The Shirt

BACKGROUND
What can't a shirt be worn for? Our design philosophy is to fulfil your clothing needs on a "Northern road trip". On a Northern road trip, plans are loose and possibilities are plenty. You might end up skiing, hiking, wining and dining, camping or passing time playing cards on a train. In each of these situations, having a thin mid-layer that can pack small and be thrown on when it gets cool is both practical and comfortable. What's better for that than a light button-down shirt? What might be the best part is that it can easily be dressed up or down, making it just as functional at the office as on your road trip.

COROZO
“It’s all in the details,” is often said about details that are essential and that characterize the appearance of clothes or other objects. The same can be said about the buttons on The Shirt. They are made of a material called corozo, produced in the lowland rainforests of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama.It’s a 100% natural material that comes from the seeds of the Tagua nuts. Here are some other points worth knowing about:

NATURAL HARVESTING: The seeds are harvested naturally after the nuts have fallen from the tree.

DURABILITY: The fibers provide exceptional resistance to scratches and impressive durability.

LOCAL ECONOMY: The tagua industry may not be the largest in the region, but it still serves as the main source of income for over 30,000 local farmers in Ecuador.

RENEWABLE RESOURCE: No trees are cut down. When mature, a tagua tree can produce up to 25 kilograms of nuts over 100 years.

NATURAL: Corozo is 100% biodegradable. A fantastic alternative to plastic commonly used for buttons.

PROTECTING THE RAINFOREST: Corozo production generates up to 5 times more income than banana production and cattle ranching. While these industries contribute to deforestation, Corozo is produced in balance with the local environment.

DETAILS
The Shirt is made of 80% cotton and 20% merino wool. This gives you a soft and comfortable shirt in natural and biodegradable materials that complement each other with their qualities. Wool is self-cleaning, and with it in the mix, the need for washing is reduced. The cotton makes the shirt more durable, allowing you to use it longer and more frequently.

The Shirt also has several hidden, clever details that give it a functional advantage and make it perfect for being on the go. In the right seam, there is a discreet and secure zipper pocket that is perfect for storing a passport, maps, etc.

The chest pocket is equipped with a flap for secure storage of smaller items. At the top of the flap, there is an opening to hang glasses or pens. On the men's model, there is also a hidden zipper pocket under the flap (in addition to the chest pocket). This has been removed on the women's model to avoid creating extra bulk on the chest.

These practical, hidden details contribute to making the shirt smart, functional, and easy to wear for a long time, while maintaining a minimalist and clean style.

DURABILITY
As with all our garments, we strived to design a shirt that you both can and want to wear for as long as possible. Firstly, the design had to be classic. Secondly, it had to be durable and designed for repairs.

When it comes to the latter, we have implemented multiple details to ensure that repairing is as easy as possible. We researched used shirts and studied the areas that wear out first. For example, we have added a binding on the cuff to protect the main fabric from wear and tear. This is sewn so that it is easy to remove and/or replace.

We have also implemented subtle reinforcements on the elbows in the same color as the main fabric. These are also easy to remove and replace. In addition, the collar is designed so that it can be taken off, turned inside out and worn twice as long. Last but not least, all relevant seams are strengthened to avoid them loosening.

USE MORE +
This product is made with durable materials and in a timeless design. This helps ensure that you can use it for many years, but its lifespan also depends on how you take care of it. If you take good care of your product and repair it when needed, you will be able to enjoy it for a very, very long time. We're here to help with that through Use More +, a service that gives you help on fixing and caring for your product, and one free repair of this product. Read more about Use More + here.

STORE AND MICROFACTORY
Our store is not your typical shop. Sure, we sell clothes and make money from it, but can we do everything the opposite of what typical clothing stores do? Our goal is just as much about opening minds and showing that it's possible to do things in a completely different way, with a totally different footprint.

Visit us at Grünerløkka in Oslo (where Markveien crosses Korsgata) to try on clothes, share your input on new products, repair worn garments, see how your products are made, or just have a chat with one of us. More information about the store here. Read more about our store concept here.