Samurai - Heavy Weight "Down Below" Printed T-shirt White [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 raw cotton spun into thick No. 14 slub yarn. Because the yarn deliberately varies in thickness, the finished jersey has a naturally uneven surface rather than the smooth uniformity of a conventional T-shirt. It feels substantial from the beginning, with a firm but supple hand that becomes softer and more comfortable through repeated wear.

Samurai slowly knits the fabric on vintage Daimaruki circular knitting machines dating from Japan’s early Showa period. Working at a much slower pace than modern industrial equipment allows the thick single yarn to retain more of its natural irregularity. The result is a dense, textured jersey with the kind of depth and character normally associated with much older knitted garments.

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 headquarters, with distinctive details from the actual car worked into the illustration. Rather than using a generic automotive graphic, Samurai pulls the design directly from its own world and another side of the culture surrounding the brand.

Construction is finished with a triple needle binder neck sewn using a specialized three needle, one drop machine. This reinforces the collar against stretching through repeated wear and gives the neckline enough structure to balance the weight of the heavier jersey.

Finished in White, the lighter body creates the strongest contrast with the Down Below artwork while also making the irregular slub texture particularly easy to see. As the cotton softens and settles with wear, the surface becomes increasingly relaxed and textured 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

• Carefully selected raw cotton

• Naturally irregular, textured surface

• Slowly knitted on vintage Daimaruki circular machines

• Early Showa era knitting machinery

• Dense, substantial fabric

• Firm yet supple hand that softens with wear

• “Down Below” automotive graphic

• Artwork based on Samurai’s custom lowrider

• Lowrider displayed at Samurai’s Osaka headquarters

• Inspired by Samurai’s interest in vintage Japanese automobiles

• Triple needle binder neck

• Specialized three needle, one drop collar construction

• Designed to gain softness and texture with wear

• White colourway

• Made in Japan

• Style SMT26-101

• Also available in Black, Light Grey and Navy
• 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 its characteristic uneven texture. The jersey begins dense and substantial but is designed to soften and become increasingly 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 follows Samurai’s regular Japanese sizing rather than the roomier Western cut used on styles carrying a “W” suffix. Customers accustomed to North American sizing may therefore find the proportions relatively trim.

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 White, 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.