Samurai Jeans - "Go Fly A Kite" Aged Cotton Inlay Loopwheel Tee Black [SJST26-105] ON PREORDER*

ON PREORDER*

The Samurai Jeans “Go Fly A Kite” Tee combines traditional Japanese imagery with one of the brand’s most carefully developed loopwheel fabrics. Part of Samurai’s 2026 collection, the SJST26-105 features artwork inspired by Japanese kites, or tako, which became a popular pastime among ordinary people during the Edo period and remain an important part of traditional Japanese culture.

Historically, Japanese kites were constructed from strong washi paper and often decorated with musha-e, bold illustrations depicting warriors. Beyond recreation, kites were also regarded as auspicious objects and traditionally flown at seasonal occasions with hopes for children’s growth, career advancement, and good health. Samurai brings that history into the graphic while giving it the playful character expected from the brand’s seasonal artwork.

The shirt itself is built from Samurai’s Aged Cotton Inlay Loopwheel fabric. Before the yarn is even spun, compressed raw cotton is rested for approximately 30 to 50 days in a carefully controlled temperature and humidity environment. This aging process allows the cotton fibres to recover their natural fullness and softness before being spun into yarn.

The resulting yarn is taken to Wakayama, Japan, where it is slowly knitted on vintage loopwheel machinery. A conventional loopwheel machine can produce roughly one metre of fabric per hour, but the combination of high-gauge yarn and Samurai’s more complicated inlay knitting process reduces production to only around 48 centimetres per hour.

The slow construction produces a substantial fabric with an exceptionally soft, almost moist hand. Despite its thickness, Samurai notes that the inlay construction is less prone to stretching than conventional loopwheel jersey. The body is also constructed with split side seams rather than a completely tubular body, allowing Samurai greater control over the finished silhouette.

Finished in black with Samurai’s Japanese kite-inspired artwork, the SJST26-105 combines an easy graphic tee with an unusually involved fabric that becomes much more impressive once you understand how it is made.

Key Features

• Samurai Aged Cotton Inlay Loopwheel fabric

• Raw cotton aged for approximately 30 to 50 days

• Temperature and humidity controlled cotton aging process

• Vintage loopwheel knitted construction

• Knitted in Wakayama, Japan

• High-gauge yarn

• Complex inlay knitting technique

• Fabric produced at approximately 48 cm per hour

• Substantial fabric with an exceptionally soft hand

• Designed to resist excessive stretching

• Split side construction

• Japanese kite-inspired graphic

• Artwork referencing traditional Edo-period kite culture

• Black colourway

• Made in Japan

• Style number SJST26-105

• Also available in Ivory
• See more T-shirts
• Shop more styles from Samurai Jeans

Samurai SJST26-105 Go Fly A Kite Tee in aged cotton inlay loopwheel fabric, slowly knitted in Wakayama with traditional Japanese-inspired artwork. Shop now.