23 Monday Nov 2015
Posted in Women's BJJ, Women's Gis
It’s time! All gis are on sale as well as belts, separate pants and backpacks. Hemp belts are $25.00, cotton belts $5.00, gi pants $15.00, and backpacks $25.00. Can you believe these prices? We must be insane to do it but it’s happening!
20 Friday Nov 2015
Posted in Women's BJJ, Women's Gis
You asked for A1 curvy jackets, and we made them! We are excited to announce that every new batch of women’s gis from next month on will have A1 curvy jackets available.
A1 jacket, and A1 curvy pants combination is one the most popular mix-and-match sizes ever since we started making curvy pants. It is a great option for ladies with narrow shoulders, small chest, wider hips, and thicker thighs.
Lately we have received lots of requests from ladies who are not that small on top, and need a roomier jacket. The bigger bust, and wider shoulders fit into A2 but the sleeves are a tad too long for that particular height.
If your height is between 5’3” and 5’5”, and need a jacket that covers your chest, does not pinch in the armpits, and does not have hugely long sleeves; this is the size for you. Pair it up with A1 Curvy pants for a great fitting gi.
We are giving away one black pearl weave, and one white pearl weave plus gi to two volunteers who are willing to send us some feedback on this new size. We would like to give these gis to the ladies who have purchased a mix-and-match set before (A1/A1C or A2/A1C) so they can compare the fit. Email us or comment below if you are interested.
13 Friday Nov 2015
Posted in Women's BJJ
Laundry – the magic process where socks disappear, white undies turn pink, and gis shrink down a size or two.
Spending a lot of money on a new gi, and inadvertently ruining it in the wash can be very frustrating. Proper care for your gi is important, and it is not all that complicated.
Here are the most common gi care questions we receive from our customers.
1. How do I wash my gi?
Try to wash your gi as soon as you get home from training, if possible. If your gi has visible stains, pretreat them first. Gis should be washed in cold water to avoid excessive shrinkage. Colored gis should be washed inside out to prevent the color fading unevenly due to the gi rubbing against the machine. Don’t pack too many gis in one load, and always use recommended amount of detergent. Too much of it won’t rinse out, and too little won’t do the job. Always check the manufacturer’s label for washing instructions, and if you are not sure what each label means, check out this handy chart.
In the weaving process cotton fibers are stretched, and twisted under high tension. In hot water, and dryer the molecules want to return to their original, relaxed state. That is why cotton shrinks, and heat should be avoided. Generally, looser weaves tend to shrink more, tighter weaves shrink less. Most gis on the market are 95-96% preshrunk, so some shrinkage, even in cold water should is expected. In order to maintain the length and shape of the gi, stretch out the sleeves, lapels, and pants after every wash when the gi is wet.
Do not wash the gi in hot water or dry in high heat; it will shrink! If you want to shrink your gi intentionally, please wash in hot water, and dry in the dryer until desired length, and width is achieved.
2. How often should I wash my gi?
You should wash your gi after every training session. Try to wash your gi as soon as you get home from training. We understand that this is not always possible, and some people do laundry once a week. The sooner you wash it, the better. If your gis are extremely soiled, and stains are set in, you may have to do some serious spot cleaning, and soaking before washing. Do not leave your gi in your gear bag to marinate for days. It will develop a strong, pungent smell that will be harder, and harder to get rid of.
3. I barely got sweaty in training; I was only drilling technique. Do I still need to wash the gi?
Yes, please. Even though you didn’t sweat, your training partner may have sweated on you. It’s a good habit to have to wash your gi after every class. If you had no contact with another person, and only observed the class from the bench then you can skip the wash.
4. I’m really busy. Can I wash my white gi and colored gi together?
White and colored gis should not be washed together no matter how busy you are otherwise your bright white gi ends up looking sadly dingy. Colored gis can be washed together. Think of gis just like laundry. Separate them the same way you would your other clothing items.
5. My friend said that I needed a special BJJ gi detergent. Is this true?
No, you don’t need a special detergent. Any detergent that you have at home is fine. However, if you want to support a company that makes a special BJJ gi detergent, please do.
6. I haven’t washed my gis as often as I should have, and they are smelling funky. How do I get rid of the smell?
When washing a foul-smelling gi, try adding 1/2-1 cup of vinegar to the water, soak for 15 minutes, then wash with detergent. If needed, add more vinegar during rinse cycle. Washing soda, lemon, and baking soda are also good options for tackling nasty smells. Do not put smelly gis in the dryer, the heat will make it almost impossible to get rid of the odor later on. Turn the gi inside out, and hang it outside to dry. And don’t forget to clean your gym bag regularly. What’s the point of cleaning your gis when you carry them around in a rotten bag?
7. My training partner bled on my white gi. How do I remove the stains?
Try to remove as much of the blood as possible with cold water immediately during or after class. Do not let the stain set it; dried blood stains are harder to remove than fresh ones. At home wet the spot again, and rub it with some dish soap or laundry detergent. Let the cleaner work on the stain for about 15-30 minutes. The stain should be gone. If the stain remains, put a little bit of hydrogen peroxide or diluted ammonia (one tablespoon ammonia per one cup of water) directly on the stain; let it set for a few more minutes, and then wash the gi. For heavily set in stains you may have to repeat the steps two to three times.
8. I read that you should freeze your jeans instead of washing them to prolong their life and kill bacteria. Should I do the same with my gi?
Freezing clothes does not kill bacteria or clean them so we do not recommend doing it. Keep the freezer for ice packs, and wash your gis!
9. Should I iron my gi?
If you have too much free time in your hands, and if you find great pleasure in ironing, yes. However, be careful with patches, some of them may stick to the iron.
10. What is the best detergent for gis?
Whatever detergent is on sale that week or whatever you use for your other laundry needs is good for gis. If you are on a tight budget, you may want to make your own laundry detergent with only three ingredients: borax, bar soap, and washing soda.
11. I like my whites really white. Is it safe to bleach my white gi?
Chlorine bleach is not recommended because it weakens the fabric, and also ruins the embroidery and patches. Instead, try oxygen bleach which brightens but does not break down cloth. You may also try old-fashioned bluing which gives whites the snow-white brightness. The photo below displays two white gis; however one has a slightly yellow hue, the other looks bluish. When you look at them side by side the color difference is quite obvious but looking at them separately both gis look perfectly white.
11 Sunday Jan 2015
Posted in Gis for Women and Girls, Products, Women's BJJ
A few months ago we tested out gold weave gi samples; liked them a lot, and decided to make a good, heavy-duty, old school training gi for women. We took away all the fancy add-ons, and made a gi for ladies who like a clean, simple, and classic look. There is no nylon tape; there is no rash guard lining, and there is no oversized, fire-breathing dragon embroidery on the back.
This gi top is made of 550 gsm gold weave cotton that gets softer, and softer over time. The trim, and collar are 14 ounce canvas pants material. The pants have 4 loops, a flat drawstring, and are fully reinforced from the upper thigh to the bottom of the pant leg just like our standard pants. A pair of canvas A1s weighs 24 ounces compared to 16 ounces for the same size in ripstop. Try grabbing those without ripping your nails out! These are the heaviest pants on the women’s bjj gi market right now, and will last you for years.
Gold weave, and canvas do require stretching out after every wash when the gi is wet in order to maintain the size. The best way is to grab one sleeve, step on the other one and pull up; think of a kettlebell high-pull. Do the same with the pants; step on the pant legs, and pull up from the waist. It sounds rough but be assured, it works! You may want to go with the tall size if you are at the very top of your size bracket or go size up if you plan on drying the gi in the dryer. If someone bleeds on your brand new gi (which always happens), use a dab of soap and hydrogen peroxide to clean it. It works!
Happy training!
25 Tuesday Nov 2014
Posted in News and Events
It’s this time of the year again! Fenom Kimonos biggest sale of the year is on Friday, November 28. All women’s gis, 10 different designs to be exact, are on sale for a very affordable price of $75.00. Quantities are limited, no rain checks. Thank you, and happy shopping!
29 Friday Aug 2014
Posted in Training, Women's BJJ
Day after day we see Facebook status updates from jiu-jitsu women who are having the most amazing training. Everything is awesome and great. This makes us wonder what really is behind this non-stop awesomeness.
We want to know what makes your jiu-jitsu unique. What are you known for? Are you a clone of your instructor or do you have your own distinctive style? Are you a super athlete? Are you a submission machine? Or are you a slow learner who struggles day in and day out always being the last one to be picked for rolling? What makes you good, different or both? How would you describe your jiu-jitsu without the following words: awesome, amazing, fierce, sick, and beast?
Please comment as long or as short as you wish, and you will have a chance to win a Fenom gi. Good luck!
27 Friday Jun 2014
Posted in Gis for Women and Girls, Products
Tags
cotton canvas, cotton drill, crystal weave, fenom kimonos, gis for women, gold weave, pearl weave, pearl weave plus, rip stop
We get a lot of calls asking which one is our lightest gi, and what is the difference between weaves. When talking about the weight of the fabric, textile industry uses gsm, grams per square meter, measurement. This however is rather meaningless to the consumers who will never test the material for gsm. It is easier to use the weight of the full gi set, jacket and pants, when choosing a gi.
Our women’s gis range from 2 lbs 8 oz for an A0 to 4 lbs for an A4. The minor differences in weights between different gis can be contributed to the design elements: pants loops, cord or flat drawstring, collar thickness, extra embroidery, and variances that happen in cutting and sewing. Half an inch extra in jacket or sleeve length as well as added reinforcements, patches, and decorative tape can add some extra weight.
The trend in the gi industry over the past 5 years has been towards light weight gis. The lightest gis we have seen are 350 gsm, and the heaviest are 1150 gsm (samples only). A consumer needs to remember that the smaller the gsm number, the lighter the gi. Proper sizing is the key to feeling good about your gi. It is equally uncomfortable to train in a too small or too big gi no matter how light weight it is.
Sometimes the same weight material in different weaves feels lighter or heavier, and the gis feel like they are not the exact same size or fit. Also the expectation of having different weave gis behave the same way in washing and drying can be disappointing. If you are used to shrink to fit kind of gi that you can manipulate a lot, and then buy a pearl weave gi which does not shrink down a size, you may be upset “because it is not the same size” and vice versa. There are no bad materials, it is all about personal preference, and hard to measure feel factor.
Here is a list of materials we have used either in production or for sample gis. The short description may help you in the process of choosing your next gi.
PEARL WEAVE is the most popular weave on the market. Majority of the gis are 450-550 gsm but we have made our kids gis as light as 390 gsm. Pearl weave is tight woven, coarse, and at times can be super rough, and unpleasant on grips especially when wet. Most pearl weave gis are about 96% pre-shrunk, but some are close to 99% pre-shrunk. The gis are durable, dry fast, and feel light. Some pearl weaves stay rough, and stiff with air drying, almost like an armor. Pearl weave has very little pilling, and does not stretch out as much as softer weaves.
GOLD WEAVE used to be very popular about a decade ago. Gold weave has been replaced by pearl weave but old school jiu-jitsu peeps are familiar with this weave. If you started training in the past few years, you probably do not own a gold weave gi. Gold weave gis are slowly coming back to the market. The material feels soft and airy due to the looser weave. It feels sturdy but light at the same time. Gold weave gi lasts for years and years, and gets softer and over time. Well worn gold weave gi is as comfortable as a pair of pajamas. Older gis feel heavier because heavy-duty canvas reinforcements were added to all stitching lines. Gold weave is not the most attractive weave, its looks a little like a kitchen towel.
CRYSTAL WEAVE is the material we have been using since 2009. Crystal weave gis are our most popular gis because of the softness of the material. This weave looks like a woven basket, and is very loose. It also moves a lot, and is easy to grab. At the same time, it is comfy and gentle on the skin, no gi burns ever! It feels thicker because of the fluffy look but in reality is light weight as well. Crystal weave shrinks more than pearl weave but can be stretched out when wet. Pulling the sleeves and sides straight after every wash is required in order to maintain the size. Some pilling happens but it does not interfere with the functionality of the gi.
PEARL WEAVE PLUS is a new weave we added to our product line this year. The pattern looks like rows of diamond cut rope chain necklaces side by side. Shoyoroll calls it Pearl Weave Pro, Killer Bee Kimonos calls it New “KillerBee” Weave. We are pretty sure other companies have different names for it, since it is very new to the market, and everyone wants to claim that it is their special weave. Pearl Weave Plus feels like a softer version of pearl weave, just a little bit different look. It holds up well in washes, and has no unexpected shrinkage.
HONEYCOMB WEAVE gets its name from the partial resemblance to the hexagonal honey comb cells. This weave forms ridges and hollows that gives a cell like appearance to the texture. It is a soft material but does not stretch out too much. It breathes well, dries fast, and feels super airy and thin. We have just ran samples in this weave, and have not made a final decision whether or not to add this material to our gi line. Honeycomb weave feels somewhat like a waffle bath robe you would get in a fancy spa or a hotel.
Cotton Drill was once the only material used for gi pants. In the recent years ripstop pants have slowly pushed drill pants out but this material is still preferred by many martial artists. It is strong, heavily textured with its signature diagonal ribs, and lasts for a long time. Cotton drill pants shrink more in length than in width but the shrinkage can be managed by stretching the pants out after washing. The pants are super comfortable but may feel heavy when wet. The knees may stretch out while rolling and the after-training baggy look is not appreciated by gi snoobs.
Ripstop is a very light weight, and strong material. Most ripstop pants on the market are 100% cotton, but some gi makers offer cotton/polyester combination which has a waxy, parachute feel to them. Ripstop material has reinforcement threads woven in 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm intervals, giving the fabric its distinctive 3D, square pattern. Even though ripstop pants are very durable, the name can be deceiving. Ripstop pants do rip at the stress points when they are a size or two too small, and wear out on the knees over time. Fitted or slim cut pants tend to stick to the skin when wet, and constant adjustment during training is distracting. Ripstop pants are preferred in hot weather training and in competition. Both ripstop and drill pants cost the same to manufacture.
Second part of the series on new weaves, single weave gis and double weave gis can be found here.
27 Wednesday Nov 2013
Posted in News and Events
Tags
fenom kimonos, girl's brazilian jiu jitsu, gis for women, women's bjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu
Fenom Kimonos is having a 12-hour sale on Friday, November 29th. Limited quantities and sizes will be available in each color, so set your alarm clocks and enjoy the lowest prices of the year!
