This is a semi-recurring column with in-depth product recommendations from Cool Material’s editorial team.
A quality t-shirt is fundamental to any outfit I wear. It’s the most basic yet versatile piece of anyone’s wardrobe. Dress it up with a blazer and a decent pair of slacks. Or keep it simple with some joggers and a clean pair of sneakers. Pick any day and you’ll find me in a plain tee. Sometimes I wear it as a conversation starter, other times it’s like the bass player in your favorite band — just keeping everything together. But here’s the thing – regardless of how great the t-shirt looks, if it doesn’t wear well, it’s dead on arrival.
The process of finding t-shirts can be as challenging as finding just about anything these days. But sometimes what you’re looking for comes when you’re not looking at all. That’s how I found my new daily wardrobe staple – Outerknown Sojourn Pocket Tee.
The Sojourn t-shirt doesn’t just feel good, the company does too. Outerknown’s founder is none other than pro surfer and environmentalist Kelly Slater. He was on a mission to make a sustainable fashion company and he’s been riding this wave for five years and running. Each t-shirt is made with Peruvian Pima cotton – one of the softest and finest cottons you’ll find, and it’s sourced from over 390 local farmers in Peru. This organic cotton cuts out all the harmful synthetic chemicals making a safer workplace and a healthier planet too. The result is one of the softest and perfect-fitting t-shirts I’ve ever owned. If it weren’t for my wife telling me to wash it once in a while, I’d wear it daily. And each time I buy one, I’m doing my part to help the company invest in the lives of over 5k workers through Fair Trade USA. Who wouldn’t love that? So next time you are in the market for a basic t-shirt that’s a cut above the rest, give Kelly Slater’s threads a spin.
