What Makes A Shirt Great? Yarn & Ply (Part 1)

Greetings everyone,

Have you ever wondered what separates a good quality shirt from a great one? Every shirt connoisseur will tell you to look at the “yarn number” and “ply” of the shirt. But what exactly is “yarn number” and “ply”? In this article (Part 1), we will tell you all you need to know about “yarn number” and continue with “ply” in our next article.

Many shirt brands do not reveal a shirt’s yarn number to consumers. This is puzzling because the yarn number is directly linked to the quality of a shirt and affects consumers in making an informed decision on choosing a shirt that fits their needs and lifestyle.

What is Yarn Number Anyway? 

Yarn number is a unit of measurement to determine the fineness of the yarn thread on a shirt. It is calculated based on the length of yarn needed to make up a specified weight. This means the higher the yarn number, the finer the yarn will be – providing for a softer and more comfortable shirt. 

Difference Between High and Low Yarn Numbers 

Shirts with a higher yarn number are typically softer and way more comfortable to wear when compared to shirts with low yarn count. Its finer properties produce a smooth touch while the sheer number of threads woven together makes for a more durable wear. 

What Yarn Number Suits Me Best? 

At Wayne Lowe, we recommend a yarn number of between 80 and 140 for daily wear. This is because shirts with too high a yarn number are so fine that they tend to wear off faster. They also tend to easily wrinkle in an unpleasant fashion. Shirts like these are more suited for formal or special occasions; and not everyday wear. 

The Relation Between Yarn and Ply

In the clothing industry, “ply” refers to the layers of yarn that make up a shirt. Shirts with yarn numbers of above 80 are usually two-ply because the threads are so fine that they are intertwined and paired to form a single, strong thread. However single-ply shirts with a yarn number of 70 are not a problem for Egyptian cotton fabrics which tend to be stronger than the average cotton – something we will elaborate further in our future articles. 

Now that you’re aware of a shirt’s Yarn Number, be sure to learn more about “Ply” in our upcoming article on “What Makes a Shirt Great? (Part 2)”. Remember to share this information with your family and friends. Do also check out our Facebook Page and Watch this space. Stay tuned! 

If you are interested in our shirts do visit www.waynelowe.com

Having Wrinkles On Your Shirt Is Bad. Or Is It?

Greetings,

Today we will be talking on why having wrinkles on your shirt is not a bad thing after all. Read on to find out why!

Cotton shirts tend to wrinkle, but there are a host of reasons why you should embrace it:

A little wrinkle won’t hurt:

Cotton has always been known to be the material of choice when producing high-quality shirts due to its all-natural fiber and soft, breathable properties. A little wrinkle on it should be the least of your concerns. 

Wrinkle-free shirts do not mean better quality:

Polyester shirts or even cotton-blend shirts, wrinkle little or don’t wrinkle at all. For the sharp-eyed, this tells them you are wearing a shirt that is of inferior quality. 

Wrinkle-free 100% cotton shirts may compromise health and comfort:

100% cotton shirts that are labeled as “wrinkle free” or “wrinkle resistant” are usually treated with a layer of chemical that destroys the softness and breathable properties of cotton. The chemical also contains Formaldehyde - a potential cancer-causing agent. 

Wearing cotton exudes character:

Having a wrinkle or two should not deter you from wearing cotton. More than anything else, a slight wrinkle on it shows that you value quality just as much as you value form. 

Wearing cotton enhances your image:

Many tend to take the easy way out and wear wrinkle-free shirts when they are in a hurry. Wearing cotton conveys to clients, bosses, and the like, that you are well-prepared and actually took the time to iron your shirt. Ironing your shirt is also the manly thing to do! A real man takes good care of himself; and your other half will love you for it. 

Now that you know the relationship between wrinkles and shirts; we hope you will make the right choice when it comes to choosing a cotton shirt. Be sure to share this information with your friends and watch this blog for more fun facts and tips! Do also check out our facebook page!

If you are interested in our shirts do visit www.waynelowe.com

Five Reasons Why You Should Wear 100% Cotton Shirts

Greetings,

As promised, here is an article on “5 Reasons Why You Should Wear Cotton” that is in line with our belief of sharing our knowledge to help you make the best possible choice in picking the perfect shirt. 

Cotton is a material that has always been at the heart of making high-quality shirts. Many manufacturers use materials such as Polyester and Chief Value Cotton (CVC - a cotton-polyester mix) as a substitute for cotton. At Wayne Lowe, we use cotton to offer you uncompromised quality and comfort. Here’s why:

Cotton is “breathable” and leaves no sticky feel 

Polyester shirts are usually shiny and wrinkle-free. Unlike cotton, these shirts don’t “breathe” and absorb water, making them hot to wear and leaving a sticky-sensation after sweating. In some cases, they smell like burnt rubber due to the low-quality of fabric that is being used to make to shirt. 

Cotton is ideal for hot, humid weather

CVC shirts are considered by many to be an upgrade from polyester. They are made by combining cotton and polyester fabrics. Although they are wrinkle-resistant – retaining the quality of polyester - CVC shirts are not as breathable as cotton, and are certainly not ideal for comfort wear in hot tropical climates. 

Cotton is all natural and cooling 

Cotton is a natural fabric which gives shirts good air circulation. This keeps your skin cool and prevents skin irritation due to heat and sweat. Shirts made of cotton are also finer and softer – offering you extra levels of comfort at all times. 

Cotton is easy to clean 

Cotton easily absorbs water and is the only fiber that becomes stronger when wet. This makes cotton shirts the ideal wash-and-wear fabric. Cotton can both be hand washed or washed in the washer at high temperatures without damaging the fabric.

Cotton is safe for your skin

Many do not realize that cotton is hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant. Simply put, it is the best choice of material for people who suffer from asthma, allergies, or those with sensitive skin. 

And there you go! We hope you have enjoyed and benefited from this article. Watch this blog for our next article to get more useful information and tips on anything and everything about shirts. Do check out our facebook page and stay tuned! 

If you are interested in our shirts do visit us at www.waynelowe.com

We are Wayne Lowe, shirt enthusiasts striving to make great shirts for people

www.waynelowe.com

Greetings,

We've been around for a while now and we noticed we haven't really introduced ourselves to all you lovely Facebook followers. So here goes, an introduction about Wayne Lowe and the team behind Wayne Lowe.

Wayne Lowe is a brand that is established for one sole purpose, to provide you with the best value-for-money high quality 100% cotton shirts. This goal is achieved by adhering to four core principals, namely: direct sourcing, local manufacturing, stringent quality control and transparency.

We source our fabrics directly from reputable fabric suppliers across the globe, thus cutting out the costs involving a middle man. The fabrics are then manufactured locally and we work hand-in-hand with the shirt manufacturers to ensure that our shirts are manufactured in the most cost efficient manner without compromising the quality of workmanship. Our team then painstakingly perform stringent quality checks on each and every shirt before they are carefully packaged and delivered to your doorstep.

Transparency is a core value at Wayne Lowe that makes us stand out from the sea of shirting brands around the world. At Wayne Lowe there are no vague descriptions about the construction of your shirt. A simple “high yarn number, high ply count” description isn't going to cut it. Every detail of the construction of our shirts is displayed on our website, be it the exact yarn number or the exact ply (not to worry if you have absolutely no idea what these are, they will be explained in future articles :D). We do not misrepresent our products or make empty promises. You get exactly what you have paid for and we take pride in keeping it that way.

The Wayne Lowe team consists of a group of very different individuals with one thing in common, the enthusiasm in crafting comfortable good quality cotton shirts that evince style. We are here to share with you our knowledge in relation to different type of dress shirts, the ways to care for them, when to wear certain shirts and so on.

Well, that's Wayne Lowe in a nutshell. We will be coming up with an article about “Why Wear Cotton Shirts” soon. Stay tuned!