WACKO MARIA and Champion's Reverse Weave Sweats With Tim Lehi Art Land October 31

WACKO MARIA has made its own version of Champion's best-known sweatshirt. Champion Japan announced on October 26 five pieces in Champion's Reverse Weave, each cut to WACKO MARIA's own patterns, on sale Saturday, October 31. The online stores open at 12pm Japan time, which is 11pm Friday, October 30 in New York.

The crewneck, ¥26,400, carries an embroidered logo on the chest and, across the back, a graphic by Tim Lehi, the tattoo artist Champion describes as a longtime friend of WACKO MARIA: a tiger perched on a skull under an orange WACKO MARIA logo. It's the only piece in five colours (silver grey, black, amber brown, light blue and light pink). Everything else comes in silver grey and black.

Champion

There are two pullover hoodies at ¥28,600. One puts a WACKO MARIA script across the front; the other keeps the front to the two brands' logos and slogans embroidered on the left chest and prints "Wacko Maria Paradise" across the back. The zip hoodie, ¥30,800, does the same with WACKO MARIA across the back, and the sweatpants, ¥26,400, carry the embroidery on the left thigh so they work as a set with any of the tops. All prices include Japanese tax.

Champion

The build

The base is Champion's 11.5oz terry fleece, with the 1970s blue single-colour tag at the neck. Champion's release gives the fabric as 90% cotton and 10% polyester; WACKO MARIA's own listing says 100% cotton. Reverse Weave itself is the point: Champion says it was born in 1934 after a salesman heard that its sweatshirts shrank in the wash, so the fabric is turned sideways to stop it shrinking in length, with expansion gussets down the sides for width. It patented the method in 1938 and 1954.

Where to buy it

In Japan: Champion's online store, Champion Harajuku and Champion Brand House Shinsaibashi Osaka, all from 12pm, plus WACKO MARIA's three stores and its stockists. WACKO MARIA's online store opens it at the same 12pm and, its news page says, ships worldwide, which makes it the way in for anyone outside Japan.

The read

What WACKO MARIA adds to Champion here is the patterns, the graphics and the price: ¥26,400 is WACKO MARIA money for a Reverse Weave crew, and the Tim Lehi back print is the piece that earns it. For Champion Japan, it puts its oldest product in front of a label whose whole identity, by Champion's own description, is built on music, film and art. It also lands in a busy week at WACKO MARIA, whose own October 31 release lists seven NANGA pieces alongside the Champion sweats. The open question is outside Japan: Champion's release names only its Japanese stores, so for now WACKO MARIA's worldwide-shipping online store is the only route in.