The Best Heavy-Weight Cotton T-Shirts For Men
When shopping for your next t-shirt, it’s important to understand the weight of its fabric. It’s a key factor in whether it’s going to be soft or stiff.
Manufacturers identify the weight of their fabrics by gsm (grams per square meter) or oz (ounces per yard squared). This is an important factor to know before you buy a shirt.
Wax London
Wax London has a strong focus on sustainability and ethical production practices. Their fabrics are made from a variety of organic and recycled cottons, polyesters, and synthetics. They also use low-impact dyes from suppliers and mills that are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX certified, and they package their products in recycled paper and cardboard.
Founded in 2016 by friends Rich Singh, Tom Holmes, and Steffy Neceva, Wax London aims to bring manufacturing back to the UK. The result is a streamlined line of premium menswear that’s built for comfort and function.
Their shirts are a great example of this. They’re made from a mix of excellent materials and come in a range of different colors. They’re incredibly versatile and look fantastic when paired with jeans or trousers.
They’re also extremely lightweight and can be worn year-round, making them a perfect choice for warmer days. For example, their Hugg Shirt in White Linen is made from flax and is excellent for humid days or when you’re going to be doing a lot of walking.
The Whiting Overshirt is another great choice for warm weather. It’s made from a 100% recycled Melton fabric and is also a great way to add a layer of warmth to your outfit when you don’t need a heavy jacket.
This shirt comes in a wide range of color options, so you can find one that matches your favorite sweaters and hoodies. It’s also made from a blend of cotton and wool, so you can feel comfortable wearing it all day long without worrying about the temperature.
They also carry a variety of trousers for men, including the Skye Trouser and the Strood Trouser. Both are made from soft, cotton material and feature a straight leg fit with a bit of elastane for comfort. They’re also available in a range of sizes, from US 28 to 38.
Allevol
Japanese brand Allevol started fifteen years ago when Takashi Okabe, a former editor and journalist in the magazine industry, began selling vintage workwear that takes after the kind of hard-wearing, practical clothes that define British workwear. But these are updated in ways that allow them to be worn in either a slick repro-heavy look or paired with everyday jeans and boots for a more conservative ensemble.
Using carefully selected high grade raw cotton, these Heavy Duty tees are spun on traditional circular knitting machines in Japan and then crafted into a boxy fit that you’ll be reaching for all year long. The tee has a vintage-inspired silhouette that’s made for layering underneath a chore jacket and pairing with carpenter pants for an elevated take on classic workwear style.
One of the best things about these tees is that they keep their shape for a long time, making them a valuable investment. They also have an interesting logo design that uses a combination of Japanese and British construction to tie into the brand’s ethos.
Another cool Allevol piece is this woven fisherman sweater in a color reminiscent of an old pair of faded jeans. The fibers used are dyed in a dusty shade of indigo that ages beautifully over time.
They’re also releasing a limited edition collaboration with Scottish knitwear specialists Inverallen. The fold-over heavy-weight cotton t-shirts mitten, which buttons open for fingerless wear, is also made in a dyed 100% cotton in a cable knit pattern. The mittens have a good ol’ fashion feel, but the slick looking fold-over is only part of what makes this collaboration so interesting.
CDLP
One of the simplest and most essential wardrobe items for a man is underwear. Whether it’s under a suit or on the bed, it’s a fundamental part of your everyday life and a place where you can express your personality and style.
Swedish brand CDLP has taken underwear to a whole new level by creating elegant, grown-up basics that aren’t confined to the lounge. It’s a streamlined approach to the men’s underwear industry that skips flashy branding and patterns in favor of low-key aesthetics and premium materials.
The brand’s mission is to create men’s underwear that eschews the mass-production of undergarments and offers handmade, well-fitting and premium underwear that is crafted with sustainability in mind. Founded by Christian Larson and Andreas Palm, the pair started their label in 2016 after they noticed that most underwear on the market wasn’t as stylish as it could be.
Rather than choosing traditional cotton, they chose Lyocell, a fabric derived from wood pulp that is eco-friendly and silky-soft. It requires less water, land and chemicals during production and is naturally anti-bacterial and moisture-wicking. It also holds its shape much better than cotton, which is exactly what a pair of underwear should.
While these underwear are the core of the brand’s business, CDLP also creates other luxury clothing staples such as swim shorts, socks and activewear. Their focus heavy-weight cotton t-shirts on sustainable materials and high-quality production makes them a go-to for A-Listers like Michael Fassbender, Ricky Martin and Sting.
Their sustainable underwear doesn’t just look and feel great, it also is a smart investment for those looking to make their wardrobe more environmentally friendly. They also pride themselves on providing transparency to their customers by sharing what’s going into their products and why they use the particular sustainable fabrics they do.
Mott & Bow
Mott & Bow is an online denim startup that is taking on the major brands in the market. They’re a great option for anyone who is looking for high-quality denim at an affordable price.
The company specializes in men’s premium jeans, and they’re priced well below the $100 mark. They have a New York aesthetic and are aimed at the modern man who wants to put the smart in casual.
They also make a variety of shirts, such as the Amity and Driggs Crew tees. They’re made of 100% combed Peruvian cotton and have a nice soft feel.
One thing I really like about these t-shirts is that they’re very durable. The material feels heavy-weight but it’s not too stiff, so you can wear them for a long time without having to worry about them falling apart.
You can also try them on for free by using their home try-on program, which is a great way to make sure you get the right fit. The only drawback is that sizing is often inconsistent, so it’s worth taking your time when ordering.
Another great item from Mott & Bow is their Merino wool sweater, which comes in 4 different colors and can be worn for travel. It’s lightweight, easy to wash and dry, and comes in a crew or v-neck.
It’s a great staple piece that can be used to dress up or down depending on the occasion. You can also pair it with a shirt or t-shirt for a more casual look. This sweater can be worn year-round, and it’s incredibly comfortable and lightweight. You can even layer it over a button-down shirt for a classy look.
Hamilton + Hare
Hamilton + Hare has a strong focus on combining clever construction with premium fabrics, which it achieves through its line of heavy-weight cotton t-shirts. Whether you opt for one of their signature tees, or the more casual classic fit, each piece is made from a lyocell and pima cotton mix that boasts a soft hand feel and super comfortable wear. It’s also manufactured in small batches at a Portuguese mill using sustainable production practices, which means that its garments will last longer than many of their competition and are easy to care for. The result is a shirt that’s perfect for weekends or days spent in the office and is sure to become an instant staple.
Get yourself a Hamilton + Hare T-shirt and enter to win one of 3 sets of underwear or loungewear from the brand for free. To do so, simply write a review on the product page. The more reviews you submit, the higher your chances of winning! We’ll select three winners on June 1.
The brand’s heavy tees are a must-have for any guy who appreciates classic US sportswear, but doesn’t want to sacrifice style for comfort.