フリーアームシャツ 01 プラッド Free Arm Shirt 01 Plaid

Postalco teamed up with textile designer Cassie McGettigan to create this pattern.

Vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes. Combine them both and you get a grid. Traditional plaids can be a bit stuffy. But this grid is less predictable and a bit playful. But it’s still as wearable as a classic plaid shirt.

100% cotton Japan made fabric. Screen printing by hand creates slight natural variations giving the pattern subtle depth. With repeated washings it will become one of the softest items in your closet. No fillers or interfacing used in this shirt. All thickness is created with luxurious tightly woven fibers and layered fabric. This is more difficult to make but results in a shirt that will age better. We noticed this is the way 1920s vintage workwear was made and what gave those classic pieces their reliability.

Angled pleats on back along with our original spiral shoulder construction for maximum movement.

Ordinary shirt sleeves are essentially long tubes. When you move your arm, the typical sleeve may flex a bit but still pull at the seam, resulting in limited motion and the risk of ripping your shirt. Stretch fabrics can be used but natural cotton feels so much better.

We developed the Free Arm construction to allow exceptional range of arm motion for action and comfort. This is a tailored work shirt that can be worn for any activity. This includes remarkable comfort on a bicycle commute. Movement is freedom.

Our buttons are completely unbleached and natural shell. Each button is hand shaped to create a unique matte texture.

To eliminate the typical stiffness we started with sketches and prototypes made from paper (we love paper). We then worked with an expert pattern maker and craftspeople in Japan to make many samples to get the shirt we dreamed of wearing. This shirt is made in a Japanese workshop with over 40 years of experience.

Silk screening by hand creates slight natural variations giving the pattern subtle depth. Okuda san and his dedicated team of experts have honed their skills on both textiles and prints for artists. Their print studio is inspiring. Long narrow tables 25 meters long, the length of a swimming pool. But instead of water, ink is carefully guided onto the lengths of fabric by hand.

Ink color matching on glass.

Hundreds of overlapping color tests were made to get the colors just right.

Printed by fourth generation master silk screen printer Hironobu Okuda in Hachioji, Tokyo.

100% cotton Japan made fabric. With repeated washings it will become one of the softest items in your closet.

Cassie is a collaborative textile designer based in Providence, Rhode Island. She spent a decade in San Francisco, then returned East for a Textiles MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.
In 2008 she co-founded Gravel & Gold, a design collective and shop that produces hand-printed clothing. Since coming to RISD as a graduate student and now a teacher, her focus has shifted to fabrics for interiors and their sculptural application. Lately there has been a lot of quilting.

・Variations in color are part of the hand printing process.
・Straight, relaxed fit.
・Full length sleeves with two button barrel cuffs for adjustability.
・This fabric is tightly woven for a unique look and soft touch.
・Prewashed and garment shrunk to shape for exceptional softness.
・Woven in Japan.

Our original wood block logo.

The craftspeople, suppliers, and small workshops found in Japan make things not to be found anywhere else. We are fortunate to work with family businesses that are so focused on their craft. Don’t put Postalco items on a shelf or in a drawer. Their beauty is revealed through daily use. They will help you feel good at home and be ready in a meeting.