Summary
- Baseball player Shohei Ohtani collaborates with New Balance on limited cotton T-shirts made in Japan
- Three colorways available with 100 units each, priced at ¥33,000 ($230 USD)
- Features include seamless construction, high-gauge knitting, and numbered packaging
New Balance has partnered with baseball player Shohei Ohtani on a collection of short-sleeved knit T-shirts manufactured in Japan. The collaboration produces garments using specialized high-gauge knitting machines and traditional linking stitching techniques.
The T-shirts use 100 percent cotton yarn that undergoes a tight-twisting process during production. This manufacturing method creates a texture described as dry to the touch while maintaining a smooth surface finish. The construction eliminates seams through the linking stitch approach, a method common in Japanese textile production.
Design elements include ribbed hems and a blue logo label that displays Ohtani's signature. The label is attached through stitching rather than screen printing or heat transfer methods. Each T-shirt receives individual packaging in boxes marked with serial numbers.
Production runs to 100 units per colorway across white, gray, and black options. The retail price stands at ¥33,000, equivalent to approximately $230 USD at current exchange rates. This pricing positions the items in the premium apparel segment.
The collaboration continues New Balance's association with Ohtani, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The athlete has maintained endorsement agreements with the footwear and apparel company since 2023.
Distribution details remain unconfirmed, though the products are expected to appear on Ohtani's dedicated section of New Balance's website. No specific launch date has been announced by either party involved in the collaboration.
The collection represents New Balance's continued focus on Japanese manufacturing partnerships and limited-edition releases tied to athlete endorsements. Similar collaborations have previously targeted collectors and enthusiasts willing to pay premium prices for exclusive items.
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Kristin Kaye
Insatiably curious about human expression, she immerses herself in literature, theater, art, and dance. Her academic journey led to degrees in Modern Literature, where she delved into The Furioso, and Historical Sciences with a focus on Contemporary History. Her studies took her to the prestigious Erasmus University Rotterdam, broadening her international perspective.
Her passion for culture isn't confined to personal enjoyment—it spills onto the pages of various publications. There, she explores not only artistic endeavors but also civil rights issues and the myriad ways human culture manifests itself. For her, writing about these topics isn't just a profession; it's an irresistible calling that stems from her deep-seated fascination with the human experience.