Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Navy & Orange
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
Now, you may ask, what is a loop-wheeled sweatshirt? Loop-wheeling looms are special machines that were once common decades ago and able to weave even rows of small loops of yarn on the inner fabric side rather than the typical fleece we see on contemporary sweatshirt interiors that has much more of a solid, flat appearance. These old looms also can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams
• Set-in sleeves
• Four-inch cuff and waistband
• Vee-placket neck detail on front and back
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, & Large (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Navy & Orange
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: These are meant to be worn close to the body and they feature a narrow shoulder span, higher armholes, and narrow, tapered sleeves without the excess bulk and blousing at the cuff area as found on typical mainstream sweatshirts that can be readily purchased easily today.
Most individuals today are unfamiliar with how clothing was once worn and meant to fit, especially sweatshirts. You will look better in a sweatshirt of this type whether you are lean or more on the hefty side of body shapes, though those who are especially heavy in the mid-section should note that these shirts will not camouflage this body area via excess fabric. Most of our customers wear these shirts as per the original trim look and drop down one size, but some elect to order their actual, which will not just provide more room, but will yield more drape to the shirt, though not on the same level as the drape experienced in the typical mainstream contemporary sweatshirt.
Tip 1: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING, order this garment with no less than 2” of room in excess of your chest circumference measure if you prefer a trim fit. For example: If your chest measures 40” and you want a snug fit, order size Small, which will have a chest circumference measure in the shirt of 42”. If you prefer a roomier or longer fit, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size. Following the size grade in this style, a size Lg. will fit in the chest measure like a size XL in Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts.
Tip 2: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another garment you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true chest circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 3: Individuals who prefer looser fits and/or those with a waist measure that is nearly equal to or greater than their chest circumference measure may prefer to wear a size that provides 4" or more of room between their chest measure and the shirt for comfort and desired fit (when we refer to waist measure we do not mean your trouser size; we mean the actual circumference measure of your waistline at its widest point). If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Height, waist circumference measure, chest circumference measure, body weight, and type of clothing to be worn beneath the shirt most of the time, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Navy & Orange
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body; however, acting as an armchair tailor should be done with caution, as well as with knowledge of other important areas of fit that are not displayed here. Armchair tailors frequently fail to take into account other significant elements that impact fit; following the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each garment on this web site is strongly suggested, which can be very useful in supplanting or supplementing the listed measures below.
Our measures were derived from averaging many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on vintage machinery using natural fibers; the vintage machinery and techniques that create sought-after looks and fabrics are also less precise than machines contemporary to the current era.
| Size | Sm | Med | Lg | |
| Chest width | 21" | 22" | 23" | |
| Shoulder width | 17" | 18" | 19" | |
| Arm length | 24.5" | 25" | 25.5" | |
| Back length | 24" | 24.5" | 25" |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Using the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique, please double the chest measure to obtain the total external chest circumference of this garment. For example: If the chest measure listed for size Medium is 22”, doubling this measure yields a 44” external chest circumference.
2) Measure your chest circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your chest measure to the chest measure of this product.
3) Many garments are cut in such a way that the wearer requires no less than 2” of room in the shirt for a sleek fit that is also comfortable, while other shirts styles require the wearer to have more than 5” of room. If your chest circumference is 42”, a product with a 22” chest width has a 44” external chest circumference and would provide 2” of external room in this scenario (chest measures 42”, external chest measure of shirt is 44”, thus 2” of external room would be realized).
4) Again, using the measurements listed for this product and information under the MEASURING GARMENTS tab to understand our measuring technique, add half of the shoulder width to the arm length. For example: If the shoulder width is 18” and the arm length is 24”, adding 9” (half the shoulder width) to 24” (the arm length) will yield an overall sleeve length of 33” in this product.
5) Measure your overall sleeve length following the instructions on this web site under the tab specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your overall sleeve length to this product.
6) If desired, repeat the measuring comparisons for back length.
7) Compare your body measures to the listed garment measures and follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
IMPORTANT: Because you need room in a garment for comfort, garments with a 44” chest circumference are NOT a size 44, nor are they intended for anyone with a 44” chest circumference. Tee shirts and thermal shirts tend to have the most body-hugging fits of our product offerings because these were originally intended to be undergarments, thus these can be ordered to stretch to fit if that is how you wish to wear such garments. Other shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. will all have some amount of room incorporated in their designs, thus these will all measure larger than your actual chest measure by varying degrees.
Sometimes-Problematic Way to Determine a Good Fit:
Due to differences in how even near-identical garments are cut by different manufacturers, it is not necessarily a good idea to compare the listed measures of this product to the measures of an existing, similar product in your wardrobe to determine the correct size to order in this product. Though such comparisons can indeed work some of the time, and maybe even most of the time, vast experience with and knowledge of the products we market has proven such practices will sometimes fail. This inaccurate measuring methodology doesn't factor in other key variables of fit relative to you and the garment that includes: Armhole opening, shoulder slope, high-point shoulder, high chest, width of sleeves at all points including the all-important elbow, waist measure, and the thickness, plumpness, and rigidity of the material the garment is made from, naming just some variables influencing fit that do not appear on any list of measurements for a garment or that a customer is likely to account for.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, chest measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place. And some individuals who are extremely tall may find that body and/or sleeve length are more important to accommodate than even chest measure.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
We strive to create a crisp fit between our products and the customer, and not a loose, sloppy look. If you prefer your clothing to fit more loosely, then we will do our best to work with you to that end, though, by the very nature of our product designs and fits it may not be possible to duplicate the slack looks found in many mainstream clothing brands even if you go up one or two sizes in our products.
