As with previous iterations, we created an original design for the electroplated flock print series and have now released it.
Given that 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, we adopted a dragon motif for the design. The design combines a college sports team-style logo with a Sukajan (souvenir jacket) dragon head illustration, all rendered using the flock (flock print) technique. This design was carefully crafted from the illustration stage to intentionally incorporate a cracking effect, mimicking the aged appearance of vintage flock prints.
While standard screen printing allows multiple items to be printed simultaneously in one pass, this particular print requires skilled artisans to print each piece by hand, making it more time-consuming than conventional methods. As it is not a mass-production machine, setting up the equipment and performing maintenance before and after the work also consumes a significant amount of time, making it a specialized technique. You can find detailed work procedures on our YouTube channel.
The body of the garment is knitted on an Azuma circular knitting machine, an old-style knitting machine, creating a seamless (no side seams) body. Azuma knitting machines are used to produce fleece with a vintage texture and lightweight feel. These machines emerged in the 1970s during the transition from loopwheel knitting machines to more innovative knitting machines, and their numbers are limited. Products made with Azuma knitting machines have a distinctive bumpy surface and a plush texture, allowing you to enjoy a feel similar to loopwheel knitting.
Regarding the raising process, conventional raising is performed on a flat surface in a single step. However, for circular raising, the circular fabric is adapted to a flat surface, and raising is performed on four sides, completing a full circle. This requires more effort and time than usual. Raising the fabric before dyeing creates a unique texture.
For stitching, most of the garment is sewn with double-needle stitching. The cuffs feature circular knit ribs, and these cuffs are attached in a single pass directly from the double-needle stitching of the armpit seam. This faithfully reproduces the sewing methods found in vintage items of that era.
