SCORES:
Mott & Bow — M8 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 23
Colorful Standard — M8 / C7 / J8 — TOTAL: 23
Asket — M7 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 22
Son of a Tailor — M5 / C8 / J7 — TOTAL: 20
AYR — M6 / C8 / J6 — TOTAL: 20
Uniqlo — M6 / C7 / J6 — TOTAL: 19
Sunspel — M7 / C5 / J6 — TOTAL: 18
Rapanui — M5 / C6 / J6 — TOTAL: 18
Steel City — M6 / C6 / J5 — TOTAL: 17
True Classic — M5 / C4 / J7 — TOTAL: 16
SANVT — M7 / C3 / J4 — TOTAL: 14
Spoke — M4 / C4 / J4 — TOTAL: 12
Labfresh — M2 / C5 / J5 — TOTAL: 12
Both ASKET and Mott & Bow deliver outstanding T-shirts off the rack, yet ASKET’s wide range of sizes, which includes various widths and lengths, ensures that everyone can find a fit that feels and looks fantastic. Uniqlo has crafted an incredibly valuable, virtually indestructible design that promises durability over time, while Colorful Standard showcases that prewashed, trend-savvy organic t-shirts can complement any body type beautifully.
Newcomer AYR wowed reviewers with their meticulous attention to detail and superior stitching. Labfresh’s comfortable elastane/cotton blend felt excellent and seems built to last, but once again, sizing turned out to be inconsistent, leading to lower scores. Furthermore, Steel City, known for its appealing vintage aesthetics made in the USA, fell short in construction quality.
Among the bespoke options, Son of a Tailor stood out in comparison to Spoke. The use of high-quality (though not organic) Supima cotton in various weights, paired with an elegant, premium appearance and the capacity to modify future designs sets them apart, despite notable sizing discrepancies. Spoke, however, did not leave a strong impression, although the revised version of Chris’ initial shirt marked a notable enhancement.
We were hopeful about SANVT’s application of technology for sizing, but the Sizekick software proved troublesome for two out of three testers, which is unfortunate given that the T-shirt itself is of high quality.
Taub isn’t shocked that the online algorithm method isn’t yet completely reliable. “Having people with less experience input their measurements is flawed. You couldn’t expect customers to provide their measurements accurately. I’m also surprised none of these brands request a simple photograph, as it would significantly enhance the experience.”
However, he acknowledges that “if you approach your first online T-shirt [order] as a learning process with a brand you wish to trust and support—and which will still be around in the future—you’ll eventually grasp what suits you. Through trial and error, you can achieve a custom fit from a mass-produced garment. Yet, from what I’ve observed, none have proven to be superior to simply spending two days exploring every shop and trying things on yourself.”
