Samurai - Heavy Weight “Down Below” Printed T-Shirt Black [SMT26-101]

The Samurai SMT26-101 “Down Below” Tee takes the brand’s heavyweight T-shirt platform and gives it a graphic drawn directly from Samurai’s own automotive interests. Made in Japan from a dense slub cotton jersey, it combines the substantial feel and irregular texture of Samurai’s core tees with artwork based on the custom lowrider displayed at the brand’s Osaka headquarters.

The fabric begins with carefully selected cotton spun into thick No. 14 slub yarn. Because the yarn deliberately varies in thickness, the finished jersey has a noticeably uneven surface rather than the smooth uniformity of a conventional T-shirt. It feels substantial from the beginning, but the natural character of the cotton allows it to soften and become more comfortable with repeated wear.

Samurai knits the fabric slowly on vintage Daimaruki circular knitting machines. These older machines work at a much slower pace than modern industrial equipment, allowing the thick yarn to retain more of its natural irregularity. The result is a dense jersey with a dry, textured hand that gradually becomes softer and more relaxed as it breaks in.

The “Down Below” artwork reflects Samurai’s longstanding interest in vintage Japanese cars. The graphic is based on a custom lowrider displayed at the company’s Umeda headquarters, with distinctive details from the actual car worked into the print. Rather than using a generic automotive illustration, Samurai pulls the design directly from its own world in Osaka.

Construction is finished with a triple needle binder neck designed to reinforce the collar and help it maintain its shape through repeated wear. This becomes especially important on a heavier T-shirt, where the additional weight of the fabric can place more stress around the neckline over time.

Finished in Black, the darker body gives the graphic strong contrast and depth while keeping the overall look easy to wear. As the cotton softens and settles, the irregular slub texture becomes increasingly apparent, giving the shirt more character without losing the substantial feel that defines Samurai’s heavyweight T-shirt series.

Made in Japan.

Key Features

• 100% cotton

• Samurai heavyweight slub jersey

• Thick No. 14 slub cotton yarn

• Naturally irregular, textured surface

• Slowly knitted on vintage Daimaruki circular machines

• Dense, substantial fabric

• Dry hand that softens with wear

• “Down Below” automotive graphic

• Artwork based on Samurai’s own custom lowrider

• Lowrider displayed at Samurai’s Umeda headquarters in Osaka

• Inspired by Samurai’s interest in vintage Japanese automobiles

• Triple needle binder neck

• Reinforced collar construction

• Designed to gain softness and texture with wear

• Black colourway

• Made in Japan

• Style SMT26-101

• Also available in Light Grey, Navy and White
• See more from T-shirts
• Shop more styles from Samurai Jeans

Fabric & Care

100% cotton heavyweight slub jersey.

The thick No. 14 slub yarn creates natural variations in thickness throughout the fabric, giving the shirt a textured surface rather than a perfectly smooth finish. The jersey begins dense and substantial but is designed to become softer and more comfortable through repeated wear and washing.

Wash cold, preferably inside out, with similar colours and hang dry to help preserve the shape of the garment and printed artwork.

Fit

Standard Samurai Japanese T-shirt fit.

The SMT26-101 is Samurai’s standard version rather than a Western “W” cut. Samurai specifies that its regular models are patterned around Japanese sizing, while styles carrying a “W” suffix have a slightly larger silhouette for international customers.

We recommend comparing the garment measurements against a T-shirt you already own and like the fit of before choosing your size.

Samurai SMT26-101 Down Below Tee in Black, made in Japan from heavyweight No. 14 slub cotton with a custom lowrider inspired graphic.

Garment measurements taken flat before wash. Compare against a piece you already own and love.

Canada: free Standard shipping over $300 CAD, otherwise $19.99 in BC and $24.99 to the rest of Canada. Express is $33 flat. Tracked courier, 1 to 4 business days.

United States: free Standard shipping over $350 USD, otherwise $25.99 USD. Express is $30 USD.

Returns: read our Return Policy for full details on returns and exchanges.