21 Brands like Merz b. Schwanen

For loopwheeled tees, henleys and more

This German label knits plain tees, henleys and sweats on old loopwheel machines, leaving seamless, unwashed cotton in vintage athletic cuts. The brands here match it one of three ways: the same loopwheel knit, a similar vintage fit, or a lower price.

21 brands compared on cut, fabric, range and price · Reviewed by Dante Phillips, Nov 2026 · What our review covers

Top picks

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Merz b. Schwanen

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Top picks in detail

Sunray Sportswear: Sunray Sportswear Haleiwa 260gsm Ochiwata Recycled Cotton T-Shirt Green Bay
Haleiwa 260gsm Ochiwata Tee
Sunray Sportswear: Sunray Sportswear Haleiwa SS Anthracite
Haleiwa Tee, Anthracite
Sunray Sportswear: Sunray Sportswear Haleiwa 260gsm Ochiwata Recycled Cotton T-Shirt Moth
Haleiwa Tee, Moth
For loopwheel tees made in Japan

Sunray Sportswear

Why it's similar. Heavy Haleiwa and Makaha tees knitted on antique loopwheel machines in Miyazaki, Japan, with no side seams and a boxy mid-century cut.

What changes. A tee-and-sweat range with surf-named styles in recycled cotton, and no henleys, trousers or knits.

Start withT-shirtsPriceT-shirts US$97–110·similar price to Merz b. Schwanen (US$84–110)

On sale at Lost & Found. See sales →

Velva Sheen: 【Velva Sheen】Henley Tee - Black 黑色美製圓織亨利領短TEE
Henley Tee, Black
Velva Sheen: 【Velva Sheen】2 Pac Crewneck Tee - Black/Black 美製圓織素色短TEE 黑色兩件裝
Crewneck Tee Two-Pack, Black
Velva Sheen: 【Velva Sheen】2 Pac Crewneck Tee - White/Oat 美製圓織素色短TEE 白色&米色兩件裝
Crewneck Tee Two-Pack, White/Oat
For seamless tees for less

Velva Sheen

Why it's similar. Tubular-knit crew tees, pocket tees and henleys with no side seams, cut to a mid-century regular fit and sewn in the USA.

What changes. Crisper, plainer jersey that wears closer to a good undershirt, with no loopwheel fabric or knitwear.

Start withT-shirtsPriceT-shirts US$57–85·lower than Merz b. Schwanen (US$84–110)

On sale at Brooklyn Tailors, DeeCee style and Manready Mercantile. See sales →

Whitesville: Whitesville 2Pack S/S T-shirt Black
Two-Pack Tee, Black
Whitesville: Whitesville 2Pack S/S T-shirt Off White
Two-Pack Tee, Off White
Whitesville: WHITESVILLE - 30oz. WOOL MELTON AWARD JACKET - CHIC COLOR TYPE - WV15169
Wool Melton Award Jacket
For slim mid-century athletic tees

Whitesville

Why it's similar. Seamless two-pack crew tees and 13oz sweatshirts loopwheeled in Japan, cut slim to a mid-century American athletic pattern like the 215.

What changes. A Japanese reproduction of an American mill label, with varsity jackets where Merz has knits and trousers.

Start withT-shirts, Hoodies & sweatsPriceT-shirts US$68–101·similar price to Merz b. Schwanen (US$84–110)
Lady White Co.: Lady Co. Men's Our T-Shirt 2-Pack in White, Size Large
Our T-Shirt Two-Pack
Lady White Co.: Lady White Co. Men's Municipal Long Sleeve T-Shirt in Abyss, Size Large
Municipal Long Sleeve Tee
Lady White Co.: Lady White Co. Men's Mini Crewneck Sweatshirt in Granite, Size Medium
Mini Crewneck Sweatshirt
For a boxy high-neck tee

Lady White Co.

Why it's similar. Boxy, high-neck tees, rugbys and sweatshirts in custom tubular jersey, knitted and sewn by family factories around Los Angeles.

What changes. Modern-boxy rather than period-correct, mid-weight 6oz jersey, and no loopwheel fabric or henleys.

Start withT-shirts, Hoodies & sweatsPriceT-shirts US$90–137·similar price to Merz b. Schwanen (US$84–110)

On sale at Lost & Found, SSENSE and END.. See sales →

Jackman: Jackman  - Dotsume T-Shirt - JM5444
Dotsume T-Shirt
Jackman: Grace Crewneck - Iron Gray
Grace Crewneck
Jackman: Baseball Shirt - Black
Baseball Shirt
For dense Japanese athletic jersey

Jackman

Why it's similar. Dense Dotsume tees, GG heavyweight sweats and baseball shirts knitted and sewn in its own Fukui sports-knit factory in Japan.

What changes. Built around vintage baseball and training gear, with waffle midnecks and stirrups rather than henleys and chinos.

Start withT-shirts, Hoodies & sweatsPriceT-shirts US$78–110·similar price to Merz b. Schwanen (US$84–110)

On sale at Redcast Heritage Co.. See sales →

Cheaper than Merz b. Schwanen

See all cheaper alternatives →

Each compared in one category, on the median full price of live US listings.

Healthknit: Basic Short Sleeve T-Shirt (2 Pack) - GreyFor t-shirts

Healthknit

Henleys, waffle thermals and stripe jerseys from a Japan-run American underwear label.

T-shirts $57 vs $100

Compare the t-shirts →
Velva Sheen: Pigment Dyed Pocket Tee - GreyFor t-shirts

Velva Sheen

Seamless tubular-knit tees and henleys in a mid-century cut, sewn in the USA.

T-shirts $68 vs $100

Compare the t-shirts →
Loop & Weft: Loop & Weft Loopwheeled  Double Binder Crewneck T-Shirt BurgundyFor hoodies & sweats

Loop & Weft

Loopwheeled crew tees and Tompkins-knit sweats from a Japanese knit specialist.

Hoodies & sweats $125 vs $173

Compare the hoodies & sweats →

Merz b. Schwanen has 29 pieces on sale, up to 55% off. See Merz b. Schwanen sales →

More brands

Style direction
Price vs Merz b. Schwanen
Showing 16 of 16 brands
The Real McCoy'sFor period-correct loopwheel sweats

Loopwheeled 10oz crew and hooded sweatshirts and tees rebuilt from mid-century US athletic and military patterns, made in Japan.

$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Loop & WeftFor loopwheel tees and Tompkins sweats

Crewneck tees knitted on tsuriami loopwheel frames in Wakayama and fleece sweats from rare Tompkins rotary knitters, designed in Yamanashi.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

HealthknitFor thermals and henleys for less

Henleys, waffle and honeycomb thermals and border-stripe tees from an old American underwear label, now run and made in Japan.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Good OnFor faded pigment-dyed tees

Tubular-knit 5.5oz crew tees and sweats in US cotton, pigment-dyed in Japan to a faded, lived-in colour.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

SunspelFor a fine English tee

Classic and Q82 tees in fine cotton, cut and sewn by hand in Long Eaton, plain and unbranded.

$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Buck MasonFor curved-hem slub tees

Curved-hem slub and heavy jersey tees and henleys cut slim, sold with denim and chore coats.

$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Pherrow'sFor Tokyo repro two-pack tees

Two-pack crew tees and heavy hooded sweats rebuilt from vintage American patterns by a Tokyo repro house.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Warehouse & Co.For Osaka repro loopwheel sweats

Loopwheeled sweatshirts and pocket tees rebuilt to period-correct yarn by an Osaka repro denim house.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

The Flat HeadFor loopwheel tees from Nagano

Loopwheel tees and sweats from a Nagano denim house that knits and weaves its own custom fabrics.

$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

The Rite StuffFor pre-war repro loopwheel tees

Heavyweight 9oz loopwheel tees reproduced from pre-war American sportswear and made in Japan.

$$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Wonder LooperFor double-heavyweight circular-knit tees

Double Heavyweight crew tees in 409gsm circular-knit jersey from Yokohama, about twice a standard tee's weight.

$$$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Dehen 1920For tees from a Portland mill

Heavy Duty pocket tees, shawl cardigans and varsity knits made in its own Portland, Oregon knitting mill.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Reigning ChampFor heavy loopback fleece

Heavyweight loopback crews and hoodies and slub henleys in muted solids, cut clean for training and daily wear.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

American GiantFor US-made heavy fleece

Heavy US-made Classic Full Zip hoodies, crews and tees from American cotton sewn in the Carolinas.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

ChampionFor Reverse Weave sweats

Reverse Weave crew sweats and hoodies, the cross-grain fleece built to resist shrinking, in classic college shapes.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Colorful StandardFor organic tees in many colours

Organic-cotton tees, crews and hoodies in a large permanent colour range, made in its own Portugal factory.

$·Merz b. Schwanen $$

Sales & stockists

Markdowns checked Nov 4

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About this guide

We compared 21 brands with Merz b. Schwanen on cut, fabric approach, range and price. The 5 top picks are editorial starting points, each for a different side of Merz b. Schwanen; their order is an editor's choice, not a ranking or score. Price comparisons use one named category on both sides, the middle half of current full prices in US$, so “lower-priced jeans” is a claim about jeans only. Read the full methodology →

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Common questions

Which brands are closest to Merz b. Schwanen?

Start with Sunray Sportswear, Velva Sheen, Whitesville, Lady White Co. and Jackman, the closest alternatives to Merz b. Schwanen. Each covers a different side of Merz b. Schwanen: loopwheel tees made in Japan, seamless tees for less, slim mid-century athletic tees, a boxy high-neck tee and dense Japanese athletic jersey.

Is there a cheaper brand like Merz b. Schwanen?

Healthknit is the closest look for less: its t shirts run US$50–72 against US$84–110 for Merz b. Schwanen. Velva Sheen t shirts, Loop & Weft hoodies and Colorful Standard t shirts are also lower-priced than Merz b. Schwanen's.

Where can I buy Merz b. Schwanen on sale?

Disco is tracking 29 Merz b. Schwanen markdowns, up to 55% off, at Cultizm, SSENSE, Franklin and Poe and TENDREL.

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