fashion brand focus Archives - Style&Minimalism

Best Organic Cotton T-Shirts

Just like non-organic t-shirts, organic cotton t-shirts vary widely in how they feel, their shape and the density of the fabric. I’ve been buying organic cotton t-shirts for a little while now (switching over when I discovered how much better they are for the environment and the people that farm the cotton; not to mention, the quality). I thought I’d share some of the best I’ve found.

The White T-Shirt Co.

The White T-Shirt Co. focus solely on making perfect t-shirts and they’ve been doing it since 2004. They work with The Green Cotton Group, a Danish textile manufacturer that produce organic cotton using the most sustainable methods. The White T-Shirt Co. produce incredibly soft t-shirts that don’t lose their softness after washing. Their long-sleeve t-shirts are made with a fairly dense jersey whereas their short-sleeve t-shirts are much thinner, good for layering in the winter or on their own in warmer months. I recommend their Fitted Long Sleeve Round Neck T-Shirt and Relaxed Short Sleeve Round Neck T-Shirt (I go up a size in both for a looser fit).

ARKET

New kid on the block, ARKET are part of the immense H&M group. Their raison d’être is to create quality products that are accessible to all, that will last, an ‘archive’ of wardrobe essentials. Only a few of their products are currently made with organic cotton, mostly t-shirts and vests and the odd pair of jeans but they do also use recycled cashmere in some of their jumpers (I have one and it’s so nice). I have a couple of their Organic Cotton T-Shirts in black and blush (which they refer to as orange). It’s a classic crew neck style that hangs beautifully and has a flattering longer cut short sleeve. They’re very lightweight with a slightly coarse texture. They have stayed exactly the same wash after wash.

Organic Basics

If you’re looking for a classic crew-neck t-shirt look no further than Organic Basics. They’re a Danish brand that specialise in basics, such as t-shirts and underwear, all made from Turkish organic cotton. They are constantly pushing for a higher level of sustainability, environmentally as well as socio-economically. Their t-shirts fall somewhere in-between the other two brands, they are lightweight with a soft texture. They’re straight cut and hang really nicely. I have their Organic Cotton Stretch Tee in white and black, both of which I’ve worn quite a bit. They seem to get a bit looser and softer the more you wash them.

Sunspel Factory Visit

This post was created in collaboration with Sunspel.

I imagine quite a few of you will remember the infamous Levi’s ad, in which a guy strips down to his boxer shorts so he can wash his jeans at the laundrette. The boxer shorts he wore (that revolutionised men’s underwear in the UK) were made by Sunspel. Daniel Craig also wore Sunspel t-shirts, polo necks and underwear during the filming of Casino Royale.

I discovered the brand a couple of years ago when I came across their Redchurch Street shop in Shoreditch. Even though they’re a predominantly menswear brand, I loved it from first sight. The shop’s clean, minimal style and the racks of clothing carefully merchandised in a neutral palette are all pretty heavenly.

Sunspel is a brand that takes great care over every product it creates and has done since it was established. They are specialists when it comes to cotton and for their top range jerseys they work with rare Sea Island cotton; a fine cotton from Montserrat in the West Indies that has an extra long staple length, fine uniform texture and silky lustre. This makes it smooth, strong and durable, as well as looking and feeling incredible. It’s also harvested by hand. They’ve always been an innovative brand and have developed countless techniques and fabrics, always endeavouring to make a better finished article. They’ve developed luxury fabrics, such as their warp knit (an evolution of pique cottons commonly used for polo shirts) was made to be lightweight and breathable but supremely soft. It was invented by Peter Hill, the grandson of Sunspel’s founder, so that he could keep cool and comfortable in the hot summer sun of the Riviera. There’s also loopback, the fabric traditionally used for sweatshirts, theirs uses an extra fine yarn that is tightly knitted to create a fabric that is softer, lighter and more resistant to pilling.

Sunspel invited me to visit their factory up in Long Eaton, just outside Nottingham, an area which was once the centre of British lace-making. An early start, a short train ride out of London and we arrived at the factory, which includes two of the red brick buildings the brand moved their (then) underwear business to, back in 1937. We were welcomed by the factory’s manager, John, a man with a wealth of knowledge about the industry.

I was introduced to many of the team at the factory and was given an insight into how their classic men’s cotton t-shirt is made, going from the cutting table, through to the finished packaged garment. When you’ve see this in-person it really changes your perspective on how you view a garment. Seven women were involved in the making of that one t-shirt, you couldn’t get much more handmade than that. They work with precision and speed. I got the chance to try using one of the machines, hemming the sleeves of a t-shirt; I went at half their speed.

New Discoveries This Spring

Discovering new brands and being able to share them with others is one of the things I love most about my work. Aside from the obvious (not being an advocate of fast-fashion), I don’t shop on the high street so often. This is partly because I like to share something other bloggers maybe aren’t and prefer to have a more individual style, and partly because I like to invest more in the sort of items I’ll keep for years to come. I spend a lot of time on Instagram researching new brands, it’s easy to disappear down the rabbit warren that it is, and once I get started I go from one account to another, the suggested followers function is one of my favourites. The fairly new save function has created an incredible hidden feed on my account, full of talented individuals and products. I’m sharing a few of my latest discoveries; I hope you discover something new, too.

Khaite

Last year, Khaite (pronounced “Kate”) launched exclusively at The Line and has already made waves this side of the Atlantic, gaining the attention of the style mavens at Matchesfashion.com, who have just stocked the latest collection. The New York clothing brand was founded by Catherine Holstein and is part of Vanessa Traina’s Assembled Brands. With luxury fabrics from Italy and elegant silhouettes, it’s more mature and confident than her earlier namesake label. It has a very European feel, mixing masculine and feminine elements. Ease is at the heart of the brand with classic knits and denim sitting alongside more structured dresses.

See more of the collection here.

Áeron

I’ve been following Áeron for just over a year now and have loved everything I’ve seen them create. The Hungarian brand makes the most stunning elevated basics in some of the finest materials available, including a Japanese suede that has become a signature of the brand. They’re the sort of pieces you will keep in your wardrobe for many years to come and will still be asked where they’re from, every time you wear them.

See more of the collection here.

Doên

Doên is a brand that really appeals to my bohemian side and, not surprisingly, it’s from Los Angeles. Their clothes have a beautiful feminine aesthetic, evocative of 70s California. Think pretty peasant tops, prairie dresses and knitwear in muted shades and vintage prints. The collective of creative women behind the brand look to support other women within the industry and especially their workforce. Across their website and social media platforms they showcase a beautiful lifestyle brand, bringing real women into their campaigns that represent the brand holistically.

See more of the collection here.

Teija

Combining her Nordic roots with Victorian techniques, Teija (the designer behind her namesake label) creates stunning contemporary designs, that have already been picked up by Dover Street Market. The designs are super minimalist but also wearable. Think frills, big cuffs and pin tucks in solid colours and classic stripes.

See more of the collection here.