RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR Merino Basic Long Sleeve Shirt

Spec

Material: 100% wool (merino)
Sizes: (Men) S, M, L, XL (Women) S, M, L
Weight: Men/M approx. 242g
Country of origin: Japan Producer: Kuroishi Fashion Studio Ltd., Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture

Introduction

A shirt from RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's "Basic" line.

We already have the standard ``Basic Long Sleeve Shirt'' on sale, and we have made this shirt out of merino wool zipper fabric.

The concept of RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR is "no distinction between everyday life and the mountains."
It may seem like a cliché concept, but I'm not very good at organizing things. I often find that my closet is a mess before I realize it. I really can't organize my everyday clothes and mountain clothes separately... so I want to reduce the burden even a little. If I can go to the mountains in my favorite everyday clothes, my closet will be tidy and it will be easy on my wallet. With that in mind, I think about RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR products every day.

I think I was able to fully express that feeling this time. I think each of you has your own "Basic." I would be delighted if you would add the Merino Basic Long Sleeve Shirt to your "Basic" lineup.

Material

This product uses Australian Merino wool and Super 120 and 2/80 wool (tropical wool) woven in Oshu, a famous woolen textile production area in Japan.

"Super 120"

Fiber Fineness: Super 120 wool indicates a fiber fineness of 17.5 microns or less. This fineness of fiber gives it a very soft and smooth feel.

QUALITY & COMFORT: This kind of wool is of very high quality, feels very soft against the skin and comfortable to wear, it is also wrinkle resistant, has good heat retention and breathability.

Durability: Super 120 wool has fine fibres which make it soft and comfortable, but at the same time extremely durable and with proper care will last for a long time.

"2/80 Wool"

Yarn Construction: 2/80 wool is made using a two-ply yarn. The "2" indicates that it is a two-ply yarn, and the "80" indicates the thickness of the yarn. Two thin 80-count yarns are twisted together to create a soft, smooth yarn.

Soft and lightweight: Made from a very fine 80-count yarn, 2/80 wool is soft and lightweight to the touch, which makes it extremely comfortable to wear.

High density and strength: Two thin strands of yarn are twisted together to create a high density and strong fabric, which is durable and retains its shape even after long-term use.

"Tropical wool"

Breathability: Tropical wool has a loose weave that allows air to flow freely, helping to regulate your body temperature and keeping you cool and comfortable in hot weather.

Lightweight: It is much lighter than regular wool and feels light to wear. This makes it easy to move around and is suitable for travel and outdoor activities.

Wrinkle-resistant: Tropical wool is wrinkle-resistant, so it retains its beautiful appearance.

"It's Merino wool."

Softness and comfort: Merino wool is made up of very fine, soft fibres that are gentle on the skin. This makes it comfortable and non-itchy to wear.

Thermoregulation: Merino wool is a natural thermoregulator, it keeps you warm when it's cold and absorbs and releases moisture when it's warm, keeping you at a comfortable temperature.

Moisture wicking and quick drying: Merino wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture and then evaporate it quickly, so even if you sweat, it won't trap moisture and you'll stay dry.

Antibacterial and deodorizing effect: Merino wool has natural antibacterial properties, which help to suppress the growth of bacteria that cause odor. This means that you won't notice any odor even if you wear it for a long time.

"Stretchability"

This fabric is 100% merino wool, but thanks to a special weaving process it also has a slight natural stretch.

"Durability"

[Tear strength (N)]
Test method: JIS L 1096 D method Vertical → 13.2, Horizontal → 9.73

[Pilling (grade)]
Test method: JIS L 1096 A method
10h → 5

"Environmental Consideration"

Merino wool is a green choice because it's natural, biodegradable and often produced sustainably.

Design

We aimed for a basic design that can be worn comfortably in everyday life. The silhouette is relaxed and not too tight around the body.

It's a simple design shirt, but the details are carefully crafted.

[Round Edge]

Since it is susceptible to wear and tear, we designed it to eliminate as many sharp points as possible.

[Upper collar]

It is also assumed that the top collar will be worn upright. This is to prevent wear and tear, and also to reduce the stress caused by the collar tip touching the neck.

[Cuff corners]

[Chest pocket body and flap end]

We have tried to make these areas as round as possible. These areas usually have sharp angles, so they are more susceptible to wear and tear and tend to become more noticeable.
The rounds are small to prevent wear as much as possible. Small rounds require great care when sewing. The stitch pitch is small, which increases the amount of hand movement, making it very difficult to finish neatly.

[Small collar setting]

This shirt uses a "shirt collar with a stand collar." The stand collar allows the collar to fit nicely around the neck.

Both the base collar and the upper collar are set low and small. The upper collar is designed to be small to minimize flapping in the wind.

The pattern is designed so that the top collar fits snugly against the neck when worn upright.

[Sleeves with movement under the arms]

The armholes are large to ensure sufficient movement at the armpit (bottom) when raising the arms.

[Fell off stitch]

All seams are sewn with a folded hem. A folded hem is a method of sewing the fabric edge so that the seam is not visible, as shown in the image above. This is a very time-consuming sewing process, but it results in a strong finished product.

On the other hand, when using a serger to process the seam allowance, your fingernails or other objects can get caught in the thread, which can cause the fabric to unravel.

[Snap button]

All buttons are made of resin snap buttons (YKK PLANCER®). There is no need to worry about losing buttons due to thread breakage, as with regular sewn-on buttons.

[Hanger loop]

There is a hanger loop at the base of the back collar. Hanger loops are a traditional shirt detail. Although they are rarely used in everyday life, they are a nice detail to have when hiking.

Anti-static measures

A special discharge tape is sewn into the garment to suppress static electricity caused by static electricity, which tends to occur with clothing made of thin synthetic fibers (such as nylon and polyester).
(※From the "Poly Basic Long Sleeve Shirt" which will go on sale from 2023)

Discharge tape was developed as a measure to reduce the electrostatic charge that has adverse effects on the human body. Discharge tape does not prevent static electricity, but reduces the electrostatic charge by discharging, preventing the discomfort caused by static electricity.
By wearing it, it will not cause any trouble to mobile phones, computers, or other devices. Moreover, it has the effect of keeping pollen and dust away from the surrounding area while discharging.

The discharge tape is cut into 2cm chips and sewn into 4 places: 1) inside the cuffs of both sleeves, and 2) at the bottom of both sides. The discharge tape is not visible because it is sewn into the seam allowance.

[Discharge mechanism]

The sketch is an image of the state of electrons when static electricity is generated when no discharge tape is used.
The fabric becomes negatively charged, and when it comes into contact with a positive charge in the air, a static electricity is generated with a "crack!".

The diagram below shows the case when discharge tape is used. The negative charges gather on the discharge tape and are neutralized with the positive charges in the air, instantly lowering the electrostatic charge on the fabric.

*Please note that it is not possible to completely prevent static electricity.

Color

The color available is "Mocha Plaid."

Mocha Plaid

Size Chart

Please note that this product is available in men's and women's sizes.

[Men]
Available in 4 sizes: S, M, L, and XL

[Women]
Available in three sizes: S, M, and L

There is not much difference in the overall silhouette between the men's size and the women's size, but the women's size has a silhouette that is more suited to the female body type, such as the length and sleeve length.

Please refer to the size chart below for details.

*Please note that there may be an error of ±1cm in the finished product size.

Size Guide [Men]

Size Guide [Women]

Collaborator

Collaborateur introduces you to the people who produce these products.

The factory that produces RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR shirts is Fashion Kobo Kuroishi Ltd.

Fashion Workshop Kuroishi is a factory located in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, with around 50 employees. It was established in 2003.

This factory specializes in sewing shirts, and produces about 60,000 shirts a year for well-known domestic manufacturers.

Each factory has its own characteristics, such as factories that specialize in shirts, factories that specialize in pants, and factories that specialize in cut and sew clothing.

As the saying goes, "let the experts do it," so we leave each item to the factories that specialize in it.
Conversely, they often point out things that we as a manufacturer have not noticed, which can lead to improved quality.

I love making things and of course I love making them myself, but I also love production sites like this.
Sometimes we are asked, "Does sewing in a factory mean that everything is done by machine?" But that is not the case. Even now, there are many steps that go into the final product, and many people are involved in each step.

President Watanabe-san is on the shop floor every day, working with his hands, operating the sewing machine and ironing.
On this day, we had the opportunity to chat briefly with them in between producing RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR products.

Anyone who has held our product in their hands will be able to see for themselves that the quality of the stitching is second to none.

The staff and I were told that they study hard every day to sew and finish the products beautifully. This is no lie, and they always produce beautiful products.

"They used these amazing materials from somewhere."
Like, "It was made in this amazing factory somewhere."
Like

I hope that sewing factories can become a brand in their own right.

Fashion Studio Kuroishi Ltd.
42-2 Uemachi, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture

Attention

If you take care of this product with the following points, you can use it for a long time.

- Use a neutral detergent when washing.
・Turn the product inside out, place it in a laundry net and wash it alone.
- Water temperature should be limited to 40°C. Avoid washing with hot water.
-Please avoid tumble drying.