Mar 2025
We took two of our tees to a government approved lab and got them tested. Here are the results:
|
Supima Tee |
Heavy Tee |
||
|
Shrinkage |
-1.96 / -1.18 |
-0.39 / -0.39 |
Measured as a percentage (+/-), after 30 washes |
|
Spirality |
0.43 |
0.14 |
Distortion in fabric. Measured as a percentage, after 30 washes |
|
Colour Fastness |
Rating 4 |
Rating 4 |
Measured as a rating from 1 to 5, after washing at 60° |
|
Pilling Resistance |
Rating 4 |
Rating 4 |
Measured as a rating, on a scale of 1 to 5 |
|
Formaldehyde Presence |
Not Detected |
Not Detected |
Chemical used to create wrinkle-resistance and retain colour. Carcinogenic and causes skin irritation. |
Source: The South India Textile Research Association [SITRA]
Every tee is bound to be different.
Differences can be attributed to fabric type and quality of materials. Here’s a closer look at the commonly used fabrics today.
Cotton is a natural fibre that has been used to make garments for centuries. It is universally known for its softness and versatility.
Pros
Skin-friendly. No harmful chemicals
Naturally soft
Cool and breathable
High quality cotton feels luxurious
Highly versatile
Cons
High cost of production
Good care needed for finished garments
Not all cotton is equal
Common applications - Lifestyle, home and baby wear
Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based products. It grew popular in the 1970s as a less expensive alternative to cotton.
Pros
Cheaper to produce
Highly durable
Moisture wicking
Offers a forgiving drape
Cons
Traps heat and generates static
Less breathable, holds body odour
Needs intense disperse dyeing
Non-biodegradable
Common applications - Techwear, industrial gear, swimwear
Bamboo, Tencel and Modal are made from plant-based fibres. These relatively new fabrics have found wide applications in sports and active wear.
Pros
Soft and comfortable
High breathability
Moisture wicking
Antibacterial properties
Cons
Intense chemical process to convert pulp into fibre
Pilling after repeated use
Too much drape, lacks structure
Typically blended with spandex, so shorter lifespan
Common applications - Performance wear, sleep essentials
From day one, we knew it had to be cotton. Natural was a given. And we loved how really good cotton felt on the skin.
Choosing Supima Cotton for the Classic March Tee was easy. It was perfect for lifestyle wear. It came at a higher cost, it needed more care. But it felt right.
We're often asked if Supima Cotton is actually superior to regular cotton. The answer is yes. We’ve tested the Supima fibre of our Classic Crew and the cotton fibre of our Heavy Crew.
|
Combed Cotton* |
Supima Cotton |
||
|
2.5% Span |
29.78 |
37.62 |
Average length of cotton fibre. Greater the length, better the quality |
|
Uniformity |
49.2 |
46.9 |
Denotes consistency in length of the fibres |
|
Bundle Strength |
23.6 |
33.3 |
Tensile strength of a bundle of cotton fibres |
|
Micronaire |
4.15 |
3.67 |
A measure of fineness and maturity. A lower reading indicates finer and more mature fibres |
|
Elongation (%) |
5.5 |
6.3 |
Indication of flexibility and ability to stretch without breaking |
*The combed cotton that we source is a higher grade than what's generally used in the market
We plan to dig deeper, by doing more regular and rigorous tests. While the choice of raw materials is key, understanding them better and using them right are just as important to make a tee that lasts long, performs well and feels great.
