Cotton shirts - the king of shirting fabrics
Cotton shirts are the epitome of men's formal style. Cotton has long been regarded as the choice of raw material to make shirting fabrics, and the fabric itself comes in a variety of qualities and weaves.
Cotton shirts have a uniquely breathable quality not found when the fabric used is synthetic or is mixed with synthetic fabrics. Two fold cottons, where two-ply thread is woven, are considered to be the best fabric to use in cotton shirts, although some mills are now producing a small range of three-fold cottons, but these tend to be very expensive. Two fold cotton shirts tend to feel softer and wrinkle less than the inferior single ply fabrics available, and should always be chosen in preference.
However, the ply number of the fabric is not the only indicator of quality. The thread count is another important factor when choosing a fabric for cotton shirts. Generally, the higher the thread count, the finer the fabric will be, and the more expensive it will be. For everyday cotton shirts, a two fold thread count of 100 to 120 is generally the best option, but ranges exist including thread counts of over 200. These fabrics are very expensive, and have a tendency to be quite delicate, so should only be used in cotton shirts intended for special occasions.
Finally, the mill where the cotton fabric has been produced plays a large role in dictating the overall feel and quality of the fabric. Mills such as Tessitura Monti, as used by Curtis & Dyer guarantee a good, long wearing finish and a soft hand.
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