The BUCO STRIPED-SLEEVE SWEATSHIRT is made from mid-weight 10 oz. loopwheel knitted cotton, which features a brushed loopback French terry, making it warmer and softer than its unbrushed counterpart. Loopwheel machines, which produce this tubular constructed material, are renowned for their slow knitting pace, producing only a single meter per hour. However, this low thread tension technique is what sets them apart from contemporary manufacturing methods and creates an exceptional and distinctive fabric. The resulting material is reminiscent of hand-woven textiles and possesses a unique stretchy quality and washed look, similar to old American sweatshirts that can only be reproduced on a loopwheel knitting machine. This loopwheel sweat is knitted in Wakayama, Japan, using extremely rare machines known in Japan as Tsuriami-ki, and requires rare skills and techniques, exclusively for The Real McCoy's.

Unlike mass-produced sweatshirts, The Real McCoy's use different yarns across the layers to achieve optimal finish, density, and comfort. Like the best vintage sweatshirts, the gusset details featured here have been sewn in. While this is a time-consuming process, it adds a layer of reinforcement, prevents the neck from stretching, and acts similarly to a sweatband.

The bold striped sleeves draw inspiration from the rebellious aesthetic of 1950s outlaw motorcycle culture. Reminiscent of prison stripes, these patterns became a defining element of post-war biker style as club members embraced bold graphics that challenged conventional fashion. For many veterans turned bikers, these striking designs represented a rejection of pre-war formality in favor of a more rugged, defiant identity.

The 1947 Hollister incident amplified the association between motorcycle clubs and countercultural rebellion. Throughout the following decades, classic American cinema used bold striped patterns as visual shorthand for characters embodying this rebellious spirit, cementing the stripe's place in motorcycle heritage.

100% Cotton, 10 oz. (Loopwheel Knit)

Cotton Sewing Thread Construction

Made in Japan