Looking for more super fat tees? Check out our guide to the best sweatshirts on the market.
A few weeks ago, my wife helped me reorganize my closet. As she examined the wreckage, she casually said: “You know you have about 60 shirts, right?” I just shrugged, pointing at MJ’s security guard after winning the famous coin toss game. My T-shirt obsession teeters on the brink of disorder, but hey, there are worse (and much more expensive) vices.
Now, I feel like I have a good handle on what makes a great shirt. It should have just the right amount of heft – not too flimsy, but still tough enough to rage. It should withstand countless washer cycles and be as good as before, if not better. Double needle stitching? Reinforced shoulder seams? Yes please. These aren’t just details to me; They are now requirements.
Courtesy of Omar Atwan
Courtesy of Omar Atwan
This brings us to Portland, Oregon. No, not for a coffee conference, a Trail Blazers game, or your cousin’s Nike employee discount, but for the gold standard in t-shirts: Painted 1920. If you’ve ever sighed, “They don’t make them like they used to.” I’d like you to know that since 1920, Dehen has been producing some of the best and strongest workwear in the country – including its heavyweight shirts – straight from its original factory. I like to imagine that the grass at their headquarters is not only greener, but sturdier too.
About those shirts, they are as good as any I’ve owned. Knitted by hand in the USA, 5.6 oz. Cotton jersey, perfect for year-round wear. But it’s the way the fabric has been reinforced in all the right places that really justifies the price. At the neck, self-binding was used to not only ensure the same fabric was used throughout the garment, but also to maintain the shape of the collar and avoid the dreaded wavy bacon neck. Then, at the hem and sleeves, blind stitching — where the thread becomes invisible — keeps the T-shirt smooth enough for play in even the most formal settings.
The first one I bought was com. loden COLOR – A refreshing break from the typical black and gray safety zone. I wore it so much that soon after, I cut it off exhaustion The color (think khaki vibes) to at least give me a bit of a spin again. I’ve been wearing them since spring and summer, wearing them under a V-neck sweater, a leather jacket, and baggy jeans. The real win is how effective these frequent washes are. I’m now in double digit laundry territory with them, and after line drying them every time, they hold up like a champ. Sure they get a little tough, but a few hours of wear makes them soft again.
Courtesy of Omar Atwan
Courtesy of Omar Atwan
When I find something I love — especially if it’s a good fit — I go all out. So naturally, I plan on redesigning soon which will get me closer to owning all 13 colors. Building a house in this economy may be out of the question, but building a closet full of Dehen shirts? This is a wise investment with serious returns in the long term.
