FABRIC GUIDE – SHIRTS The key to an elegant silhouette
Know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
Epictetus
We offer more than 800 fabric choices, from solid colours in varying weights, weaves and textures to lively prints, subtle designs, checks and stripes. Our collection includes cotton, linen and silk with a limited-edition selection of chiffon and rayon. Looking for something warmer? Flannel, denim and wool are available on request.
Learn more about our fabrics and see a selection of our favourites below.
Cotton
We take pride in offering 100% cotton which is ideally suited to Hong Kong’s hot and humid climate. Breathable and durable, our cotton shirts are ideal for regular use. Our cottons come in a varying weights, weaves and textures including poplin, twill, chambray, pinpoint, sateen, knit and stretch.
Poplin 100% cotton: Poplin, also known as broadcloth, has a crisp feel and smooth finish. Lighter and more breathable than twills and oxfords, poplin is suitable for warm climates, but are more prone to wrinkling and can be slightly transparent, particularly in white. Nevertheless, it is a popular fabric due to its lack of texture or sheen.
Twill 100% cotton: Twill fabrics have a distinct diagonal weave. Twill is a soft fabric, and a little thicker and heavier than poplin, and when finely woven can display a natural sheen. While not as crisp as poplin, its softness, relaxed drape and resistance to wrinkling make it a popular choice.
Chambray 100% cotton: Also known as end-on-end or fil-a-fil, chambray is a poplin weave in which the horizontal thread is one color and the vertical thread another color, usually white. As a result the fabric appears solid from a distance but upon closer inspection reveals a fine checkerboard character. Like poplin, chambray is lightweight, smooth and breathable.
Pinpoint 100% cotton: Pinpoint (also referred to as pinpoint oxford) has a basket-weave with a fine yarn and a tight weave structure making the pinpoint thicker than a poplin. Its durability and flexibility make it an ideal fabric for everyday wear.
Sateen 100% cotton: Not to be confused with satin, which is traditionally made from silk, sateen is made from spun cotton. Like satin, sateen has that characteristic softness and shine but with the durability and washability of cotton, which makes it the most luxurious of cotton fabrics.
Knit 95% cotton 5% nylon: Knit fabrics are created by interlocking yarn in loops and can be made from a variety of raw material. Our knit fabrics are comprised of 95% cotton with 5% nylon and have a 4-way stretch. Deliciously soft, stretchy and flexible, knit shirts are also naturally wrinkle resistant.
Easy iron: All our easy-iron fabrics are 100% cotton. The resistance to wrinkling comes from a chemical treatment at the final stage of the clothmaking process that softens the fibres while maintaining the cloth’s breathability. Most easy-iron cloths tend to be twill, though you will find easy-iron poplins and pinpoints too.
Linen
Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant. More loosely woven than cotton, its absorbency and breathability make it an ideal fabric for hot and humid climates. With a drier hand than cotton, linen does have a tendency to wrinkle. Indeed its indifference is often considered part of its charm.
Silk
Silk, a natural fibre, needs no further introduction having been the epitome of luxury through the ages. The softness and elegance of silk, with its signature shine and lustre, is unparalleled. Bear in mind though that silk shirts do require dry-cleaning and watch out for the static in dry, winter weather.
Chiffon
The only fabric in our collection not made from natural fibres is chiffon, available in a limited-edition selection of solid colours. These shirts drape beautifully though the polyester fibres don’t have the breathability of cotton. The fabrics are slightly sheer and semi-transparent especially in light colours.
Rayon
Although rayon is made from natural wood pulp, it does go through rigorous chemical processing making it fall into the semi-synthetic category. Our rayon shirts are soft and smooth with a fluid and flowy drape that doesn’t retain heat making it cool and breathable. Available in a limited-edition selection of prints.
