The true evolution of the sweatshirt.
1999 | TOKYO, JAPAN | Satoshi Suzuki

LOOPWHEELER is a popular Japanese brand that uses loopwheel machines to knit sweatshirts using traditional methods, and promotes the phrase "the most authentic sweatshirt in the world."

While working for a trading company and involved in yarn sales, Satoshi Suzuki was captivated by an old loopwheel knitting machine he encountered in Wakayama Prefecture. Leveraging his years of experience and connections, he launched the brand in 1999. Around 2001, it gained popularity in popular overseas select shops such as Colette and Jack Spade, and became popular in Japan through a kind of reverse import.

It is said that the only place in the world where Loopwheeler's sweatshirts are made using the traditional loopwheel knitting machines is in operation is in Wakayama, Japan. Skilled craftsmen operate these vintage loopwheel knitting machines, relying on their experience and intuition, at one-tenth the speed of typical knitting machines. This slow, deliberate knitting process results in Loopwheeler fabrics that are soft and airy to the touch.

In 2015, Loopwheeler finally opened its flagship store in Sendagaya. In addition to its classic seamless body sweatshirts, slim-fit sweatshirts, seamless body zip-up hoodies, and high-zip-up hoodies, the store offers a range of basic, long-lasting items such as striped boat neck shirts and sweat cardigans. Although Loopwheeler is known as "the world's most authentic sweatshirt," what they create is not simply a reproduction of vintage sweatshirts. The silhouettes and details are basic yet adapted to the times, constantly evolving.

Furthermore, their original Waffle Racer sweatshirts, created in collaboration with Nike, have garnered significant attention. They have also collaborated with various other companies in diverse industries, including Porter, MHL, and Bearbrick. They continue to cultivate the American-born sweatshirt culture with a uniquely Japanese sensibility.