Men’s Cotton Shirts Guide

Where Does Apposta’s Cotton Come From?

The majority of the cotton fabrics which we use to make our shirts come from the suppliers Albini and Canclini. All our shirts are custom made-to-order in Italy.

Browse our cotton fabrics and create your perfect-fit cotton shirt from scratch. Or choose a pre-existing cotton shirt design and customise it at no extra cost.

What Is Cotton?

Cotton is a fabric material which is prized for its softness and durability. It is the most used clothing textile in the world. Cotton yarn is made from soft, fluffy natural fibre harvested from the seed pod of the cotton plant. This plant thrives in warm climates and produces a boll (a protective casing) that houses the cotton fibres.

What Are The Benefits of a Cotton Shirt?

Comfort

Cotton is a soft material and is comfortable for all-day wear.

Breathability

Cotton's natural fibres allow for better airflow than synthetic materials. This makes cotton shirts a wise choice for warm weather.

Durability

Cotton shirts can endure frequent washing without losing their structural integrity.

Absorbency

Cotton fibres are hollow and can absorb 24–27 times their own weight in water.

Versatility

Cotton shirts are very versatile. They can be worn for many different occasions and settings.

Hypoallergenic

Cotton is hypoallergenic and unlikely to irritate the skin of its wearer.

Easy Care

Cotton shirts are usually easy to wash, iron and maintain.

Special Types of Cotton Shirt Fabric

Sea Island Cotton

Sea Island cotton is one of the rarest cotton types in the world. It has the longest fibres of any cotton variety. These long fibres result in a smooth and lustrous finish, giving a sheen which is comparable to silk. Sea Island cotton shirts are extremely luxurious. This is because of their quality and the scarcity of the cotton yarns used to make the fabric.

• Extremely uniform appearance
• Very strong
• Extra fine
• Bright
• Smooth

Supima Cotton

Supima cotton is a luxurious fabric cultivated exclusively in the USA. It comes from a species of cotton plant which produces extra-long staple fibres. Supima cotton is twice as strong as regular cotton. It has excellent colour retention, fineness and softness.

• Extra-long staple fibres
• Twice as strong as regular cotton
• Extra fine
• Softens over time

Egyptian Cotton

Giza 45 and Giza 87 are varieties of Egyptian cotton. They are among the most luxurious cottons in the world. These cottons are created using fibres from cotton plants grown near the Nile River. Giza 45 is the highest grade of Egyptian cotton. Giza 87 is also an extremely high-quality Egyptian cotton, though of a lesser grade than Giza 45. Both of these cottons have a variety of exceptional properties. These include fineness, softness and strength.

• Extra-long staple fibres
• Strong
• Soft
• Silky
• Resistant to pilling
• Extra fine
• Uniform appearance

Technical Types of Cotton Shirt Fabric

Easy Iron Cotton

Easy-iron cotton requires minimal ironing. It still offers the softness and breathability of standard cotton. It is pure cotton which has undergone a special treatment to make it easier to care for.

• Less prone to wrinkling than regular cotton
• Low maintenance

Stain Repellent Cotton

Stain-repellent cotton is a fabric material woven in a way that helps it to resist staining. It can repel common staining agents such as red wine and coffee without chemicals. It is also fast drying.

• Repels stains
• Fast drying

Bio Cotton

Bio cotton is cultivated with environmentally friendly methods. The growing process does not include the use of chemical pesticides. The production process uses less water than is typical for growing cotton.

• Environmentally friendly
• Uses less water during production

Stretch Cotton

Stretch cotton offers increased elasticity compared to regular cotton. This extra stretch is achieved via a special treatment. The fabric material has a greater range of movement. It does not contain synthetic threads.

• Increased elasticity
• No synthetic threads
• Offers wearer increased range of motion

Cotton-CoolMax

Cotton-CoolMax is fabric material which keeps its wearer cool in hot weather. It also protects from UV rays. This type of cotton is UPF 50 rated. It is able to wick moisture away from the skin to keep its wearer dry.

• UPF50 protection
• Keeps wearer cool
• Wicks moisture away from the skin

Blended Types of Cotton Shirt Fabric

Cotton-linen

Cotton-linen is a blended fabric that has cotton’s softness and linen’s breathability. It is less prone to wrinkling than pure linen. Cotton-linen is well suited for creating formal summer shirts.

• Breathable
• Soft
• Less prone to wrinkling than pure linen

Cotton-silk

Cotton-silk combines cotton and silk fibres to create a fabric that’s silky and durable. This fabric material is soft, lustrous and comfortable.

• Soft
• Lustrous
• More crease resistant than silk

Cotton-viscose

Cotton-viscose combines the lightweight, soft drape of viscose with the durability of cotton. It is absorbent and breathable, so it makes a good choice for creating summer shirts.

• Breathable
• Lightweight
• Absorbent
• Soft drape

Cotton-Cashmere

Cotton-cashmere combines cotton and cashmere fibres to create a fabric that’s insulating. It is less wrinkle prone than pure cotton and is highly soft to the touch. It makes a practical yet luxurious choice for creating a cold weather shirt.

• Insulating
• Soft
• Crease resistant
• Regulates temperature

Cotton-tencel

Cotton-tencel is a fabric material created from cotton and Tencel fibres. Tencel fibres come from wood. They offer properties such as softness, excellent colour retention and biodegradability. Cotton-tencel fabric is durable, breathable, moisture absorbent, fast drying and bacteria resistant.

• Moisture absorbent
• Quick drying
• Crease resistant
• Breathable
• Bacteria resistant

Cotton-nettle

Cotton-nettle is a hybrid fabric material. It uses nettle yarns to increase strength and breathability. Nettle fibres are durable, breathable, soft, flexible, biodegradable and antistatic.

• Durable
• Breathable
• Antistatic
• Soft

Cotton-bamboo

Cotton-bamboo is a blended material that utilises both cotton and bamboo fibres. The bamboo fibres increase breathability and moisture absorption.

• Quick drying
• Moisture absorbent
• Breathable

Cotton-wool

Cotton-wool combines cotton and wool fibre. It provides greater insulation than cotton and is more comfortable than wool. It’s also resistant to creasing.

• Insulating
• Soft
• Crease resistant

Cotton-canvas

Cotton-canvas is a durable fabric material with a distinctive textured weave. It is strong and resistant to tears. It is most suitable for creating a casual shirt.

• Durable
• Resistant to damage
• Resistant to creasing

How is Cotton Made?

Cotton production begins with the cultivation of the cotton plant, which thrives in warm temperatures. After flowering, the plant produces a protective boll filled with soft, fluffy fibres that grow around the seeds. Once the bolls ripen and burst open, the cotton is harvested either by hand or with specialised machines. A machine called a cotton gin is used for separating the fibres from the seeds and debris. The clean cotton fibres are then pressed into large bales. They are sent to mills, where they are spun into yarn and woven or knitted into cotton fabric.

How to Wear a Cotton Shirt

Cotton shirts are highly versatile and they can be worn for all manner of occasions. Pale blue or white cotton shirts are classic workwear options. They can be easily worn with a navy suit, a navy tie and smart black shoes. For a casual outfit, a cotton Oxford shirt worn open over a white T-shirt is a good place to start. Finish the look with blue straight-leg jeans and black low-top sneakers. For a formal outfit try a French cuff cotton shirt in a luxurious fabric such as Supima cotton or Egyptian cotton. The addition of a black suit, black shoes, cufflinks and a tie will achieve a timelessly elegant look.

How to Take Care of a Cotton Shirt

• Machine or hand wash on a temperature setting of up to 30 degrees.
• Avoid harsh detergents and bleach.
• Air dry your cotton shirt instead of tumble drying to better preserve the garment.
• Iron on the reverse using a medium heat setting while the shirt is still damp.
• Hang cotton shirts on padded hangers or fold neatly to prevent creasing. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can fade colours.

Did You Know?

• Cotton has been used by humans for over 7,000 years. There is evidence of its cultivation found in ancient civilizations in India, Egypt, and South America.
• Unlike many fibres which get weaker, cotton actually gets stronger when wet.
• While most commercially grown cotton is white, it can naturally grow in colours such as green, red and brown. This colour does not fade.
• India is the world’s largest producer of cotton.
• US bank notes are made up of 75% cotton, the other 25% is linen.