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!