Merino Basic Long Sleeve Tee "Micro Border"

Introduction

We created this T-shirt with the aim of making it something you'll want to wear every day.

I discovered merino wool after I started mountain climbing.

"A wool T-shirt?!"

The feel is so fresh that I can't help but mutter, "This feels so good!", and it has now become an indispensable companion in my daily life.

As you begin to sweat during the day, Merino wool's moisture-wicking properties kick in, wicking moisture away and keeping your skin dry.
The comfortable, non-sticky feel means you can wear just one layer, a major benefit of reducing the need for extra clothes and luggage. Furthermore, the natural antibacterial and deodorizing properties mean you can enjoy comfortable days on trekking trips or extended outdoor activities without worrying about odors, meaning you can wash it less frequently and have more space to pack.

When the temperature drops in the evening and at night, this thin layer provides light warmth to protect your body from the cold.
It is designed to be worn under a shirt or hoodie without being bulky or restricting movement, allowing for smooth layering.

"Short Sleeve" is perfect for spring and summer, as it feels like bare skin.

The "Long Sleeve" is perfect as a base for layering in the fall and winter.

Both are made from the same merino wool jersey, so if you add them to your wardrobe across seasons, they will provide the same sense of security and comfort 365 days a year.

The material used is New Zealand Merino, which has clear traceability, and maximizes the breathability and moisture-regulating properties unique to natural materials with a low environmental impact.

The Merino Basic Tee Long Sleeve "Micro Border" is perfect for the crisp morning air in the mountains, commuting to the city, or just taking your everyday steps. We think it will become a staple piece for you.

My encounter with merino wool.

At the end of the summer of 2015, I planned a seven-day trek across the Northern Alps. I packed two completely different items: a 100% polyester T-shirt with a special anti-odor treatment, and a merino wool T-shirt, hoping for a new level of comfort. I decided to wear them alternately every day.

The first time I set out on a dew-covered road, the polyester felt cool and light. However, as the sun rose higher, the slight smell of sweat began to bother me, and when a cold wind blew, I was instantly chilled by the sweat. Merino wool, on the other hand, wicked away moisture as if it were breathing, and I was amazed at how gentle it was, gently holding my body heat. It didn't retain odor, and I felt dry even after being active for long periods of time, making it feel just like a second skin.

This realization completely changed the way I geared up. Since that experience, I have always chosen merino wool for mountain trips lasting more than one night, and polyester T-shirts have been relegated to the back of my closet.

Then, in the fall of 2017, I walked the approximately 340km John Muir Trail for 14 days. I carried two identical merino wool T-shirts and rotated them, washing them in the river. They withstood the chill of the rain and the humidity of the deep forest, and when I changed into my base layer in the tent at night, the feeling of comfort and freshness I felt was indescribable.

Having repeatedly confirmed the true value of merino wool, its moisture-regulating and odor-resistant properties that only a natural material can provide, as well as its ability to gently envelop the body in warmth, it has now become my most trusted and reliable companion in all of my outdoor gear.

RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's "Basic" series

At RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR, we place special importance on products named "Basic." As the name suggests, the "Basic" series is a group of products that pursue the essential elements for everyday life and outdoor activities. This series embodies our design philosophy of "stripping away the unnecessary and leaving only what is truly necessary."

[Essential simplicity and functionality]

The name "Basic" embodies the philosophy of eliminating ornamentation and focusing on essential functions. Its simple and sophisticated design is intuitively easy to use and reduces the burden on the user. It also embodies the importance of being "basic," with a design that can be used effortlessly both outdoors and in everyday life. Within its simplicity, the essence of functionality is firmly embedded.

[Ability to accommodate a wide range of applications]

The "Basic" series is not intended to be limited to a specific scene. Rather, it is characterized by its versatility, blending naturally into a variety of situations, from everyday life to active outdoor activities. Its versatility allows it to adapt to the user's style and purpose, and it aims to be "usable not only for special occasions but also for everyday use." This series is sure to become a trusted item in a wide range of situations.

Universal and long-lasting design

Another feature of the "Basic" series is its timeless design that is not affected by the times or trends. We focus on selecting designs and materials that will be loved for a long time, without being swayed by temporary trends. Furthermore, with a design that emphasizes durability, it is intended to be an item that will continue to accompany the user's daily life. Therefore, rather than from the moment of purchase, you will grow to love it more as you continue to use it, and it will become a piece that naturally blends into your lifestyle.

The name "Basic" conveys more than just simplicity. It is a product that is close to the user and serves as a foundation that allows you to be at your best in any environment. As its name suggests, the RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR "Basic" series continues to exist as a foundation that you can rely on at any moment.

Design

The word "Basic" in the product name is meant to indicate the "naivety of eliminating unnecessary elements."
It features a minimalist boxy silhouette, slightly dropped shoulders, and a width that is neither too wide nor too narrow, providing ample room around the shoulders and chest, while maintaining a straight, falling hemline.
It combines ease of movement with a clean look.

The neck area is finished with a binder to prevent stretching as much as possible and to emphasize durability.

The "RIDGE" logo is printed on the left sleeve cuff, and a brand name tag is sewn onto the hem.

Another feature is that the shoulder seams, sleeve seams, and side seams are all flat-seamed.

A "flat seam" is a method of sewing fabric together using a special sewing machine, as shown in the illustration above.

This is an image of the Merino Basic Tee being sewn using a flat seam sewing machine at the factory where it is sewn.

As the name suggests, the seams of the fabric are very flat, minimizing stress on the skin. This manufacturing method is also often used for sportswear and babywear because it produces strong seams.

Material

This product uses "REDA ACTIVE", made from 100% New Zealand Merino wool.

The main characteristics of merino wool include excellent heat retention, good breathability, moisture control, high odor resistance (antibacterial properties), heat resistance, and UV protection.
REDA, the company that produces the merino wool jersey used by RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR, is a long-established wool fabric manufacturer founded in Italy over 150 years ago.

The sheep are raised in a relaxed environment on REDA's vast farm in New Zealand.

The raw wool from these sheep is carefully knitted into yarn and then into fabric at our own factory in Italy.

Merino wool is a natural fiber, and even if it has been treated to prevent shrinkage, some shrinkage will still occur.
This is something that cannot be helped, and some of you may have had the experience of buying a T-shirt or sweatshirt made of cotton, another natural fiber, and having it shrink by more than one size after washing.

Since it is a natural fiber, it is inevitable that the fabric will shrink when washed, but when making this T-shirt, we wanted to use a material that would minimize that shrinkage as much as possible.

1. Background

For this T-shirt product, we first created samples using merino wool jersey fabric from three different companies, and then repeatedly tested their performance by prototyping, wearing, and washing them.

2. Issues with the initial sample

Although all the manufacturers advertised their products as "washable wool," in reality, I found that the wool had shrunk by more than one size and the fabric had become distorted, so the quality was not up to my expectations.

3. Examining the benefits of synthetic fiber blends

To compensate for the weaknesses of wool products, such as shrinkage and low durability, there are many merino wool products on the market that are blended with nylon or polyester. This certainly reduces shrinkage after washing and has the advantage of being easy to handle on a daily basis.

4. Personal experience wearing the product

I myself have worn synthetic blend merino T-shirts for a long time, but once the nylon parts started to deteriorate, I could no longer continue wearing them comfortably until the end. I also felt that they couldn't compete with 100% merino products when it came to the inherent high functionality of merino wool, such as odor resistance and heat retention. While I have no intention of rejecting synthetic blends, I strongly felt that I wanted to cherish the texture, functionality, and the "atmosphere that the material itself brings."

5. Final material selection

The result was "REDA ACTIVE," a high-performance material developed by the Italian company RED A, which has more than 150 years of experience and technology.

After wearing and washing it repeatedly for six months, I found that it was more comfortable to wear than any other fabric I had tried. It held its shape well and retained all of the inherent warmth, breathability, and antibacterial properties of merino wool.

Features

1. Low fuzz and soft texture

Merino wool is classified into various grades based on the fineness (fineness) of the fibers in the yarn that makes up the fabric, and this fineness is expressed in μm (micrometers).
This time, the Merino Basic Tee uses a very delicate 17.5μm (micrometer) yarn called "Super 120's", which gives it a soft texture with very little of the "itchy feeling" that is typical of wool.

2. Made with New Zealand Merino

The use of New Zealand Merino wool is proof that the wool is "non-mulesing wool." "Mulesing" refers to the removal of the skin and flesh from the rump of a lamb to prevent the sheep from becoming infested with maggots.

Merino sheep have been bred to produce as much wool as possible, and because they have a large skin surface and deep wrinkles, urine and feces tend to accumulate in the wrinkles around the buttocks and genitals, making it easy for maggots to breed. In the worst cases, the maggots can eat away at the skin and flesh, leading to death.
One way to prevent this is "mulesing," but it is sometimes done without anesthesia and without treating the scars.

In New Zealand, such cruel mulesing (removal of the skin from the rump of lambs) has been completely banned by law since October 2018 under the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018. Violators are subject to fines of up to NZ$3,000 for individuals and up to NZ$15,000 for businesses.

*Current situation in Australia There are no laws banning mulesing across the country, and the practice itself is still legal. However,

In Victoria, from 1 July 2020:

In Tasmania, from 1 July 2024:

The use of painkillers (anesthetics and analgesics) when mulesing is legally required.
Additionally, according to the National Wool Declaration (NWD), approximately 21.5% of the total wool will be declared as "Non-Mulesed" in the 2023/24 season, and this proportion is increasing year by year.

3.100% merino wool yet washable.

The fabric has undergone several shrinkage prevention processes to minimize shrinkage after washing.
However, as it is a natural fiber, some shrinkage and warping will occur. Please refer to the care instructions below to ensure that you can use the product for a longer period of time.

- When washing, use detergent for wool.
- Turn the product inside out, place it in a laundry net and wash it alone.
- Water temperature should be limited to 40°C, and washing with hot water should be avoided.
- Avoid strong water currents when washing, and wash by hand or, if using a washing machine, use the "dry cycle" or "weak cycle."
- Never tumble dry.
After dehydration, we recommend shaping the product and drying it in the shade.
-If you will not be wearing the product for a long period of time, make sure to thoroughly clean it and store it with an insect repellent.

Regarding skewing after washing

We've mentioned the advantages of the merino wool jersey used in the Merino Basic Tee above, but it also has some disadvantages. One of these is the tendency for the fabric to slant.

The fabric used for this product is a 60 count single yarn. Fluffy sheep's wool is twisted into yarn, which is then knitted into fabric.

When washed, the twisted yarn fibers swell and tend to return to the opposite direction of the twist, causing some twisting. As a result, the side seams and underarm seams, which were straight before washing, may twist back and forth. This is called "diagonal."

The side seams that were straight before washing become twisted after washing.

Since the fabric is made from single natural fibers, this skewing is inevitable, but it can be minimized by straightening the fabric as much as possible to its original shape after washing and spin-drying before drying.

The video below shows you how to wear the Merino Basic Tee Short Sleeve for a long, beautiful look. Please take a look.

Spec

Material: 100% wool (merino wool)
145g/㎡
Sizes: S, M, L, XL (Men) S, M, L (Women)
Weight:
Country of origin: Japan Producer: Tokyo Pio Aomori Factory Co., Ltd., Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture

Color

※About the color of the product

We strive to make product images as close to the actual colors as possible, but the actual colors may differ depending on your viewing environment and monitor settings.
Please also note that it is difficult to perfectly reproduce the texture and luster of the fabric on the screen.

Sage Grey

Slate Haze

Charcoal Mist

Size Chart

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

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

Please refer to the size chart below for details.

The above numbers are in cm.

*Please note that there may be slight differences depending on the measurement location.
*Please note that slight shrinkage may occur after washing.

Size Guide [Men's]

Size Guide [Women]

Collaborateur

Collaborateur introduces you to the people who produce these products.

Tokyo PiO Co., Ltd. Aomori Factory.

Tokyo PiO Aomori Factory Co., Ltd. is located in Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture.
I visited the factory in October. It was a very warm and calm day. The factory staff member who drove me there said, "It's a rare nice day."
On the way from Aomori Airport to the factory, we could clearly see Mt. Iwaki, the symbol of Aomori Prefecture. It seemed like a rare sight. The apple orchards filled with bright red apples were also very symbolic, and we were given lots of large apples as souvenirs on our way home.

Aomori Factory is a factory that mainly sews cut and sewn items, but also sews some other woven products.

Still, they are skilled at handling cut and sew items.
The image above shows the process before cutting the fabric. To make it easier to cut the long fabric, it is layered like mille-feuille fabric.
The fabric in question was an extremely thin gauze jersey. The slightest tug stretched the fabric. This was a tricky piece of fabric, but I had to cut it evenly, keeping the tension as even as possible. It was making my head hurt just watching it...

What was particularly impressive was the large number of different special sewing machines installed for sewing cut-and-sew items.

The photo shows a "flat seam sewing machine" that can sew a special type of stitch called a flat seam. Simply put, it creates a flat finish, as the name suggests, without any rough seam allowances at the seams.

This sewing method is often used for underwear and babywear because it doesn't cause any roughness to the skin due to the absence of seam allowances. However, this flat seam method takes much longer than a regular lock stitch. It takes about two to three times longer. But I love this flat seam method, and it's the one I use for RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's cut fabric products.

The image above shows the actual product, "Merino Basic Tee Long Sleeve," being sewn.
The fabric is joined from both sides and placed on the thin arms of the sewing machine, then sewn together. This fabric is particularly thin and flexible, so the customer said it was "very difficult to sew..." However, they took their time and sewed it carefully.

Not all cut and sew factories are able to sew this flat seam technique.
Many factories do not have these sewing machines, and it takes skill to actually operate one. I have often heard people say, "The craftsman left and now the flat seamer can't be operated."

Tokyo Pio Co., Ltd. was founded in 1971 in Sumida Ward as a small company with just two people, handling everything from sewing to delivery. Since then, orders have gradually increased, and from the Showa era to the Heisei era, the company has manufactured many products for major apparel companies and department stores. However, as times have changed and cheaply made overseas products have become more common, the company continues to research high quality, with pride in producing purely Japanese products, and with the technical skills and confidence it has accumulated.

Pio Aomori Factory, which is also the base of our domestic sewing factories, began operations in 1999 with the aim of revitalizing local industry and employment, following an invitation and encouragement from Kizukuri Town in Aomori Prefecture.

We analyze the brand image and key points of the products we handle, and determine what kind of finished product we want. We submit first samples and make adjustments as we go, keeping customer satisfaction in mind as we produce.

In addition, by using the stretching, cutting, sewing, and finishing methods that match the material chosen by the customer, we can avoid putting stress on the fabric and ensure a beautiful finish. It may sound cliché, but we create our products with love for the fabric and the products. We pay close attention to even the parts that cannot be seen.

We hope to raise awareness of our factory as a manufacturer of purely Japanese cut and sewn products, and to spread the word about the quality of Japanese-made products to various apparel brands. When it comes to cut and sewn factories in Tohoku, the Pio Group (Kakuda Factory, Aomori Factory) comes to mind, and we hope to continue to work hard and improve every day.

Tokyo Pio Co., Ltd. Aomori Factory 〒038-3164
1-12 Yayoita, Shibata, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture
https://www.tokyopio.co.jp/index.html

Attention

If you take care of this product by paying attention to the following points, you can use it for a long time.

- When washing, use detergent for wool.
- Turn the product inside out, place it in a laundry net and wash it alone.
- Water temperature should be limited to 40°C, and washing with hot water should be avoided.
- Avoid strong water currents when washing, and wash by hand or, if using a washing machine, use the "dry cycle" or "weak cycle."
- Never tumble dry.
After dehydration, we recommend shaping the product and drying it in the shade.
-If you will not be wearing the product for a long period of time, make sure to thoroughly clean it and store it with an insect repellent.