The strongest zip-up knit that can be worn both mode and authentic is the ” driver’s knit. There is a vast selection of knitwear from petit-price to high-end brands and vintage, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is extremely difficult to find a satisfactory model in terms of both design and price. Among them, we can confidently recommend this season’s “THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT,” a knit for drivers that is produced with attention to detail from material selection to silhouette, but at a reasonable price.
Contemporary silhouette & easy to wearTHE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT
The drivers’ knit originates from a knit worn by truck drivers. It features a double-zip front zipper for ease of use in the car, a warm-weather stand-up collar, and a sophisticated design that does not restrict movement. Today, it is the standard for zip-up knits and is supported by a wide range of people. However, early models and vintage products of brands with a long history of developing drivers’ knits can be difficult for some people to use, such as “too heavy and hard to wear,” “the collar is too high and doesn’t suit me,” or “the wool is prickly and painful. THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” is a model modernized into a modern, roomy silhouette while resolving such problems with drivers’ knitwear.
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| Driver’s knit | Click here for more details |
| T-shirt | Click here for more details |
| Pants | Click here for more details |
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT Attraction 1Can be used for outerwear as well as innerwear! Modern spacious silhouette
Classic drivers’ knits are mainly used for outerwear in winter, as they are often low gauge and have a voluminous silhouette. Even for winter outerwear, low-gauge knitwear is cold in midwinter because of its ventilation, and it is difficult to use as innerwear for coats, so it was an item that could be worn only in a limited season. However, unless you are a driver, you do not often spend long hours in the car, so if you are going to use it as daily wear, you will need something more practical. Considering such practicality, the “WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” has been adjusted to “a silhouette that can be used not only as outerwear but also as an inner layer for a roomy coat.
Compared to ordinary cardigans, the WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT is designed with a drop-shoulder silhouette. The length has been shortened so that it can be worn as a versatile casual blouson rather than a mode item. The hem is also carefully designed to prevent the undergarment from being rolled up.
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT Attraction 25G knit of golden ratio blended yarn that can be worn for a long season!
“THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” is thoroughly particular from the material selection so that it can be used for a truly long season from fall to early spring at the production stage. The knitwear is made of materials that can be worn from fall to early spring, low-gauge but not heavy, washable at home, stretchable but not saggy, comfortable to the touch with little tingle, not prone to pilling, silhouettes that look beautiful, and knitted fabrics with a three-dimensional, urban look. We repeatedly examined combinations of materials and knitting fabrics that satisfied these criteria, picking up as many points as we could think of that were indispensable for wearing knitwear for a long season. The yarns are blended to meet the above requirements and incorporated into the knitted fabric.
We can do this because we are confident of the quality of our products! Trustworthy because even the structure of the yarn, which is usually not disclosed, is introduced.
While many manufacturers do not disclose the background of production because of the possibility of imitation by competitors due to leakage of know-how, the fact that even maniacal information is fully disclosed shows the confidence of the brand and the factory, and is a point that can be trusted. The reason why they disclose this information is because it is not something that can be easily imitated even if you know how it works. We hope you will enjoy the high functionality created by the combination of materials, the tension of the knitting method that matches the silhouette, and the degree of yarn twisting, which can only be experienced with this knitwear.
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| Driver’s knit | Click here for more details |
| T-shirts | Click here for more details |
| slacks | Click here for more details |
For example, the yarns that make up the knitted fabric. Both are a mix of specially crafted cotton and polyester yarns. The cotton yarns have a natural elasticity and feel good against the skin by combining two cotton yarns with different twists to create a unique uneven texture. The “C Wave” yarn is stretchy, has a stronger kickback than synthetic fibers, and holds its shape better than synthetic fibers, making it easy to hand-wash and easy-care. Then, we blended in AMOSSA, a polyester yarn that boasts strong stretch to prevent sagging due to weight, which is common in low-gauge knitwear, and adds elasticity and bounce to the knitted fabric, giving it a three-dimensional, urban look and feel. The golden ratio blend that takes advantage of the best of both materials creates a high quality knit with multiple functions.
The image above shows the yarn installed in the machine that molds and knits the driver’s knit parts. Multiple yarns are set up while performing complex calculations that take into account the materials and elasticity, and are slowly formed into each part over time.
Simple but different from others!Even orthodox knitting fabrics have a twist to look elegant
The knitting fabric is a simple one-sided knit, which is a standard for drivers’ knitwear. This knitted fabric has a large knit pattern on the front side, giving a casual impression, while the reverse side is knitted with vertical stripes, giving a sharp impression. By taking advantage of this feature and treating the reverse side as the front side, we have created a more urban and sophisticated impression. Needless to say, it is easy to upgrade your coordinate if you have one of these drivers’ knits, which are packed with a variety of particulars even in terms of knitting fabrics.
↑The back side of THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT (generally, the front side) has a horizontal knit pattern that looks like a big rice cake at first glance, while the front side (generally, the back side) has a vertical pattern at first glance, which gives a sharp impression. The difference is so subtle that it cannot be seen unless you look closely, but it is the strength of THE WOOSTER series, where Japanese craftsmanship lives on, that pays attention to such details.
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT's Appeal 3The stand-up collar that seems to suck in your neck makes your coordinate look elegant!
The neck design is the face of the drivers knit. THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” is designed with the silhouette of a knit in mind, as if it were to suck in around the neck. It is perfect for urban adult wear as it has no extra room or slack around the neck, giving an elegant impression. Since it can stand on its own even when opened in the front, you can enjoy a variety of wearing styles depending on how you open the zipper.
The stand-up collar is just the right height, so you can continue to wear it stress-free.
During the sample stage, we adjusted the balance of the feel and silhouette while a Japanese model of a typical body shape with a different neck length actually wore the garment. If the neck is too high, it touches the chin when worn, leading to discomfort, and if it is too short, it looks unrefined without the “character” of a driver’s knit. Aiming for a finish with a middle value that prevents such demerits from occurring, the dimensions of each part are carefully determined down to the millimeter while looking at the overall balance, for example, “Keep the length of the collar width so that the collar looks high, but make the neckline about 5 mm deeper.
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| Driver’s Knit | Click here for more details |
| T-shirts | Click here for more details |
| Belts | Click here for more details |
| Pants | Click here for more details |
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT's appeal 4Detail design in pursuit of luxury and practicality
Not only the silhouette and attention to fabric mentioned above, but also the details are produced without compromise in “WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT”.
It is easy to put on and take off. And the “double zip” that produces a sense of luxury.
The “double-zip” design is essential for drivers’ knitwear. The handles of “THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” are coated with a shiny plate, which allows the zipper to open and close smoothly. This creates a practical, urban, and luxurious impression that allows the zipper to be opened and closed smoothly.
Side pockets” add practicality while maintaining a sophisticated impression
Classic drivers’ knits do not have pockets, but “THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” is equipped with pockets for practicality. To keep the pocket seams from showing on the surface, a time-consuming process of hand-stitching the pouch fabric is used to maintain the refined mood of the original driver’s knit.
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT Attraction 5Carefully sewn according to the original sewing specifications of knitwear, so it has a good texture and is comfortable to wear!
“THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” uses a classic and time-consuming process in the knit production method. Parts are produced by “forming knitting,” in which the yarn is knitted from the raw state and then shaped, and the neck part is sewn together by “linking,” a process that makes the most of the original elasticity and texture of the knitwear. The neck is sewn by “linking”, a process that makes the most of the elasticity and texture of knits. We hope you will experience the comfort that can only be achieved through this time-consuming process, which is not possible with price-conscious knitwear.
Linking is a classic knit sewing method that offers many advantages when worn, such as “high elasticity,” “improved shape retention,” and “seam allowance finish that feels good against the skin. On the other hand, it is a process that is easily omitted in mass production because it is less efficient than regular machine sewing. In Japan, the number of craftsmen who can do linking itself is decreasing year by year. The image above shows the linking process of ” THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT. The knit is carefully stitched together using a manual sewing machine called “YASUMI,” which is unique to Japan.
THE WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT's Appeal 6Affordable price with high quality!
While packing uncompromising attention to detail in everything from materials to silhouette and details, the company has achieved an affordable price tag in the 20,000 yen range. This price is possible only because GENTLEMAN PROJECTS does not have a physical store, but rather focuses on the cost of goods to “develop daily wear that fits in with everyday life at an affordable price. The three color variations are “black,” “gray,” and “dark navy,” so it is recommended that you buy in bulk before they are sold out. Some colors are only available while supplies last, so if you are interested, be sure to check them out as well!
Check out the images of how the drivers’ knitwear is worn by size!
It’s great to wear it in a true-to-size fit, or even a size up for a looser fit. In the gallery below, we have lined up images of the knit in different sizes, so you can use them as a reference when choosing your size.
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WOOSTER”, a modern urban knit, is also available in other models!
In fact, pullover sweaters and cardigans using the same knitting fabric as the “WOOSTER DRIVERS KNIT” are also available. All of them are easy-to-use and elegant designs, and some colors and sizes are already out of stock in many cases, so be sure to check them out as well!
