Serialized 【, What's the NEW VINTAGE? Vol.125 “It may even help with New Year's weight gain. Nice fitness equipment.

In the 1990s, the term "vintage" was used to describe vintage clothing that did not meet the definition of "antique," but still had value, as opposed to "antique" clothing that was 100 years old. Nowadays, there is a movement to find new value in "new vintage," even in old clothes from the 1980s onward, which used to be called "regular" vintage clothes. In this project, four vintage clothing stores with different styles propose new ways to enjoy vintage clothing. Each of them will talk about the charm of vintage clothing with their own sense of style.

This series is now entering its 16th season! With a completely new lineup of shops, the 125th installment—which kicks off the second round—features “FRAT STORE,” located in Mukojima, Sumida Ward. What kind of new vintage finds will Katayama and Kuroda introduce to us!?

Text_Tommy
Edit_Yosuke Ishii

Mukuta Katayama / Director of FRAT STORE & Jukiya Kuroda / Owner
Vol. 125: Fitness Sweatshirts & T-Shirts

—Now for the second round—what new vintage are you going to introduce this time?

Just like last time, we want to feature items related to our own backgrounds, so we’re going with fitness gear!

—Do you like sports?

Actually, working out is a hobby for both of us—it’s practically become a part of our daily lives… I think being healthy is the best way to look good. I know it might sound a bit odd coming from someone in the fashion industry, but while buying a nice 300,000-yen outfit is great, I’d argue that spending 50,000 yen a month on a personal trainer for six months to get in shape will actually make your clothes look even better. “Looking cool with a shaved head and completely naked”—I think that’s the ultimate look for a man.

"I see. That might make sense. So, what kind of things do you mean by 'fitness-related items'?"

We’ve put together a collection of official T-shirts and sweatshirts from overseas gyms and sports clubs from the ’90s to the 2000s, centered around the legendary “GOLD’s GYM®,” a name familiar to every fitness enthusiast. Let’s start with the local ones. This one, featuring a person lifting a barbell, is the official T-shirt from “G.V.R. Fitness Club” in Green Valley, Arizona. The shirt is a "Fruit of the Loom" from the early 1990s. Barbells and dumbbells like these are classic motifs in fitness, especially in strength training.

G.V.R. Fitness Club T-shirt ¥6,600 (flat store)

—Easy to understand!

Next up is this piece featuring an American comic-style character that really catches the eye. It’s an official release from “Liberty Gym” in New Mexico, probably from around the early 2000s. It uses the “HAMMER” body from GILDAN, which combines the soft texture of combed yarn with a substantial 6.0-ounce weight. Worn-in, it has a truly vintage vibe. With those sculpted lats and biceps, and the lightning bolts clutched in both hands, he looks just like an angel with wings spread—isn’t he absolutely awesome!?

Liberty Gym T-shirt ¥7,700 (flat store)

—Both are unique and interesting.

Thank you! Now, it’s finally time for the long-awaited star of the show: “Gold’s Gym.” This time, we’ve prepared two styles each of sweatshirts and T-shirts. You’ve probably seen him at least once: the character with a shaved head, wearing nothing but boomerang shorts and holding a barbell. His name is “Old Man.” Apparently, he was designed by Rick Drasin, a bodybuilder and pro wrestler who also served as a training partner to Arnold Schwarzenegger—aka “Schwarzenegger.”

Gold's Gym Sweatshirt ¥8,800 (flat store)

—Do the designs change with each generation?

Since this sweatshirt dates from the early to mid-90s, it features the old logo. However, starting in the mid-90s, the logo design evolved into a more realistic style, which is still in use today. The old logo’s relaxed, rounded look is considered cute, so recently, merchandise featuring it has been reissued and is quite popular. The text written below the word “GYM” is the gym’s location—it’s sometimes there and sometimes not—but if it’s included, it adds a local feel and makes the piece even more special.

Gold's Gym Sweatshirt ¥7,700 (flat store)

—Are there any place names that are particularly popular?

It all started in 1965, when bodybuilder Joe Gold opened the first location in Venice Beach, California—a place widely regarded as the “Mecca of bodybuilding” around the world. Unfortunately, all of the U.S. locations have since closed, but seeing the words “Venice Beach” is sure to make you go, “Oh!”

Gold's Gym T-shirt ¥6,600 (flat store)

—Do the sizes differ from what they used to be?

I get the impression that until the mid-90s, most sweatshirts and T-shirts were on the roomier side. Then, from the late 90s through the early 2000s, styles with slightly narrower bodies and longer lengths started to appear. I suspect this has something to do with trends in the bodybuilding industry. For example, there was a rise in the number of “physique” competitors aiming for a lean, muscular build—one that looks good in boomerang pants—rather than a huge, bulging physique.

Gold's Gym T-shirt ¥6,600 (flat store)

—It does seem related. Come to think of it, I always pictured trainees wearing T-shirts with the sides cut off, so I was surprised to see that all of them were in such good condition.

You know what I mean, right? Tank tops are a good example—cutting out the underarm sections makes it super easy to move around during workouts and lets you check out your muscle definition. You might be thinking, “Why not just work out shirtless?” but since gyms generally don’t allow nudity, that design is basically pushing the limits (lol).

—Also, I imagine that with sports gear in general—not just this item—you might be concerned about stains and odors...

People who go to places like "Gold's Gym" are particularly health-conscious, so their clothes are actually in better condition than vintage clothing from other genres, and they don't smell at all. I mean, they only wear sweatshirts during warm-ups anyway (lol).

—I fully understand that “Gold’s Gym” holds a special place in the hearts of gym-goers.

“We think of it as the ”Louis Vuitton of the fitness industry.“ Wearing it to the gym is a great way to impress those around you, and best of all, just wearing it or carrying it boosts your mood and improves your performance!

—Is it okay to wear this to a gym other than "Gold's Gym"?

I highly recommend wearing a slightly worn T-shirt or sweatshirt and deliberately heading to “Anytime” to enjoy the looks people give you, thinking, “That guy’s no ordinary guy…” (lol). That said, if your body itself is in poor shape, you’ll just end up being laughed at, so if you’re going to give it a try, make sure you get in shape first!

—I have a feeling more people will be paying attention to this from now on.

Whenever we come across them, we always make sure to stock them, and in fact, they sell out as soon as they arrive. That’s because fitness-related items often feature great designs. So, it’s not like you have to be in shape to wear them—in fact, it’s totally fine for slim people to wear them as a “counterpoint to the muscle-bound look.” In fact, the joy of expressing your own unique style is part of what makes vintage clothing so special.

Mukuta Katayama / Director of FRAT STORE & Jukiya Kuroda / Owner
The brand launched its online store in August 2021 and opened a physical store in Mukojima, Sumida Ward, Tokyo, in February 2024. Its core selection of classic items from the 1980s to the 2000s is in excellent condition and has a great vibe. You can enjoy the experience in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. Our original items, produced on an irregular basis, have also gained popularity, and we will be celebrating our second anniversary this February.
Instagram:@frat__store