LOOPWHEELER
Aiming for "the world's most authentic sweatshirt." The softness of TSURIAMI, made for everyday wear.
LOOPWHEELER started in 1999 as a sweatshirt brand. Every piece is made with TSURIAMI fabric knitted on vintage TSURIAMIKI, and the garments are produced entirely in Japan. The pace is intentionally slow, and the focus stays on comfort, durability, and the kind of feel you want to reach for again and again.
PROFILE Company & Brand Story
LOOPWHEELER started in 1999. The brand focuses on sweatshirts and cut-and-sew pieces made only with TSURIAMI fabric knitted on TSURIAMIKI. The garments are produced in Japan.
TSURIAMIKI was widely used for sweatshirt fabrics until around the mid-1960s, prized for its softness. But when efficiency became the priority, the slow speed — about 1 meter per hour for loopback — and the need for constant hands-on adjustment pushed many factories toward faster, computer-controlled machines.
Today, TSURIAMIKI is still found in Wakayama, Japan. LOOPWHEELER describes a landscape where hundreds of machines remain and many are still operating. Before knitting, yarn is rewound and lightly waxed to improve glide, helping prevent knitting defects such as surface scratches or broken yarn.
The machines rotate at about 24 rpm, a remarkably calm pace. With minimal extra tension and yarn dropping mainly by its own weight, the knitting conditions are designed to preserve the yarn's natural softness. It's also why the "hanging" structure — driven from above via belts and pulleys — often becomes part of the story.
At the core are two fabrics: LW Basic and LW Light. LW Basic is used for LW Standard models, while LW Light is knitted on larger-diameter machines and opened into a flat fabric, allowing it to be used for pants, seasonal items, and small goods. With stores in Sendagaya, Osaka, and Fukuoka, plus the official online store, it's easy to choose based on season and mood.
Founded in 1999, with a clear mission
LOOPWHEELER began in 1999, aiming for "the world's most authentic sweatshirt." The approach is steady and focused — treating sweatshirts as true daily essentials, not a seasonal trend.
Vintage TSURIAMIKI: slow on purpose
TSURIAMIKI was once a common knitting machine for sweatshirt fabrics until the mid-1960s. As mass production took over, it faded away. TSURIAMI loopback can be as slow as about 1 meter per hour, and the machines run at around 24 rpm — so constant skilled adjustment matters. LOOPWHEELER embraces that pace to keep tension low and softness high.
LW Basic / LW Light: two core loopback fabrics
LW Basic is a signature TSURIAMI loopback built around the yarn count combination "30/30/6." It's knitted with a firm stitch while retaining a soft hand, and it's used across the LW Standard line. LW Light uses "30/30/9," making only the backing yarn finer. It keeps a similar feel, with a lighter, more agile weight.
Tubular bodies and model numbers you can follow
LW Standard pieces are knitted on TSURIAMIKI sized to each garment width, which supports a tubular body with no side seams. The LW01 tubular crewneck is a classic example, finished with comfort-minded details. For hoodies, LW05 (pullover) and LW09 (zip) make the lineup easy to navigate by model number.
PRODUCTS Featured Products & Services
LOOPWHEELER LW Standard — TSURIAMI Crewneck Sweatshirt
The core line of tubular-body sweatshirts made with LW Basic (30/30/6) loopback. LW01 crewneck and LW05/LW09 hoodies are the natural starting point.
View DetailsLOOPWHEELER LW Light — Lighter TSURIAMI Sweatshirt
Built on 30/30/9 loopback with a finer backing yarn. A lighter weight with the same TSURIAMI softness — suited for layering or warmer days.
View DetailsMEDIA Media, Awards & Initiatives
- LOOPWHEELER shares the background of TSURIAMIKI and TSURIAMI through pages like About Us and Our Process.
- Updates and announcements are posted as "LW News," and milestone messages are published for anniversaries.