Cotton Shirt for Men: A Fine Balance of Elegance and Ease

Without the effortlessly elegant cotton shirt, the world of men’s fashion would be incomplete, to say the least. A symbol of simple taste, cotton shirts have taken a long journey to reach the status they enjoy today. From the CEO of a company to the founder of a startup to a man who is just starting his professional journey, one can expect to find a cotton shirt collection in almost every wardrobe. The breathability, ease, and strength of a cotton shirt make it ideal for all weathers, all seasons, and all fashion tastes. Little wonder then that fashion experts around the world hail cotton as one of the most versatile fabrics.

The journey of a cotton shirt

The word cotton comes from the Arabic word, ‘quton’. How old is cotton? The history of harvesting cotton and turning it into fabric goes all the way back to 3000 BC. This was the time when cotton was being spun into yarn in the Indus river valley region. During the same time, natives of Egypt’s Nile river valley region (the birthplace of Egyptian cotton) were making and wearing cotton clothes. Historians have also found pieces of cotton cloth, more than 7000 years old, in caves of Mexico. By the 1500s, cotton had already earned recognition around the world. Pima cotton’s history can be traced back to cotton that was grown on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, America during the 1790s. Through selective cross pollination with the plant used to grow Egyptian cotton, farmers developed a distinct, American version of extra long staple cotton, a variety that was originally called: American Egyptian Cotton. Today, both Egyptian and Pima cotton are famed for ELS fibres and superior quality.

Growing high quality cotton

Tropical and subtropical climates are ideal to grow good quality cotton. The Egyptian cotton, for instance, is grown in the Nile delta a place where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea to create the perfect balance of rain, sun, soil, and humidity. It is these conditions that produce the long staples or fibres unique to Egyptian cotton.

While much of the world’s cotton is machine harvested today, Egyptian cotton is always hand picked. This delicate and natural process of hand picking protects the integrity of the fabric, ensuring the highest level of purity.

100% pure cotton shirts for men

Believe us when we say, you can never go wrong with cotton shirts for men, especially shirts made from 100% pure cotton. Here is why:

• What’s the occasion:

  A pure cotton shirt allows the skin to breathe freely. The fabric’s porous nature ensures that it is naturally lightweight, helping those wearing it, stay cool and comfortable regardless of the rising temperature outside

• Absorbent:

  Another unique trait of cotton shirts is their ability to absorb liquids. This is the reason why colours look richer and more vivid on a cotton shirt than on any other fabric.

• Anti Pilling:

  Cotton as a fabric is naturally resistant to pilling. Superior cotton shirts made from ELS fabric like Egyptian or Pima cotton show no signs of pilling even after multiple washes. In fact, unlike other fabrics, your Zodiac cotton shirt will only become softer with each wash.

• Soft yet strong:

  Your cotton shirt is not just soft and luxurious to touch. The fabric also boasts of strength and high resistance to stress, making it a sustainable choice for your wardrobe.

• Easy on the skin:

  This natural fiber is hypoallergenic. This means your cotton shirt will always be gentle on your skin, regardless of the weather outside.

By now, you know that a cotton shirt does more than just look good. From everyday wear to special occasions, from serious business to lighthearted conversations a cotton shirt never disappoints. When buying cotton shirts for men, always keep the following in mind:

1. Choosing the fit

As with all kinds of shirts, the fit you choose matters the most. No matter what your body shape or size, a well fitted shirt is by far the quickest route to putting together a dapper look. At Zodiac, you can your cotton shirt in any three different fits. The classic fit, the tailored fit, and finally, the slim fit. Classic fit shirts usually fall straight with added pleats in the back for increased comfort and movement. Tailored fit shirts are tapered towards the waist, with no pleats in the back while still leaving ample room for movement near the arms. Slim fit shirts are snug, accentuating the shape of your body and giving you a leaner, more toned look.

2. Choosing the cuff

As far as accessorizing your cotton shirt goes, ties and cufflinks are the most classic way to go. Each cuff style is designed to serve a different purpose. There is the barrel cuff a versatile and popular choice among men as it suits almost every occasion. This type of cuff is suited for casual, semi casual affairs. The French cuff, on the other hand, is for those looking for something far more formal. As compared to the standard cuff size, the French cuff is twice as long and is folded back on itself with cufflinks. This style of the cuff is best suited for uber formal meetings and gatherings. Remember, the position of the cuff is key in deciding the fit of the sleeves. When wearing a jacket, the cuff should ideally peep out about half an inch past the sleeve of your jacket.

3. Choosing the collar

Tie or no tie, the collar on your cotton shirt can take your complete look to a different level. For formal cotton shirts, choose a more classic collar. The point collars, for instance, are designed to be worn with ties or you could choose the distinct cutaway collar shirts. Invited to a post work dinner with colleagues? Choose button down collars that look great without a tie and are ideal for semi casual attires. Heading to a friend’s housewarming party? The band collar is made for Informal gatherings. Collars may seem confusing if you are new to the world of formal shirts. It might help to remember that semi spread collars work best for both formal and informal occasions. Like your cotton shirt, the collar on it must also be well fitted, enhancing your features, never too tight or loose.

The Zodiac collection of 100% pure cotton shirts for men

At Zodiac, we have a wide collection of superfine cotton shirts and over 350 different Egyptian Giza Cotton shirts for you to choose from. From eye catching colors to subtle tones, from cotton shirts in a variety of checks and stripes that fit both, your formal and informal wear needs. Each cotton shirt in the collection is embellished with our signature patented Mother Of Pearl, 3 hole Trinity buttons, and stitched with an almost invisible 21 stitches per inch, while 120 stitches per inch ensure perfect buttonholes.