Update on our Wave Kimono
This is an update of the Scramble “Wave” Jiu Jitsu Kimono.
Our original estimated completion date was the end of July. We’re gonna level with you – that ain’t gonna happen.
That’s the gist of it.
For the full explanation, read on.
Some of you may think that making a gi is easy. Contact a factory, slap a couple of logos on, test a sample, and make the bulk order. Sure, you can do that. And a lot of companies do, I am sure. A lot of companies fail, too.
To really make a good kimono takes a lot of time and a lot of effort. You might have noticed gi prices creeping up lately – that’s not only a reflection on overall inflation, but on the amount of work it takes to produce a really good kimono. Days, weeks, months. We are still beginners ourselves, but we’ve put enough effort in to feel like we know a little of what we are talking about.
We used a cotton / polyester blend pants for the Ichiban Kimono which worked out really well. It stood up to rigorous testing, showed almost zero shrinkage, and was lightweight and quick drying. We thought we would use the same material again for the Wave. Preliminary training and washing tests were fine, so the go ahead was given. However, after around five weeks of use, the sample I had been testing started to break down just a little. The polyester was pilling up slightly. Small bobbles forming on the surface. Something about the white version as opposed to the navy version we had previously used seemed to exacerbate the problem.
I’ve shown it to a few people, and our testers, and they agree the problem is mild. We could, if we were a lesser brand, get away with it. Some hardly noticed it at all. But I did, and have decided very late in the game to redo all the kimono trousers. We’ll switch to 100% cotton, the best we can find, to ensure your kimono stays tough for as long as possible.
There’s a time delay, and there’s also a huge cost increase for us, but it’s worth it.
We still have not decided what to do with the pants – they are for the most part, fine. We may offer them as backup pants or pants for those who want to mix sizes. Leave your thoughts in the comments below, if you have any.
We hope you can forgive us for the delay but keep the end of summer in your diaries as the Wave will be arriving in all its glory.
Thanks Meerkatsu for the pics!
BTW, have you seen what Oli is up to? An EPIC BJJ trip around North America!
14 COMMENTS
Sounds completely reasonable. I’d definitely suggest offering the cotton/poly blend pants for sale as backups etc as the 1chiban blend pants are probably the best kimono pants I’ve ever worn or come across.
Looking forward to the release, thanks for putting the effort in to making sure you’re releasing an excellent product, it’s appreciated.
I think its sentiment to you guys striving for perfection, its one of the reasons that since last year I have only rally bought your products.
RE the trousers, I would buy a pair tomorrow, please let me know when I can get some!
Canvas pants are awesome tough last forever
You should offer the poly/cotton pants at a discount as a pair of back-up pants to purchasers of the gi.
And then sell the rest as a 1 off, cool pair of replacement gi pants to anyone who needs some. (like me)
I’ll be ordering when it’s available, the gi looks amazing. Supplying the old design as a second pair sounds good to me.
Hi, Im looking forward to the wave gi! About the pants I think you should sell them as a “pants only” for a good price, as the pants wear in general quicker then top lots of people will buy them I think!
Thanks
Thank you for the update!! I was losin’ sleep over here in anticipation. No one should ever say that customer service is a bad thing and truly Id rather have the release date pushed back then have little grumblings here and there that “I got a wave, pants got weird, meh”. Good looking out, it will take you much farther in the long run. As far as the pants go, there are so many options!! You could use them as backups in the event that you have anyone tell you the pants ripped training. You could sell just the pants (I cant tell ya how tempted I am on the regular to pick up more gi pants, my lady loves them.) You could send two pair in the orders that go out when the wave becomes available. The options are endless. Best of luck!! Thank you for looking out for us, the scramblers worldwide. Keep up the amazing work.
I´ve been waiting for one of those… I think I can wait more, it is beautiful… really need one!!
can u make the pants less tubey? at least a slimmer fit for A1s?
Totally worth the wait, looking forward to it! I know I’ll be rocking one in Manchester before we know it! 🙂
I think people can be happy that you’re going for quality (which people want) and not making a quick buck out of them.
Also I’d buy a pair of those back up pants because both of my white gi pants have rips at the knees that seem to grow bigger every training session haha.
Really love the waves! Now if only you can make this a hemp sensation gi with waves and smoking some “Reefer” as Renato Laranja says on the coast of California! Now that would be crazy!
I think the push back has to do with the fact that Shoyoroll just released that their next GI would be coming out at the end of this month…I would rather have a Scramble Gi, but I think it’s wise to hold back until the Shoyoroll frenzy fades.
Sell the gi and pants separately, i am wearing the g-flex ones from sprawl, dont really like how gi pants are sized when they come with the gi. Better yet, do a facebook question, you got 10k fans, u’ll get 100 votes quick
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