Double 0 Soul]

Not showing any is my ideal.. alas an oversized t-shirt neck is not ideal either..

Whitesville 2009, avert your eyes @Geeman

Excuse the hair.. i was a new parent

Edited March 30 by Double 0 Soul

[Geeman]

@Double 0 Soul the hair I can excuse,  the neckline though.....

[Lorcan]

Sure Mfg do a proper short vintage fit, and pretty snug neckline, I have one in navy

https://xxdevelopment.shop-pro.jp/?pid=189907765

I think some of their older ‘Californians’ models are longer in the body. The Alvarado and Silverado fabrics are slightly softer and stretchier (but nice).

l’m also interested in Gordon sweats but haven’t got around to trying one yet 

https://grandguignolstore.com/products/gordon-double-v-freedom-sleeve-sweat-v-navy

[MJF9]

This FULL BACK sweatshirt is nice imo.... boxy, lovely fabric etc.

I bought one but the 44 is tiny even though the measurements suggested it would just work  

I'd wanted one for ages, ended up going through a proxy, got stung for import taxes and fees... and now my lad and daughter wear it!!  At least it has a good home

[Lorcan]

2 hours ago, MJF9 said:

This FULL BACK sweatshirt is nice imo.... boxy, lovely fabric etc.

I bought one but the 44 is tiny even though the measurements suggested it would just work  

I'd wanted one for ages, ended up going through a proxy, got stung for import taxes and fees... and now my lad and daughter wear it!!  At least it has a good home

Interesting to hear MFJ, I've eyed up the Full Back a few times but worried the sleeve would be too short and they only come in white/ecru and my current obsession is navy-fading-to-purple sweats.

FWIW the Sure Mfg one also feels smaller than the ptp measurement would suggest but has broken in quite nicely, although I might still go up a size if I got another one. Their double face afterhood sweats are much more generous - I got the Red Bird one as well as the Alaska hoody and they are a pretty easy fit, but then they are a bit more like outerwear.