Papa Nui wears the Eastman USN t-shirt.

How often do you read the description of products as being an authentic pattern based on a period original? All the time I bet, and yet you know its all bullshit but these companies honestly believe their customers will buy these claims. Well not this Papa!
Gary Eastman of the Eastman Leather Company has done what every other company claims to have done, except that this time its the real deal. Using several vintage WWII USN t-shirts as a base, Gary has used the best of Japanese manufacturing techniques to pull these originals apart stitch for stitch and then recreate them in especially loomed wheel-looped slub cotton jersey. The results are outstanding and worthy of the 2 years R&D it took to develop the idea.
The fit is awesome with a narrow and close fitting body shape with a shorter sleeve and a neck opening that is wider that a crew but not ridiculously scoopy either. In short, its about as perfect as you can get without buying a dead-stock original. This is high praise I know, but realistically this is perhaps the best t-shirt I've ever owned and coming from a part of the world where t-shirts are the au-rigueur you get to know real quick what's what.
Beautifully packaged and priced at UK 39.99 it's a must buy for any true enthusiast.

Packaged in a small printed cardboard container this tee is beautifully presented.

Fit reference, yes I knew you'd want to know about this so Giggles got her camera out to shoot this expose.

The Papa is wearing his new Corsairs Cap in Experimental Night Op's colourway and original American Optics aviators sunglasses.

Note fit: slim through the torso but not contemporary tight. Sleeve is short and fits just above the biceps. Neck opening is actually really flattering and doesn't choke rub and irritate like a crewneck tee does. Length is sufficient to tuck in and stay tucked but not too long as to not be worn out.

Sizing is genuine and accurate. In everyday wear I would normally wear a size medium, somewhere between a 38"-40" or around 18" across the shoulders ( the way I ensure vintage purchases fit me is always to know my shoulder measurement). In these photos I'm wearing a size 38". At first it appeared quite snug but after repeated washes and wearing the size is a beautiful fit, by far my favourite tee I own and the beginning of repeated purchases.

Nomenclature contract print is authentic and is reproduced exactly from the original samples.

Combat Corsairs Caps Now All Japan Manufacture.

The Papa knows caps. A lifetime under the Pacific sun has taught him a thing or two about being able to hunker down under a brim of substance and so with a generous adaptation of the WWII A-1 sun visor, the Papa introduces to his battalion, the Combat Corsairs Cap. Produced exclusively in Japan by special arrangement with the John Lofgren Clothing Factory this is quality as only the sons and daughters of Amaterasu can produce.

Limited to 100 pieces you can choose the colour of your cover, Beach landing brown or Jungle patrol green. Sizing runs from 57cm through to 61cm.

To support the Papa and his thrill thundering salute to the men of the South Pacific, Pay Pal the sum of $75 USD to rocket_ace47@hotmail.com and recieve a cap worthy of duty on any front plus free airmail shipping to any location on the globe

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Papa Nui, never your standard 782.

* wholesale orders available on orders over 10 pieces, email the Papa.

Papa Nui Combat Corsairs Caps Available Now.

A little bit of Ernest Hemingway and a lot of Admiral Halsey results in a pretty powerful concoction but add also the studied formula provided by Airedales off the Bird farm and graduates of Canoe 'U' and what you end up with is Papa Nui's amazing Combat Corsairs Cap. A cap absolutely necessary for a life spent under the fierce Pacific sun, a covering to protect from coral glare and the shimmer of Oriental waters.

Inspired by products 'field-made', the Papa's generous adaptation takes the A-1 sunvisor and builds on a period classic low profile four panel ball cap shape. The result is an aviators cap worthy of duty on every front. Choose a colour to suit your cover! Beach landing Brown or Jungle patrol Green.
Papa Nui's Combat Corsairs caps are produced by exclusive arrangement with the John Lofgren Clothing Factory Japan, so quality and integrity are an absolute.

This release is limited to 100 pieces world wide and the Corsairs Caps are available in sizes 57cm through to 61cm.

To join the Papa in this glory rousing salute to our heroes of the South Pacific, the Jar heads and Deck Apes the Blue Jackets and Brown shoes, the fighting Battalions on Sand and Sea, send $75 USD to the Papa's Pay Pal account, rocket_ace47@hotmail.com and receive the cap of your choice plus FREE airmail shipping to any location on the globe.

The Combat Corsairs Cap not your standard 782, get yours now!

* wholesale orders available on orders over 10 pieces, email the Papa.

Sendai Brown for Winter Workers.

The Papa is putting together winter looks using his newly bought Lofgren workwear as a base. The core elements here are the Natural seeded selvedge chambray shirt which has a beautiful weight and fine texture.

Heavy brown duck bakers pants from John add authenticity when teamed up with Papa's custom belt from Warp and Woof. The Navajo stamped buckle was cast from an original out of a 30's Montgomery Ward Catalog and the Papa had Carnelian stones added. These duck pants will age beautifully when worn and washed down.

The Brown Duck cap was made for the Papa by Warren Schummer of Vintage Workwear and features a shoe string lace up back. Set against old Redwings this is an awesome combo.

Lofgren internal labelling.

 Redwing vintage label.

John Lofgren's Speedway Shop in Sendai Japan is one of the few establishments in the Far East that ships abroad hassel free. If you've ever had to deal with Japanese retailers you'd appreciate this point no end! Contact Speedway, talk to John and tell him the Papa sent you. www.speedway-shop.com/

Lofgren goes to War

While the Northern Hemisphere thaws with breaths of Spring, down here in the South, Autumn wanes to our impending Winter. And so what better way to face those early morning beach patrols than to ensconce one's head in the warm knitted wool of the Lofgren USN watch cap. A favourite for the past 100 years, sailors and seamen of every decade have protected themselves from the raging main with these wonderful caps. 

shopatspeedway@hotmail.com. Pure wool all Japan manufacture. The Papa recommends!

Lofgren working style.

Another great buy from John Lofgren company! The Papa couldn't help himself, he's on the Rakuten rampage!

Beautifully crafted denim 8 panel workers cap with adjustable hidden size strap and genuine leather sweatband. Perfect for customing with period badges, The Papa, is all set for the Shipyards, keeping them fit to fight!

Lofgren Japan

I'm just loving how the reproduction market is finding new ways to re-invent itself, case in point is this gorgeous Stiffel style print by John Lofgren. At a time when the mainstream is pondering tab collars, pioneers like John are reaching further and further back to the turn of last century to provide inspiration for new garments today. This Indigo dot shirt is one of my favourites, it features all the hallmarks of a quality manufacture including felled seam construction, side gussets, re-enforced shoulder panels and embroidered eyelets which enhance the off set period pocket detailing.

This is the perfect spring shirt that would look great with dungarees or chinos or perhaps take a page out of the Papa's book and give this one the 'ol South western makeover with Navajo silver and moccasins. Which ever way you decide I'm sure you'll love this piece as much as I do, so write and check your size shopatspeedway@hotmail.com and as always tell him the Papa sent you!

Lofgren x Heritage Research.

There's a very good reason why John Lofgren's name is appearing everywhere in the bloggersphere of late and that is because his brand is fast becoming the label of choice for a discerning clientele the world over.

John's product draws it's inspiration from a style and a quality of another time, a time when substance and tradition were considered important and pride was taken in craftsmanship and excellence. John brings a carefully curated eye while focusing on iconic details underpinned by the highest level of manufacture.

Recently a friend of the Papa's pulled into John's Speedway store in Sendai and bought me a shirt as a gift. The garment in question? A magnificent collaboration project between John Lofgren and UK based label, Heritage Research. This combined vision produced a remarkable interpretation of an early century work shirt made in a printed cotton design of spades and aimed squarely at the burgeoning market towards speciality heritage garments.

All the essential features are there, combination pocket watch and ticket pocket configuration, fob button hole, tab collar, chain stitch french seams and side gusset construction.

This shirt is truly the perfect style for the contemporary track walker or the urban yard boss and John Lofgren delivers yet again with his amazing take on rugged individualism.

Lofgren Denims and the Sailor Mokus.

Years ago John Lofgren and I were in discussions over the collaboration to produce the Papa Nui Marines T-shirt and our conversation eventually turned to all the wonderful possibilities there were to produce great products once you had the right connections and contacts in place. Since then the Lofgren brand has expanded, each time with a new and inspiring take on vintage reproductions. At the time of this dialog John and I talked about the golden years in Hawaii and about the period styling of wearing Sailor Mokus with Aloha shirts. Downtown Honolulu was awash with bright bolts of Japanese fabrics or traditional Hawaiian palaka patterns and the resident genius of a few reknown tailors created a casual shirt that reflected the essence of islands and their relaxed lifestyle. Worn with these shirts was the local flavour of the Sailor Mokus. The nautical trend was the hottest thing in Honolulu in the 1930s and '40s. These nautical-inspired denims were called Mokus a term derived from the Hawaiian word meaning a ship or schooner.
To the market then comes John Lofgrens' denim chino. Unlike most workwear which utilises a midweight 9-10 oz fabric, Lofgren uses a premium 14oz selvege denim in a full cut World War II chino style. In a time of hipster vintage and heritage branding which has sent many companies scrambling to re-invent themselves as the lastest thing unfortunately at the cost of integrity, quality and authenticity, Lofgren has remained stoic and solid, producing garments that are the 'bomb'. This attentiveness to detail and a deep appreciation of the importance of fabrication and manufacture has established John Lofgren at the forefront of the market and way ahead of the pack. John is in for the long haul, so Mokus or Chinos, call them what you will, support John in his efforts and make a purchase through his ebay site or contact him with his seller ID 'shopatspeedway'.

Papa Nui Brings the Pacific to Unionville Sweden.

Lofgren Tradition Garments and Papa Nui brings their great collaboration to Unionville in Sweden. For all of you over there in the cold of wintery Europe, buy a Papa T-shirt and feel the tropical warmth of the Pacific envelop your shoulders.