Sea Island cotton is the softest cotton in the world. It comes down to the fiber itself. Longer, finer strands can be spun with less twist, which means fewer loose ends on the surface. The result is a fabric that feels smooth, almost liquid. Closer to silk than what most people think of as cotton.
It has carried a certain reputation for a long time. Queen Victoria was said to only use Sea Island cotton handkerchiefs. Ian Fleming kept it in rotation. Even Jimmy McGill, trying to pass as Howard Hamlin in Better Call Saul, knew to ask for one by name.
The towel shirt goes back to the 1950s. Beach coats, cabana shirts, terry shirts depending on where you were buying. They were all about effortless, beachside style, perfect for throwing on after a swim or just lounging with a cocktail in hand.
This one keeps that spirit, but pushes the material further. Sea Island cotton gives it a different hand. Softer, smoother, and a different feel from what you’d expect out of a terry cloth shirt. We kept the build simple. Three corozo buttons made from palm nuts. The large collar can be flipped up to keep your neck warm and dry when the sea breeze calls in. To finish it off, an American-made chain stitch patch sits on the breast pocket.
A good shirt for the water and even better for everything after.
