CUSTOM-MADE Free shipping to Australia Fast delivery Free remake guarantee

CUSTOM-MADE Free shipping to Australia Free remake guarantee

Buy 2 or 3 custom garments - get 15% off Buy 4 or more custom garments - get 25% off CODE: SPRINGCLOTHING * Offer valid until 31/3. Not combinable with other offers or on gift cards

Buy 2 or 3 custom garments - get 15% off
Buy 4 or more custom garments - get 25% off
CODE: SPRINGCLOTHING
* Offer valid until 31/3. Not combinable with other offers or on gift cards

Cotton

13 August 2018

Most of what you wear today is probably made from cotton. For many thousands of years we have harvested the cotton plant for fibers which are spun into thin yarns and then woven into cloth. Fine dress shirts require fine cotton, but what should you look for when choosing a fabric?

Cotton comes from the family Gossypium, and the species hirsutum is the most common. If a garment is labeled "100% cotton", you usually get hirsutum. This species accounts for approximately 90% of the world's production.

Dress shirts in 100% cotton

Olympia, white
White Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189
Olympia, light blue
Light blue Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189

The finest cotton comes from the species barbadense (only about 8% of world production), which gives extra long fibers which, in turn, can be spun into finer yarns and woven into fantastic fabrics.

You probably recognize barbadense cotton by its more common names, Egyptian (Giza) cotton, Pima cotton (grown in North and South America), Sea Island (grown in the Caribbean), and a few others.

Egyptian cotton, or Giza cotton, is the best-known Barbadian cotton. It is known for its long fibers (around 30mm+) and is woven into extraordinarily soft and wrinkle-resistant shirt fabrics.

Premium dress shirts in Egyptian Cotton

Olympia, white
White Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189
Olympia, light blue
Light blue Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189
Olympia, white
White Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189
Olympia, light blue
Light blue Non-Iron business shirt
4.8/5
AUD 189

Our fabric family Savile Row is woven from Pima cotton and is really affordable. Pima grows in North and South America and is not quite as well known as its Egyptian cousin. It has similar fiber lengths and fine properties, making it suitable for shirt fabrics.

Sea Island is the king of cotton. It is an absolute luxury with its extreme fiber lengths (50-60mm). This amazing cotton is only grown around Barbados in the Caribbean, with minimal production. Unfortunately, this makes Sea Island cotton fabrics incredibly expensive and exclusive.