A timeless essential
Few things are more classic and timeless than a white t-shirt. It can be worn all year round, it’s guaranteed not to go out of fashion, and can be paired with the majority of your wardrobe. Building out an eco-friendly capsule wardrobe? A white t-shirt is likely the first place you start.
Though finding one that ticks all of the boxes can be more than challenging. Here we’re talking about white t-shirts that have been produced sustainably — disclosing and being transparent about their supply chain. Have the high level of quality and craftsmanship to really stand the test of time. And not break the bank — so all of the t-shirts here are £45 and under.
We’ve tried dozens of white tees in our pursuit for the one t-shirt that deserves the crown. Here are our pick of the 6 absolute best white t-shirts for men and women. We’re think you’ll love them as much as we do.
1. Asket: The T-Shirt
£35
Made from premium 180gsm Egyptian cotton (widely seen as the highest quality). It’s incredibly soft to touch. And after dozens of washes and months of wear it has retained it’s shape and slim fit nicely. It has a ribbed neckline — and slightly boxy shoulders.
Asket’s sizing system is wide. You can get this t-shirt in 15 sizes. Like usual withXS to XL — but also with a long, regular and short variation of each. Perfect if, like me, you're usually between sizes. And since earlier this year they also now sell a version for women too.
Traceability is front of mind for Asket. It’s just as important to know where an item was made as how it was made. Asket have traced 67% of their t-shirts origins. The raw cotton is from Egypt, and the garment is cut, sewn, trimmed, washed and packed in Várzea, Portugal.
☞ Shop at Asket
2. Kotn: Essential Crew
£26
A super-soft, mid-weight white t-shirt. Made with long staple Egyptian cotton. Long staple means the fibres are longer than normal cotton fibres. Which results in higher fibre strength — for you that means it will be better, for longer.
Made using non-toxic, certified OEKO-TEX® fabric dyes. Made and manufactured in Egypt. It’s true to size — slim to the body with the shoulders made to sit mid-bicep. Also if you prefer your tees longer — Kotn sell a variation with a slightly longer length.
Kotn is a certified B Corporation (B corp) — a non profit that holds companies to the highest social and environmental standards. Keeping Kotn accountable for the mark they leave on the planet.
☞ Shop at Kotn
3. Colorful Standard: Classic organic tee
£30
This is their mid-weight classic t-shirt. It’s 180gsm in weight, and it’s pre-washed so it won’t shrink after washing. It’s made using 100% organic cotton — so you can be sure no nasty chemicals have been used in the process.
It’s a unisex fit — perfect for everyone. Advised for women to size down. They use eco-friendly dyes in the manufacturing process, and they are PETA approved vegan.
Colorful Standard are based in Copenhagen — and the tee is made in Barcelos, Portugal. Plus if you happen to be around there you can see exactly how their clothes are made with a tour of their factory.
☞ Shop at Colorful Standard
4. Organic Basics: Organic cotton tee
£44
Given their name — of course it’s organic. A classic crewneck made from soft, pure, GOTS-certified organic cotton.
The GOTS certification not only ensures no horrible chemicals are used on the cotton. But also that the people making this item have been paid and treated fairly.
Designed in Copenhagen, Denmark, manufactured in Portugal and they offer worldwide CO2 neutral delivery. Organic Basics only partner with factories that care about their impact too. And that’s backed up by the SA8000 factory standard.
☞ Shop at Organic Basics
5. Isto: Classic t-shirt
£32
A slim-fitting, 180gsm, t-shirt with a classic ribbed collar. Organic cotton, and again, it’s backed up by the GOTS certification. So you know it’s the real deal. It’s a regular fitting t-shirt and has been pre-shrunk to save you the disappointment.
Isto are based in Lisbon, Portugal and they only work with the best local factories to keep their impact low. A brand that really cares about getting the simple things right. And it shows in their classic t-shirt.
They care about, and push transparency. You can see an entire cost breakdown of the garment. Including the raw material costs, labour, transport and other logistics costs. And how that all feeds into the cost you pay for the t-shirt.
☞ Shop at Isto
6. Unrecorded: T-shirt 220 GSM
£50
The heaviest of our 6 picks, this Unrecorded tee comes in at 220gsm. With that you get a more relaxed fit, that holds it’s shape better. The extra weight makes it more favourable in the cooler months.
It’s organic and GOTS-certified — so it’s grown on pesticide-free soil and uses a lot less water than conventional cotton. And they don't use any heavy metals or allergenic disperse dyes when they dye the cotton.
Amsterdam-based Unrecorded make quality, unisex clothes to be worn year-round.
☞ Shop at Unrecorded
