The Cotton Linen Shirt

MATERIALS
Fabric, buttons, thread. Everything 100% natural. That's not a coincidence.

The fabric is 80% cotton and 20% linen – a blend we landed on after testing a bunch of alternatives. Linen is strong, breathable and produced in Europe with a low environmental footprint. But pure linen wrinkles like it's a hobby, and wrinkled clothes end up hanging in the wardrobe. That doesn't work for us.

20% linen is enough to make the fabric stronger and give it a nice, natural structure. Not enough to turn your everyday life into a battle with the ironing board. A few wrinkles after use? That's part of it. It's linen. It's completely fine.

The buttons are made from corozo – the nut from the Amazon that falls naturally from the tree and creates local jobs. A discreet "Buy Less Play More" text on each button, produced in Portugal. All labels are in cotton.

REINFORCEMENTS
A shirt meant to stay with you for many years needs to handle what actually happens – not just what you plan for. The Cotton Linen Shirt is reinforced at the arm openings and on the elbows. Bartacks sit at the most exposed points and strengthen the transitions between fabric. They're functional, but they look good too. That kind of detail is what separates a shirt made to last from one made to sell.

AREAS OF USE
The Cotton Linen Shirt is the shirt you reach for when you can't be bothered thinking too much about what you're wearing. Buttons all the way down, a mandarin collar and a chest pocket for the things that matter. Classic enough to work at the office. Relaxed enough that you won't regret the choice when the day takes an unexpected turn.

It comes in women's and men's fits – both with a mandarin collar and narrow cuffs, but cut for each. The men's shirt has striped fabric on the inside of the collar, so dirt around the neck shows less. The women's shirt has a side slit.

It works with shorts in July and under a jumper in September. That's the point.

The Shirt is good. We know that because people buy it, wear it and come back for more. But it's in cotton and wool, and it's not exactly the first thing you reach for when it's 25 degrees outside.

We needed something lighter for spring and summer – a natural alternative that doesn't compromise on quality or materials. Linen was the obvious starting point: low footprint, produced in Europe, exceptionally durable. The challenge was the wrinkle factor. Pure linen looks great on the hanger and catastrophic after ten minutes on your body.

The answer was The Cotton Linen Shirt. 80% cotton, 20% linen. A shirt that breathes, holds its shape well enough and gets better the more it's worn. Made to be used a lot – and for a long time.

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.