The shrinkage rate

Whether in fashion or other fields, some topics are rarely discussed, often due to a lack of educational explanation and because they are not seen as commercial selling points.
On the contrary, we believe it is essential to understand what you buy. Naturally, we think it is important to explain our approach and our products. A good understanding of a subject allows you to appreciate it better, with perspective and a broader view (for example, a high yarn count is a mark of quality, but also brings a degree of delicacy).

We promise it is not as technical as it sounds. In fact, we are going to explain why you sometimes feel slightly tighter in a new shirt you have just washed.
Because yes, that feeling is entirely real. Naturally, it varies depending on how you choose and wear a shirt: if you tend to buy your shirts fairly loose, you might not notice any difference at all.

Simply a measure of fabric shrinkage. This percentage can vary depending on the raw material (natural and synthetic materials behave very differently) and the weave structure. For obvious reasons of comfort and quality, we choose to work exclusively with natural materials such as cotton, linen or ramie.

Natural fibres are particularly sensitive to this phenomenon, which is caused by attractions between molecules called hydrogen bonds, formed during weaving.
During washing, hot water breaks down some of these bonds, which relaxes the fabric. As the water evaporates during drying, the fibre network changes, becoming denser and tighter.
For each of our fabrics, we agree with our suppliers on a maximum shrinkage allowance (under 2%) to ensure your shirt keeps its original cut over time. Please note that this shrinkage occurs during the first few washes; after that, the fabric stabilises and will not change.

No, choose a shirt in your size. When trying on your shirt, make sure it suits your body shape (fitted or extra-fitted).

As a reminder, here are a few points to check:

With the rise of more fitted cuts in recent years, many of you prefer a shirt that sits very close to the body. However, we advise taking into account the slight shrinkage of the shirt in the wash to avoid any unpleasant surprises, especially with fine fabrics featuring a high yarn count, which may wear out more quickly under heavy tension.