is there anything as quintessentially american as the white cotton t-shirt? at least there’s nothing that comes to mind that has worked it’s way into all of our daily lives. and while the lowly t-shirt may not be an item for careful consideration, we’re here to let you know a good white cotton t-shirt can make or break your wardrobe. and as with most things, the japanese brands have taken it upon themselves — as they do with most things — to fetishistically obsess over the details of what makes a t-shirt classic and how to replicate it. here is a selection of shirts we’ve put through the ringer.
is there anything as quintessentially american as the white cotton t-shirt? at least there’s nothing that comes to mind that has worked it’s way into all of our daily lives. and while the lowly t-shirt may not be an item for careful consideration, we’re here to let you know a good white cotton t-shirt can make or break your wardrobe. and as with most things, the japanese brands have taken it upon themselves — as they do with most things — to fetishistically obsess over the details of what makes a t-shirt classic and how to replicate it. here is a selection of shirts we’ve put through the ringer.
when it comes down to it, the t-shirt may be the most essential of essential pieces in your wardrobe. so essential in fact that it often goes overlooked and underexamined — in short, we treat it as a commodity. but the t-shirt is the base layer cloesest to your skin, and investing in something better can help you look good and feel better. after much consideration we’ve decided that uniqlo’s supima cotton crew neck short-sleeve t-shirt is the best bang for your buck in the market today. i think we all know that uniqlo excels in the price category relative to the other brands we’ve reviewed due to their scale and the fact that these shirt are not manufactured in japan. when it comes to the other rated categories, uniqlo is in that goldilocks territory, where for the price, everything feels just right. the supima cotton has a smooth, luxurious feel, and holds up for about a season of wear.
wasew, which derives it’s name from「和装」is known for producing american-inspired cut and sew garments using japanese fabrication techniques giving their pieces a bicultural spin. their iteration of the white cotton t-shirt leans on the vintage aesthetic, right down to the hanes-inspired package color scheme. their t-shirt also sports a tubular construction, knit tough from a regular staple cotton to evoke that classic american packed tee look and feel.
Visvim founder and head designer Hiroki Nakamura takes particular care in sourcing the finest materials for his clothing, often adding his own treatments to get the finish just right.The Ultimate Crew S/S Tee has been cut from 100% Sea Island cotton and comes in a white colourway. The material itself is the finest, rarest and most expensive cotton in the world and is grown in small areas around the Caribbean. Renowned for its extra-long staple and silky texture, it is slightly heavier in weight than typical cotton. To show off the material, the tee itself has been kept simple with a regular fit, thick crew neck collar and straight hem.
reproduction specialist, the real mccoy’s, offers their nostalgic take on the american tee in a two pack bundle. riffing on an early 40s vintage aesthetic, their t-shirt comes in a classic silhouette, fit for the back of one steve rogers. the real mccoy’s also employs tubular construction for their garment as well as a reinforced neck band to minimize stretching.
batoner is a factory label of okuyama meriyasu, located in the once knit capital of japan, sagaeshi. now as one of a handful of manufacturers still in operation, they continue to deliver high-quality knits for third-party brands as they have done so since 1951. recently they've established an in-house label under the batoner moniker to supply reasonably priced knit products directly to consumers. a prime example of the label's understated but high quality staples is the cotton t-shirt. made of 100% giza87 cotton, this tee is cut in a slightly relaxed fit. the cotton is tightly woven into a tubular construction making for a sturdy wear.
graphpaper, the purveyors of slightly avant everyday basics, delivers their version of the white cotton t-shirt in a 2 pack. as expected from graphpaper, the fit is on the loose side. the 100% cotton fabric has a medium gauge and is relisient, and stands up well against wear and wash. brand director minami isn’t a fan of t-shirts with stretched out neck bands, and made sure his tees didn’t suffer the same fate. the torso is constructed from a tubular weave, accentuating the boxy silhouette.
