Of the 100 billion items of clothing sold worldwide each year, t-shirts are the most popular. Produced in hundreds of millions of copies each year, the basic of basics is quite simply the number one item in the textile industry . Beyond its socio-ecological impacts, this frenetic production leads to another problem: the difficulty of identifying a quality t-shirt among the masses. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to recognize a good t-shirt and allow you to make an informed investment.
Shop from trusted brands.
Behind the price of a t-shirt , there are a number of associated costs: purchase of raw materials, remuneration of partners, margin of the brand and workshops, overheads, transport costs etc. As a result, a (very) low amount can only be obtained at the cost of negligence on the elements mentioned above, most often in disregard of human and environmental rights. Unsurprisingly, we therefore advise you not to buy from fast-fashion brands and invite you to prefer responsible brands worthy of trust . To give you an idea, a new t-shirt for less than 25-30€ is very unlikely to have been designed and produced ethically.
Favor natural materials.
In direct contact with the skin, nothing beats a natural material . Since T-shirts are worn next to the skin, we suggest you choose a hypoallergenic ecological fiber such as cotton, wool, linen, hemp or even ramie. For your information, some of them are subject to labels encompassing social and environmental requirements that guarantee virtuous production conditions. For example, our organic cotton T-shirts are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) certified , ensuring responsible conditions of cultivation, harvesting and processing.
Furthermore, it's possible to combine several natural materials to adjust the fabric's properties. At Hast, it's precisely with this in mind that we blended cotton and linen to combine the softness and flexibility of the former with the breathability of the latter. With 70% cotton and 30% linen, our summer T-shirts combine the best of both fibers for a unique feel and performance.
Watch the weight.
On a T-shirt, the grammage corresponds to the weight of the material per square meter. Generally speaking, the heavier and denser a T-shirt is, the stronger and more durable it is . However, the spinning technique, the raw material and the knitting also come into play. For a 4-season T-shirt with a decent lifespan, we advise you to avoid grammages lower than 140 g/m2 , which are definitely too thin and prone to twisting. Similarly, knits exceeding 250 g/m2 will be of no use to you between May and September due to their thickness. Finally, models with a grammage between these two values seem interesting to us. At Hast, it is precisely in this window that we have targeted with organic cotton T-shirts of 160 g/m2 and cotton-linen T-shirts of 235 g/m2 . The ideal compromise between resistance , versatility and durability . 
Pick colors you won't get tired of.
Another important parameter for a T-shirt is its color. While everyone remembers the iconic white model worn by Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Steve McQueen, it's understood that advances in dyeing have opened up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to colors . As you browse the shelves of our collections , you'll have plenty of time to see this for yourself by discovering some particularly effective muted shades.
The t-shirts in our new spring-summer 2023 collection have been made and colored using the Garment Dye technique. A technique that consists of dyeing the garment once it has been made, unlike the traditional method of making the garment from already dyed fabric. The advantage of this technique? A wider choice of colors throughout the season . In addition, the colors obtained have a slightly faded , more authentic appearance. This technique has also been used for our chinos , work jackets and shorts , so the colors blend together perfectly.
From the essential blues and grays to the more adventurous plum, yellow, and ochre, you're sure to find the right shades to brighten up your outfits. Alone or in combination, these nature-inspired tones will allow you to liven up any look by playing with contrasts or complementarities, monochromes or color blocks. Examples? Just ask!
- Tucked into ecru pleated pants, consider our timeless forest green organic cotton t-shirt with ecru embroidery to give it a well-deserved boost.
- With beige cotton-linen chinos , a pale pink or plum would complement the tender clarity of brown perfectly.
- Paired with ecru pleated trousers, nautical blue or navy blue would provide a most harmonious contrast.
- Amid a blue formal jacket, you could opt for the sobriety of white or the vitality of an emerald; depending on the circumstances and your mood.
In all these cases (and many others), you could also trust two new products of which we are very proud: the "no-dye" t-shirt which has not undergone any dye treatment and our soberly assertive embroidered models.
Take a look at the care instructions.
Before and/or after purchase, it is essential to consult the recommendations indicated on the label to properly care for your (future) t-shirt. This is all the more important since this garment is one of those that must be cleaned most frequently. Between us, these are very often the same: machine wash at 30°C , moderate spin at 600 rpm maximum , air dry away from sunlight and that's it. These recommendations can vary slightly depending on the composition of the item, but we still suggest you be careful: remember that the lifespan of your garment largely depends on them.
Up to you.
Billions of T-shirts are created every year, and finding the perfect fit in this ocean of clothing is a treasure hunt. By paying attention to the parameters we've just listed (brand, material, weight, color, and care instructions), you'll undoubtedly find your way to the Holy Grail. A way to shop with confidence and awareness to buy a T-shirt that fits you, in every sense of the word.
