When you're choosing a quality T-shirt online, the first question is usually: which size should I get? Fabric feel and comfort are hard to judge from photos alone, and a size chart's numbers only go so far in showing how a shirt will actually look on you. The Strike Gold's SGT001 is defined by its tubular (marudou) body, knitted on an old-fashioned loopwheel machine using an original recipe. The Strike Gold is based in Kojima, Okayama, the heart of Japanese denim, and brought that same no-compromise approach to this Japan-made T-shirt.
In this guide, we'll unpack what makes loopwheel knitting special and show you how all 5 sizes (S to XXL) actually fit, with photos from our own staff trying each one on. By the end, you should be able to choose your size with confidence.
All 5 Sizes at a Glance
Start by checking the actual measurements for all 5 SGT001 sizes below. Loopwheel fabric shrinks slightly with washing, so we recommend comparing these numbers against a T-shirt you already own, focusing on body length and chest width.
| Size | Body Length | Chest Width | Shoulder Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| S (36) | 59 cm / 23.2" | 46 cm / 18.1" | 41 cm / 16.1" |
| M (38) | 61 cm / 24.0" | 48 cm / 18.9" | 43 cm / 16.9" |
| L (40) | 64 cm / 25.2" | 50 cm / 19.7" | 45 cm / 17.7" |
| XL (42) | 67 cm / 26.4" | 52 cm / 20.5" | 46.5 cm / 18.3" |
| XXL (44) | 69 cm / 27.2" | 55 cm / 21.7" | 50 cm / 19.7" |
- Model shown: 171 cm (5'7") / 70 kg (154 lbs), wearing L (40) as a snug fit and XL (42) as a relaxed fit.
- How to choose your size: Lay a T-shirt you already own flat and measure its chest width, then match it to the closest measurement in the chart above. If you'd like extra room, sizing up by one size will give you a more relaxed silhouette. Preferences for body length and overall feel vary from person to person.
Choosing Your Loopwheel T-Shirt Size
Snug or Relaxed?
There's no single right answer when it comes to sizing a loopwheel T-shirt. Wearing it snug, following your body's lines, is just as valid as wearing it relaxed, with a little extra room. The first step is picturing how you want to wear it. Because the SGT001's fabric is thick and substantial, a snug fit lets that fabric presence really show, and it looks sharp worn on its own — a good choice if you want the tee to take center stage over a pair of jeans. A relaxed fit, on the other hand, gives you an easy, modern silhouette that suits laid-back weekend style. If you're still not sure, use the size-by-size comparison in the next section — matched to a real body type — to find the size closest to your own build and the look you're going for.
Our Staff Tried On All 5 Sizes (171 cm / 5'7", 70 kg / 154 lbs)
From here, we'll show you what each size actually looks like on. A staff member who's 171 cm (5'7") and 70 kg (154 lbs) tried on all 5 sizes, from S (36) to XXL (44). Comparing each size on the same body gives you a clear reference point, so it's easier to picture how the size closest to your own build will look on you.
S (36): How It Fits
S (36) runs clearly small, the smallest fit in the lineup. In fact, our 171 cm (5'7"), 70 kg (154 lbs) staff member found it too tight through the shoulders and body to wear at all. The body length is short, too, and the overall cut is designed to sit quite tight, so if you're a standard build, this size will likely feel smaller than you expect. Think of S (36) as a size for petite, slim builds who want a snug, just-right fit. If you're torn between sizes, we'd recommend sizing up rather than risking a shirt that's too small to wear.
M (38): How It Fits
On our 171 cm (5'7"), 70 kg (154 lbs) staff member, M (38) fits quite tight through the shoulders and body, closely following the body's lines. Because the fabric is thick and substantial, it flatters your shape rather than restricting it, making this an ideal size if you're deliberately after a tight, sharp silhouette. If you're slimmer or more petite than our staff member, M (38) will fit as a comfortable, just-right size. If you'd rather have more room, we'd recommend sizing up to L (40) or larger.
L (40): How It Fits
L (40) sits right in the middle between snug and relaxed, with just the right amount of room through the shoulders, body, and sleeves. The body length is well-balanced too, keeping your arms and chest free to move while still looking put-together rather than sloppy. If you want a little extra room to account for shrinkage after washing, or you're torn between a snug and a relaxed fit, L (40) is the size we'd recommend trying first.
XL (42): How It Fits
XL (42) gives you clear room through the body and sleeves for a relaxed, easy feel. The shoulder seam sits slightly lower, letting the body drape and showing off the dimension that only a thick, substantial fabric can give. The body length runs longer too, so pairing it with slim-fit denim completes a modern, relaxed silhouette. This is the size to reach for if you want that easy, effortless drape.
XXL (44): How It Fits (Side-Seamed Construction with a Flatseam Machine)
XXL (44) offers a generously relaxed fit that's easy to enjoy as an oversized silhouette. With ample room through the body, sleeves, and length, the loose cut lets the character of the heavyweight fabric show through even more richly. It's a natural choice for those with a larger build who prefer a closer-to-true fit—but it's also a great option for someone around 171 cm and 70 kg who deliberately sizes up to enjoy a relaxed, oversized look.
Sizes XXL (44) and larger feature a side-seamed construction with a flatseam machine. Since fabric twisting tends to occur more easily in larger sizes, these garments are sewn using a Union Special flat seamer to reduce this twisting and minimize bulging and unevenness along the side seams.
What Is a Loopwheel T-Shirt?
What Is Loopwheel Knitting?
Loopwheel knitting is an extremely time-consuming method that uses an old-fashioned loopwheel machine to knit fabric. The yarn hangs from the machine and is knitted purely by its own natural weight falling from top to bottom, so no extra tension is ever placed on the thread. Unlike modern knitting machines that mass-produce at high speed, a loopwheel machine works slowly, which means a single machine can only knit a small amount of fabric in a day. These machines were once common in Japan, too, but production efficiency pushed them out over time, and the ones still running today are rare, even by global standards.
If efficiency were the only concern, this method wouldn't survive, but it does, for good reason. Because it's knitted so slowly, each individual fiber traps air, resulting in a fabric with a distinctively soft, fluffy texture. The Strike Gold's SGT001 is knitted on this same loopwheel machine, to an original recipe.
The Strike Gold Loopwheel Sweatshirt: Where Tradition Meets Ultimate Comfort
What Makes It Different From a Regular T-Shirt? The Comfort of Loopwheel
The SGT001 uses No. 14 single yarn, quite thick even by T-shirt standards. That thick yarn gives the fabric real substance and body, and its texture only deepens the more you wear it. And yet, because loopwheel knitting places no tension on the yarn, the result is thick but soft and fluffy at the same time, with a hand-feel that wraps around your body. That seemingly contradictory combination, substantial yet soft, is exactly what makes loopwheel fabric special.
The details carry the same care. The neckline uses a binder construction, with one thread pulled out on the body side so it resists stretching even after repeated washing. The cuffs and hem are finished with a sturdy No. 20 cotton thread, while the rest of the stitching uses a softer, more comfortable No. 30 cotton thread. The shoulder seams are reinforced with cotton taping, a detail often found on vintage tees. It's genuine, considered construction, down to the parts you can't see, built to become more your own the longer you wear it.
A Signature Feature: The Marudou (Tubular) Body
Another defining feature of the SGT001 is its marudou, or tubular body, knitted with no side seams. Because the fabric is knitted in a continuous tube, there are no seams at the sides, unlike a T-shirt with side-seamed construction. With no seam touching your skin, you get a smoother feel and less irritation when you wear it. The marudou construction is also a traditional detail carried over from vintage tees. Note that sizes XXL (44) and larger feature side-seamed construction with a flatseam machine.
Shrinkage and Changes Over Time
The SGT001 is a one-wash garment: after sewing, it's washed once to bring out most of its shrinkage up front. That said, cotton loopwheel T-shirts do still shrink somewhat with washing. This is a natural property of cotton, and the shirt will keep gradually conforming to your body as you wash and wear it. Because of this, how you choose your size, a perfect fit right away versus slightly larger to allow for shrinkage, will change how the finished look sits on you. And watching the color and hand develop the more you wear it, until it becomes uniquely yours, is one of the real pleasures of a loopwheel T-shirt. For day-to-day care and tips on making it last, see the care guide below.
How to Care for The Strike Gold Loopwheel Sweatshirt: A Complete Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are Loopwheel T-Shirts Worth It?
A: Loopwheel T-shirts, knitted through a slow and labor-intensive process, offer a texture you won't find in mass-produced tees: air-filled softness paired with a thick, substantial feel. The fabric's character keeps developing the more you wear it, so it becomes a shirt you'll keep for years. If you want a T-shirt to enjoy for its material and character, not just wear and replace, it's well worth the investment.
Q: What Is a Loopwheel T-Shirt?
A: A loopwheel T-shirt is made from fabric knitted on an old-fashioned loopwheel machine. Knitting slowly, without placing extra tension on the yarn, produces a soft, air-filled fabric. The Strike Gold's SGT001 uses a tubular body with no side seams (sizes XXL and larger are finished with a side seam created by a flat-seam sewing machine), for a smooth, comfortable feel against your skin.
All You Need To Know About Loopwheel T-shirts
Q: Why Is Loopwheel So Expensive?
A: Old-fashioned loopwheel machines are extremely inefficient to run; a single machine can only knit a handful of pieces per day. Between the rarity of the machines, the skilled labor involved, and the thick, high-quality yarn, the costs add up. In exchange, you get a distinctive hand and long-term durability that mass-produced knitwear simply can't match.
Q: Do Loopwheel T-Shirts Shrink?
A: The SGT001 is a one-wash garment; it's washed once after sewing to bring out most of its shrinkage up front. That said, cotton loopwheel T-shirts do still shrink somewhat with washing. Whether you size up to allow for that shrinkage or choose a perfect fit from the start will change how it looks on you. And the way it keeps conforming to your body the more you wash and wear it is part of what makes this fabric special.
