ELMC Vintage-Style Team Tee Shirt, Ecru/Navy
BLOWOUT clearance sale until our stock is exhausted - $25.00 off retail!
This vintage tee shirt design is typical of those used by sports teams back in the day, where the trim color on collar and the entire sleeve denoted the team. Our classic, vintage-style tee shirt was produced exclusively for ELMC by the John Lofgren workshops of Japan. The expertise in making such a garment is really only found in one place in the world these days – Japan - and John Lofgren is the master.
These tee shirts are created using a thread that was developed in Japan that replicates the look and feel of vintage fabric; because these cottons all have different length staples (fibers), the thread has a distinctive texture that is similar to vintage fabric. This specialized thread is called ‘Raffy’, which is a combination of American Supima cotton, Egyptian cotton and Turfan cotton. The fabric is then woven on rare, vintage, circular knitting machines, so the body is a complete tube with no side seam and known as “body-size.”
Tube-knitting machines can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a tee shirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way.
The body section is produced by one company and another makes the ribbing - each specializing in their own field of expertise. The cost is, naturally, much more expensive than regular mass-produced material, but the finished product is superior. Of course, all of the authentic detailing is incorporated in the design, thus these classic, vintage tee shirts have shorter sleeves than most contemporary tee shirts, which was known back in the day as quarter sleeves. And our shirts have the vintage fit, which is sensibly trim and lacking sloppy, droopy shoulders, excess blouse in the body width and length, and no sleeves hanging down to your elbows. Lastly, the labels in the neck are woven on vintage shuttle looms for the correct vintage look and feel.
Available in sizes 36 - 46. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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ELMC Windward Vintage-Style Motorcycle Jacket, American Walnut – CLEARANCE!!!
Last FEW left priced for clearance liquidation to make room for new items. All are new, unworn, and complete with factory warranty. Clearance pricing applies ONLY to sizes and colors in stock at our New Jersey facility: $880.00 off regular retail price of $1, 775.00!!! No refunds will be given on clearance items, but returns are allowed for exchange credit toward any items and/or services we offer with no expiration date on credit.
This style is a direct copy of a vintage 1940s leather motorcycle jacket originally produced by one of America’s 20th century greats – Montgomery Ward. The design exudes quality from every seam, and its rugged, durable, medium weight and sleek tailoring will make this your loyal companion on or off the road.
Lovingly crafted by leather artisans on the bench one jacket at time, with each panel cut by hand versus stack cutting by machinery, the ELMC Windward leather motorcycle jacket is a throwback to an era where quality was king. Adding to the vintage aesthetic and comfort found in this style is a hand-applied light treatment of vintage patina – just enough so that the leather looks slightly broken-in for both a rugged look and lived-in comfort.
This is not a leather jacket to be found in malls or department stores – it’s a leather jacket of extreme distinction to last a lifetime and beyond. And with factory repair services available for the parts subject to normal wear such as linings, zippers, buttons, etc., your investment in both history and style can be refurbished to original spec. – there’s nothing disposable about an ELMC leather jacket! Each example is also outfitted with all the vintage detailing one could hope for, which includes:
- American top-stitched seams to the side-panels and inside facings exactly as per the original. This style of seaming (often faked by just two rows of normal flat-bed sewing) requires a special machine (a vintage 1940s Union Special, in this case), which covers from underneath, allowing the seam to be folded out flush, but keeping strength, thus giving the garment a very tidy and smooth finish.
- The outline pocket is piped inside with leather, not cloth cord, which is sewn, in turn, with an American top-stitch to hold securely. The quilted lining (which runs through body and sleeves) is 100% rayon-satin backed with a 3mm all-wool filling (not polyester or other synthetic hollow filling), which allows the lining to breathe, thus giving a true glowing warmth and not a trapped hot one (this style is ideal for temperatures down to the lower 40s Fahrenheit).
- Premium, imported Italian horsehide conforming to 3 ounces in weight, fully vegetable tanned and aniline dyed, with a full grain of rivulets and valleys that yields all the character typically associated with old-school, vintage leather jackets
- Fully lined with wool-quilted, 100% rayon satin for warmth and easy sliding on and off
- Cossack-style frontal closure
- Gusseted armpits for greater range of motion
- Hard-wearing, all-cotton drill cloth used in pocket lings
- Vintage-style, matte-finish, nickel-plated metal zippers on pocket and center front
- Two hand-warmer pockets, one slanted breast pocket, and hidden zippered pocket under flap
- Half-belt on back with elasticated sides provides for a reasonably snug fit to keep out chilling winds
- American top-stitched seams
- Vintage-style union label in pocket
- Vintage-style labels in lining woven on vintage shuttle looms
Sizes available: 36-46 regular. Long fittings available at no additional cost on special order only. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit. Imported from England
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German Luftwaffe “Erich Hartmann” Flying Jacket
Last ONE left priced for clearance liquidation to make room for new items. This is new, unworn, and complete with factory warranty. Clearance pricing applies ONLY to sizes and colors in stock at our New Jersey facility: $755.00 off regular retail price of $1, 650.00!!! No refunds will be given on clearance items, but returns are allowed for exchange credit toward any items and/or services we offer with no expiration date on credit.
This Luftwaffe leather flight jacket is named for and patterned after the leather flight jacket worn by Luftwaffe Major Erich Hartmann. Hartmann was credited with 352 confirmed aerial victories during his service with the Luftwaffe in WWII, making him the highest-scoring ace of all time and setting a record that is very unlikely to ever be broken. Known as the “Blonde Knight of Germany,” his ability at aerial combat was astounding. Most of Major Hartmann’s combat took place on the Eastern Front with the famed fighter squadron JG52. Collecting many awards for his skill and bravery as a fighter pilot, he was eventually awarded with the highest decoration for bravery and combat in the German armed forces - The Knights Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds.
Throughout his service with the Luftwaffe, Major Hartmann can often be seen in archival images wearing his short leather flight jacket, which he very likely acquired during the early part of the war when he was posted in France. Many Luftwaffe fighter pilots had this style of leather flight jacket which was originally commercially purchased (not issued) at ordinary clothing and motorcycling shops in France. In fact, they were actually referred to as “Cyclists Jackets” by the Luftwaffe pilots. Made of a fairly lightweight and close-cut construction, they appealed to the German fighter pilots both for their smart looks and their applicable use in the cramped cockpits of aircraft such as the Me109.
Archival photos and extant jacket examples illustrate that, although following a very similar design to each other, these flight jackets all differ slightly from one another in terms of pocket profiles, positioning of pockets, different fabrics for the lining, etc. This occurred, most probably, due to the fact they were produced by many different manufacturers and for many different pilots’ tastes. The outer shell leather can be found in black, gray and brown, but in most of the Luftwaffe archive photos it's impossible to tell which shade was favored most as the images are generally in black and white. We have had several original examples at the factory whilst studying this design and this has lead us to believe that both shades were equally common. Most people believed them always to be black, but this is largely due to the archive images being in black and white; obviously, brown would easily appear to be black in old black-and-white photos.
Our reproduction of this leather flight jacket style is as accurate to the original as is feasible to be. We have even had the correct, unusual-looking little front buckle reproduced to ensure the utmost authenticity. Available in a choice of black or brown Nappa leather, this hide will leave you absolutely drooling with pleasure the moment you put it on. The top texture is butter soft, yet the hand is firm and very pliable with some stretchability; while its snug cut best is suited for trimmer builds, the supple nature of the Nappa will help this jacket mold to your shape effortlessly.
Other details include a lining of 100% wool in a plaid print in the body and 100% cotton in the sleeves. Buttons on the pockets and cuffs are real horn, and zips are by original German manufacturer, Riri, with the correct lighter brown taping as is always seen on these jackets regardless if the leather is black or brown. Since these were commercial jackets, no military maker label can be deemed as correct, so we have made our own that bears the name “Hartmann” and the insignia of his squadron - JG52. Without question, no other manufacturer has been able to reproduce this style with such authenticity; we're certain you'll agree.
Please note - this style is cut and designed just like the originals, which is very close and “nippy” (it's supposed to be this way), so some may prefer to go for a larger size than they would normally wear because of this. However, this flight jacket looks much more stylish if it is worn as Hartmann did his - close and snug.
Sizes available: 36-48 regular. Long and extra-long fittings available at no additional cost on special order only. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from England
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Gift Certificates Available
*Price includes
U. S. customs duty,
processing fees, currency-
conversion fees and
shipping & insurance from
the manufacturer to the USA.
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Star of Hollywood Wildcat Girls Shirt, Orange – Closeout!
Closeout! Last One Left - SAVE $80.00 off retail price of $235.00 - while supplies last!
Those of you familiar with the Sugar Cane, Buzz Rickson's, and Sun Surf brands we import from Japan will understand the dedication to quality, uniqueness of design, vintage aesthetics, and the employment of vintage machinery used to create their amazing articles of clothing that have been equally captured under the brand Star of Hollywood.
Star of Hollywood was an American brand of the 1950's that established a niche for producing some wildly unique shirt designs, with some of the more renowned featuring diamonds or tarantulas. The same manufacturing minds that have given us Sugar Cane, Buzz Rickson's, and Sun Surf have resurrected Star of Hollywood on a very limited basis. The shirt designs are original creations and not reproductions of what Star of Hollywood once produced, but the overall vibe and look is spot on with the original Star of Hollywood, making this a go-to label for those who thrive on standing out from the crowd in a retro way that's not at all dated.
This shirt is fabricated from the same pedigree of high-quality rayon acetate that perfectly duplicates the hand and weight of the long-lost rayon of the “good old days.” Just as with the original fabric it copies, this material is extremely breathable and airy, and it takes the original screen printing inks as splendidly as did the vintage originals.
Salient shirt details include:
- Custom manufacture of high-quality, super-fine cotton on vintage looms
- Discharge-printed graphics
- Vintage-style urea pearl buttons
- Single button-closure hidden chest pocket
- Satin-lined yoke
To help preserve the color and fabric, dry cleaning is the only laundering method endorsed by the manufacturer.
Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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Sun Surf Duke’s Surfboards Cotton Parka, White – Clearance!
SUPER DISCOUNT!!!
The Duke Collection never sells for prices below retail, but someone's misfortune is your gain and we are offering Duke's vest to our customers at a deep discount well below retail, so get these while you can! Full retail $255.00, now $100.00 off!!!
Duke Kahanamoku, legendary surfing champion, received his own sportswear label in the 1950's, which helped launch Hawaiian shirts and surfing attire into the mainstream and today stands out as one of the most iconic and collectible shirt labels to own. Recently, the legendary Hawaiian shirt manufacturer, Sun Surf, has resurrected "Duke's" name and original 1950's graphic designs under license for their special collection of surf/resort attire - "The Duke Kahanamoku Collection."
This parka is the perfect companion when returning to dry land, being made from a lightweight, breathable cotton designed to block the sun and light wind, yet remain airy enough to allow for quick drying if it should get wet.
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All-cotton fabric
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Original 1950's "Duke's Surfboards" graphics produced under license
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Two slash-style, bag pockets
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Two-way front-closure zipper
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Genuine coconut-shell buttons (as found on vintage Hawaiian shirts) on wrist tabs and collar closure
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Drawstring closure at neck and jacket bottom
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Hooded
Sizes: M-XL. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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Sun Surf Special-Edition Hawaiian Shirt, Duke’s Palm Tree, Brown – Closeout!
Closeout: This style is priced $50.00 off the original retail price!!!
This is a Sun Surf Special-Edition Hawaiian shirt produced under their Duke Kahanamoku label. The design deftly copies an original example produced in 1950 under Duke's own brand.
Special Editions are manufactured to degrees of authenticity that soar beyond the standard editions, fabulous as the standard editions are; each Special Edition is precisely recreated to match the vintage example it copies using yarns and dyes specifically reproduced to match just this one shirt style to utmost precision, and the rayon is screen printed using a filament discharge, just as the original examples of this print once were.
Special Editions incorporate colors and color shades not found on the standard editions, thus providing for more precise color matching to the vintage shirt being copied. Other original features include: two deftly matched invisible pockets, mother-of-pearl buttons that precisely match those found on the original shirt, and a label that precisely copies the original label found on this shirt with the legendary name of Duke Kahanamoku. And to enhance the collectibility of this shirt, it comes in its own presentation/storage box. Once produced, the special edition is retired from production, thus ensuring each is extremely limited in quantity made.
Sun Surf Special Editions are nearly impossible to obtain outside of Japan and we are proud beyond words to have been able to obtain a few of this shirt print that stands out as one of the most unique ever offered.
To help preserve the fabric and colors, dry cleaning is the only laundering method endorsed by the manufacturer.
Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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WWI Imperial German Aviator Flying Coat – CLOSEOUT!!!
Last ONE left priced for clearance liquidation to make room for new items. This is new, unworn, and complete with factory warranty. Clearance pricing applies ONLY to sizes and colors in stock at our New Jersey facility: $850.00 off regular retail price of $2, 100!!! No refunds will be given on clearance items, but returns are allowed for exchange credit toward any items and/or services we offer with no expiration date on credit.
The first major conflict involving aircraft was the First World War, where the military pilot gained his glamorous image. Depicted as chivalric knights of the sky, fame was to be their destiny, perhaps none so much as Imperial Germany’s infamous Baron von Richthofen (Red Baron). The nature of open-cockpit flying demanded leather coats be worn over the uniform, most of which were three-quarter length and double-breasted. These coats were commercially obtained, thus all were slightly different in design and features. Our coat typifies the basic design, made of premium, aniline-dyed, vegetable-tanned, supple horsehide in black. Features include: interior and lower pockets lined in warm, all-cotton moleskin in Imperial Air Force blue; real horn buttons; detachable belt with stitched, leather-covered buckle; functional cuff and collar straps; double-pleated back with yoke and a hidden interior pocket.
Fit for an Ace, this flying coat absolutely exudes quality! Its classic and thoughtful design combines sophistication with utility that it is perfectly at home in everyday walks of modern life - a garment of truly exceptional quality!
Sizes available: 36-48 regular only. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from England
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Gift Certificates Available
*Price includes
U. S. customs duty,
processing fees, currency-
conversion fees and
shipping & insurance from
the manufacturer to the USA.
Click for Information and Photos