An ancestor of the T-shirt, the union suit was a one-piece undergarment that covered the skin from the ankles to the shoulders.
At the turn of the 20th century, it was split into two for practical reasons, now consisting of a Long John on the bottom and a Henley on the top. Adopted by the US Navy around World War I, the upper part of this ensemble got rid of its button-down collar and long sleeves to give the T-shirt the shape we know today.
Subsequently, Montgomery Clift ( A Place in the Sun, 1951 ), Marlon Brando ( The Wild One, 1953 ) and James Dean ( Rebel Without a Cause, 1955 ) only needed to wear this garment to make it a wardrobe monument. A sacred monster that has not aged a day in a few hundred years of reign.
5 keys to choosing the right t-shirt
Competing with jeans for first place in the ranking of the best-selling clothes each year, the T-shirt can obviously count on a plethora of offers . The downside: there are millions of references on the market, sometimes for the best and often for the worse.
To help you see things more clearly, here are the five key parameters that we invite you to monitor before buying a men's t-shirt :
- The material . The T-shirt is in direct contact with the skin, which is why it is essential to choose natural fibers such as cotton, wool, linen or even hemp.
- Design . The more simple and timeless your T-shirt is, the less you will get tired of it. Also, we invite you to choose refined models with a straight cut, a round neck and sleeves ending at mid-bicep.
- Weight . To ensure a clean drape and good durability, we advise you not to choose a T-shirt that is too light (below 150gr/m2). Conversely, a weight greater than 250 gr/m2 will probably be too thick, difficult to wear in spring and summer.
- The country of manufacture . We cannot encourage you enough to buy locally, at least European. This will ensure that you support a sector that is very legally regulated, far from the human, health and social dramas that fast fashion washes its hands of.
- Finishing touches . Take a close look at the details of the T-shirt you have your eye on. Testing the seams, inspecting the collar, and scrutinizing the overall appearance of the finishes will give you a true picture of its endurance.
The new Hast t-shirts
Historically, we have always offered you the T-shirt in its most classic form: a 100% organic cotton model available in 6 classic-classic colors . An essential framework for any wardrobe worthy of the name, to which you asked us to add more original references.
We have heard you, and without further delay we present to you our new range of cotton-linen t-shirts designed for sunny days.
- Our pair of striped T-shirts . Spaced horizontal stripes that evoke the sailor's jersey or fine and tight stripes : this is the choice available to you on the side of these new graphic jerseys in 70% cotton and 30% linen. In both cases, we have worked a fluid and light jersey ideal for summer. All in subtlety, this pattern brings consistency to an outfit and allows to transform a classic into the centerpiece of any contemporary wardrobe.
- Our new colorful t-shirts . In addition to the most basic shades like the white , ecru or gray t-shirt , we have enriched our palette with a new batch of original colors. Bright and powdery tones that will enhance the slightest of your looks every day of the year. Made in a fairly thick 70% cotton 30% linen jersey (235 gr/m2), they will make you happy from the hardest winter to the beautiful summer evenings. In terms of dyeing, we have chosen the garment dye process to color these t-shirts, for all the reasons mentioned here .
The art of wearing Hast t-shirts
While it is obviously possible to play the simplicity card by wearing your t-shirt outside your pants , there are other ways to approach this piece to explore more daring terrain.
For example, you just have to tuck it into your pants to create a more assertive silhouette, deliciously defined at the waist.
More daring, the t-shirt/shirt combo is a great classic of the ivy wardrobe. You can choose the contrast option, by wearing a light shirt over a dark jersey ; the monochrome solution, by superimposing two colors from the same color family ; or even the mismatched option by combining a patterned t-shirt and a plain shirt .
The embodiment of the casual chic movement, the t-shirt / suit jacket combination is also worth considering. It combines the simplicity of the first with the sophistication of the second to form a very happy marriage.
As a final option, you can try layering by pairing a t-shirt, shirt and blazer . In this case, you should choose each piece carefully to ensure consistency between colors, volumes and textures.
Caring for our T-shirts
To clean your Hast T-shirts, simply put them in the washing machine on a standard program at 30°C . To prevent any risk of deformation, select a spin cycle of 400 to 600 revolutions per minute, then let them dry on a clothes horse away from direct sunlight.
The final word
The best-selling piece of clothing in the world, the T-shirt embodies the most beautiful face of clothing, as well as its darkest side. Cornerstone of any wardrobe and emblem of consumerist madness, it is essential today to choose it consciously .
At Hast, we offer you fair and honest models, spun, dyed and made in Portugal with noble and labeled natural materials. Responsible and eco-conscious references, distributed on our site and in our stores to enhance your wardrobe with dignity. Plain T-shirt, blue T-shirt, gray T-shirt, green T-shirt, beige T-shirt, striped T-shirt, embroidered T-shirt, all are available and they are just waiting for you.
