Wakayama Knit
Wakayama Knit refers to knit textiles used for cut-and-sew items and other products, mainly produced on circular knitting machines in production areas centered in Wakayama Prefecture.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
Wakayama knit is a term that refers to the production area and manufacturing background of knit fabrics that has developed mainly in Wakayama Prefecture. It does not refer to a specific organization, material, or single quality standard, and is used mainly in connection with circular-knit fabric production.
Even when labeled “made in Wakayama,” the stage carried out in Wakayama differs from fabric to fabric, whether knitting, dyeing, finishing, or sewing. It is important not to judge quality or material based on the production area name alone, but to confirm the scope of the processes involved.
Production Background and Strengths
The Wakayama area is one of the regions where production of knit fabrics using circular knitting machines has become concentrated. In addition to knitting, development is carried out for fabrics suited to different uses and textures through coordination with related processes such as dyeing and finishing.
There is a wide range of knitting machines, including relatively slow-running machines, and planning that combines yarn, knit structures, and processing can be seen. However, since the type of knitting machine and production conditions differ by fabric, the knitting machine or finish cannot be identified from “Wakayama knit” alone.
Representative Fabrics and Applications
This covers a wide range of fabrics made by circular knitting, such as jersey, circular rib, circular interlock knitting, French terry, pique knit, and waffle knit. In addition to cotton, polyester, rayon, wool, and blended materials are also used.
Common applications include T-shirts, sweatshirts, cut-and-sew items, polo shirts, innerwear, and loungewear. Depending on the structure, fabric weight, yarn usage, brushed finish, and other processing, elasticity, warmth retention, and surface texture vary greatly from lightweight to heavyweight fabrics.
- Jersey: a basic knitted fabric used for T-shirts and similar items.
- Circular rib: easy to stretch sideways, also used for collars and innerwear.
- French terry: the loops on the reverse side make it widely used for sweatshirt items.
- Pique knit: has a textured surface and is used for polo shirts and similar items.
Points to Confirm When Purchasing
When using the production area indication in planning or sales information, confirm with the supplier which processes were performed in Wakayama. Make clear whether it refers only to the knitting location or also includes dyeing and finishing locations, and keep the supporting information for the indication in the specification sheet or order record.
Confirm the fabric by item number, composition ratio, knit structure, fabric width, fabric weight, finishing process, and color number. Because knit fabrics may vary in texture, width, skew, and shrinkage depending on the lot and color, judge them using a sample roll or production roll before mass production.
For custom orders or ongoing production, confirm the minimum lot, lead time from knitting through dyeing and finishing, the length per roll, and the conditions for additional orders. Since lead times vary depending on material procurement and the operating status of the processing facility, share the schedule for each process, not just the requested delivery date.
Differences from Similar Terms
Circular knitting is a knitting method and fabric category that creates knitted fabric with needles arranged in a cylindrical form. Wakayama knit is mainly a production-area name closely associated with circular knitting, and is not another name for circular knitting itself.
Jersey, circular rib, and French terry are names of knit structures and fabric types. Wakayama knit, on the other hand, is a term related to the production area. Even for the same jersey, texture and physical properties change if the production area, yarn used, knitting machine, or processing conditions differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wakayama knit fabric that was completed entirely within Wakayama Prefecture?
Not necessarily. In general, production area names often indicate the knitting location, but dyeing, finishing, and inspection may be done in other regions. When using a production area indication, confirm with the supplier which process was done where.
If Wakayama knit is specified, is the fabric texture determined?
No. Wakayama knit is a production-area name, and the texture differs depending on the material, yarn count, knit structure, knitting machine, fabric weight, and dyeing/finishing process. In planning, confirm not only with a swatch but also, when necessary, with a roll close to mass production.
Why are lot size and lead time important when sourcing Wakayama knit?
For fabrics that are dyed and finished after knitting, the minimum lot and operating schedule for each process affect ordering conditions. Also, in additional production, the same yarn, color, or processing conditions may not be available, so at the time of the first order, confirm whether continued production is possible and the conditions for additional orders.
