Why do some shirts cost more than others – without necessarily being better?
Raw Cotton – A Dangerous Temptation
Cotton is a global commodity with highly variable fiber quality. A simple method to determine cotton quality is by measuring fiber length. The longer the fibers, the stronger, softer, and more durable the fabric becomes. The finest cotton quality is referred to as "ELS," short for "Extra-Long Staple."
If your shirt isn't made from ELS cotton, you're not getting the best quality – now you know.
Since cotton accounts for the majority of production costs in a quality shirt, some brands may be tempted to cut corners here, compromising on quality.
All shirts look the same in stores... or do they?
It will quickly become apparent to you as a customer if your shirt is made from inferior cotton quality. The shirt wears out faster and thus has a shorter lifespan. This means that the initially cheap shirt ends up costing you more in the long run than the more expensive option would have.
At BARONS, we exclusively use 100% organic extra-long staple (ELS) Giza cotton for our business shirts. The cotton is certified, free from synthetic fibres, and in the top 0.1% of the world's cotton fibers. And for the cotton nerds out there, we can also tell you that our shirts are STeP-certified.
Expensive Middlemen Make a Difference
There’s no debate. It’s actually very simple. The more costly middlemen involved, the higher the price for consumers.
When you step into a large, stylish menswear store or department store, you are ultimately paying for the rent, inventory, staff, etc. On top of that, there’s often also an agent or distributor selling the products to the store.
Another costly middleman.
Most people understand this logic, but we all tend to forget it from time to time.
Don’t get us wrong – we also appreciate a beautiful, physical store with great service. That’s one of the reasons we have our Flagship Store in the heart of Copenhagen. Here, we sell our products directly. When you shop with us, we cut out the expensive middlemen. No agents or distributors adding to the price.
Our Flagship Store makes it easier and more accessible for new customers to experience the quality firsthand and find their fit.
It’s all about creating real value for money. That’s why we’ve eliminated the costly middlemen that define the traditional fashion industry. As a result, we can focus 100% on creating the ultimate shirt.
The Devil Is in the Detail – Easier Said Than Done
Most seasoned Corporate Warriors know that a poor-quality shirt will eventually reveal itself. We specialize 100% in classic shirts and have learned to respect the craft of producing outstanding shirts. When working with a fine and delicate material, like cotton, even the smallest mistake can lead to a defective shirt.
It takes a serious, detail-oriented mindset to control every aspect of the production process. Luckily, we’re quite nerdy, so we love diving into topics like raw cotton, yarn combinations, and textile treatments.
Focusing on details increases the price slightly, but details are also the key to achieving the best shirt qualities. Low-quality shirts often lack proper interlining (the inner fabric) for an ultra-crisp, durable collar and cuffs.
The buttons on every BARONS shirt is secured with a special thread using a patented machine to ensure the button stays attached longer. Cheaper shirts often times have fewer stitches to reduce production costs, at the expense of lower-quality and less elegant seams. Socially responsible production and a shirt free from harmful chemicals aren’t guaranteed either. This, and much, much more...
The More Complex Part – And Your Health, of Course
OEKO-Tex 100. Doesn’t sound very sexy, does it? But have you ever considered how much of your life you actually spend in your shirt? Maybe you’re even wearing one right now? If you’re a hardcore Corporate Warrior, you spend more than 2,500 hours in a shirt per year.
That’s why it matters whether your shirt is certified and free from chemicals. Be aware that if your current shirt brand isn’t telling you about this, it’s most likely not free from potentially harmful chemicals.
At BARONS, we only work with textiles that are free from harmful chemicals for both people and the environment, and we exclusively use the strict OEKO-TEX 100® standard.
Read more about the details behind a BARONS shirt here.
