There are pieces like this: once you know them, you wonder how you ever managed without them until now.
I've had a few "revelations" myself. Today, I won't be able to go through the winter without a chunky knit. Likewise, I no longer see myself without wool pants, as the difference with jeans is so telling in the face of icy winds. They improve everyday life so much that we can no longer miss it.
And if there's one piece that I regret not having known about before, it's the men's merino wool t-shirt ...
“Just a t-shirt,” you say? Not so sure...
Why a merino wool t-shirt?
Valentin, my adventurer friend, only wears that (yes, he has completely banned the cotton t-shirt).
He never stopped singing its praises to me, particularly about its softness and its anti-odor properties. But when I told him that he must probably be too hot in the summer, he replied:
That's not true, the temperature is very well regulated! During my motorcycle trip this summer in Vietnam, all my base layers were merino t-shirts!”
And then one day, I had enough. I remember it very well: I wore a sweatshirt and a cotton tee, with a bomber jacket. I had handled it badly, I was a little cold... and I hate being "a little cold". But I knew that putting it in a warmer room would be too much. That's when I decided to follow Valentin's advice.
And then I understood what I had been missing for years.
Note: to find advice from Valentin and Bruno, two entrepreneurs always between two flights, do not hesitate to reread our article on what clothes to take when you travel a lot .
At the same time, Alex and I became more and more interested in mountain wear.
However, polyamide is found in most cases. As this is a primarily technical piece, this presence is justified by a need for solidity, preventing the material from tearing.
Whereas I wanted a t-shirt only in merino, for the special touch it offers...
The benefits of merino
Wool is definitely a very special material, even when it is in the form of jersey.
A matter of thermoregulation
Who says wool, says warmth! A merino t-shirt holds it much better than its cotton counterpart. This obviously doesn't replace a coat, but it's a very practical first layer that makes a big difference. Without being too hot, we feel “an absence of cold”.
Even if the t-shirt becomes a little damp, you will keep this feeling of warmth: wool can absorb 30% of its dry weight before feeling damp . For some synthetic fabrics, it is barely 7%...
As a first layer, the merino t-shirt is ideal. It helps keep you warm and regulates humidity well.
This also works in reverse. Since wool retains a lot of air compared to cotton, and wicks away perspiration, it is also popular in summer because it is breathable . There is never a feeling of wetness.
Anti-odor properties
It is a material that does not absorb odors, including bad ones. Wearers of our chunky knit cardigans will see what I'm talking about... Since merino wicks away moisture, sweat odors cannot stick to it.
For example, as I write these lines, I had to wear this t-shirt for two days and fly 10 hours. I can also wear it for the return flight without it being a problem, and then I will wash it afterwards.
For this reason, it is a very popular piece for travelers:
- no need to change it every day (so you can travel light),
- temperature regulation, including in front of an airplane's air conditioning,
- and comfort of jersey.
The quest for the right jersey
100% merino, or nothing!
This was the whole challenge of Alexander. It was necessary:
- find the right jersey , without the unnecessary synthetic in an urban context,
- in a rich color , far from the garish shades generally reserved for mountain clothing,
- at the right price , because the amounts skyrocket as soon as you want a 100% wool jersey (merino or not).
We can clearly see that jersey is knitted, like a sweater, and not woven.
We therefore chose a 100% extrafine merino yarn from Italy. It then arrives in our usual workshop in Portugal, where it is knitted and then assembled into a t-shirt.
What do we mean by extrafine ?
The notion of extrafine refers to the diameter of the wire. It's a bit of a mess between the different names but overall, a wool cannot be described as extrafine if the diameter of its fibers exceeds 17.5 microns. Which means that the thickest fiber is 17.5 microns, and the others are finer, therefore even softer!
As an indication, a cashmere yarn ranges between 14 and 18 microns.
You will therefore have extremely soft wool. And to find out more about these grade stories, click here .
Merino vs. cotton: what are the advantages?
To say that merino is in every way superior to cotton would be dishonest and, for the sake of objectivity, it is necessary to tell you about the limitations of the merino t-shirt:
- It is a more expensive material than cotton, undoubtedly. For example, it is completely impossible to offer a merino wool t-shirt for under ten euros. Even Decathlon, although experienced in clothing at very low prices (some of which are under €10) cannot manage to release a merino t-shirt for less than €18... and even then, with 30% acrylic in it. .
- A merino model is less resistant to friction than a cotton t-shirt. Basically, if you go on a trek wearing the same merino tee for a week, with a well-laden bag for several hours a day, it will fluff a lot, or even get holes in the most severe conditions. On the other hand, for urban and daily use, this poses absolutely no problem.
At this altitude, it’s still okay 😉 . All joking aside, you can lean back as much as you want on your bar chair, take an unlimited number of selfies with your friend who has their hand on your shoulder, carry a backpack with your things for the day... That's it . Do not be scared .
- Maintenance is more delicate than a cotton t-shirt, most of which will withstand a 2.5 hour wash program at 40°C without any problems. Here you will have to be more careful. We'll come back to that later.
But the game is so worth it that from now on, I hardly wear a cotton t-shirt in autumn/winter: they have all been replaced by my merino t-shirts.
The importance of the right color
As I told you, technical merino t-shirts are often in quite improbable colors.
For us, it was important to offer you a rich shade .
This is one of my goals that you are beginning to know: to have a color that is easy to wear but with something extra, which can easily accompany an open jacket.
As a sweater in winter, you can wear your t-shirt as a separate piece on sunny days, to integrate into your looks like any other. Needless to say, mountaineering colors had no place. My choice fell on a steel gray, which I find both masculine and easy to match.
With Alex, we really wanted a piece that you won't want to part with this winter. An essential piece for traveling AND an interesting element for your outfit, because of the visual aspect that a wool knit provides.
Close to a steel gray, the material takes the light very nicely. Without being flat, you will have no problem integrating it.
A sought-after cut
As always, we needed several prototypes... Defining the cut of a t-shirt is always a bit of a headache.
I am very happy with the result. I wanted a fluid and comfortable silhouette, with ease
Neither too tight nor too loose, I wanted to give comfort and fluidity to this t-shirt...
...While maintaining a pretty silhouette and a natural fall. ( NB: Oranges are a source of vitamins in winter )
I would like to draw your attention to one point: the jersey may shrink very slightly during the first wash, before completely stabilizing. So we have planned a little more length for this purpose.
A construction that highlights you
An open collar just right
A good t-shirt collar should not be too deep, without strangling you.
Here, we have given it a ribbed edge: an aesthetic detail, it will prevent the collar from moving as you wear it.
Thanks to the ribbing, the collar retains its shape for longer. Note the length of the sleeves, adequate to be able to roll them up.
Inside you will find a cleanliness strip, always with the aim of obtaining greater longevity.
An emphasized build
The shoulders follow the build . In this regard, the cleanliness tape deliberately does not continue up to them: the tape created unsightly bulges, altering the fineness of the shoulders.
The shoulders of the t-shirt follow the natural line of the body.
How to choose your size ?
The sizing is very classic on this piece, just take your usual size.
How to maintain the room?
If you want to machine wash it, we strongly recommend using the wool program .
Otherwise, wash it by hand in warm, soapy water, then in clean water.
You will see, it will dry very quickly!
How to wear a men's t-shirt?
You know: if there's one piece to wear without any hassle, it's the t-shirt .
We still look at some inspirations together. 😉
The color of the t-shirt lends itself well to workwear looks. Here, Luca pairs it with a chunky flannel overshirt: it's interesting to see how two wool pieces can have very different textures. The canvas pants are a good alternative to raw jeans and are part of the continuity of the outfit, as are the sturdy boots. (RRL overshirt, BonneGueule canvas pants, Grenson boots, Métal Pointu's, Gudule and Harpo rings)
Without an overshirt, this works too! The canvas bag is reminiscent of pants; its retro design, the influences of the outfit. This is where accessories reveal all their power. (Blue Heat Bag)
For a more casual look, swap canvas pants for raw jeans. Desert / chukka boots, thinner than the previous ones, will bring more lightness to the outfit (particularly when they are in suede calfskin). (Jean BonneGueule, Paire & Fils chukka boots, Tibet Forever bracelet)
And for a dressier look, put on suit pants and derbies. The style contrast works well. This is also the advantage of having chosen a steel gray color: on simple outfits, where white would still work, we end up with even richer associations. (Navy BonneGueule pants, Meermin derby)
Steel gray goes easily with all earthy shades and other variations of brown, like here with the camel jacket. The relaxed look of the bleached jeans echoes that of the top of the outfit, the look is effective and comfortable. In the same vein, Luca wears sneakers, even if ankle boots were also appropriate. Take a look at her checkered socks, a good way to add some fun without difficulty. (Vicomte A. jacket, Hèdus jeans, Royalties socks, JUCH sneakers)
The final word
I am so proud of this piece. But really.
To my knowledge, there are few French brands that offer 100% merino t-shirts with an urban look, designed from the start as an element that absolutely must add something to an outfit. A piece that we want to wear above all for its aesthetic qualities and not just for its functionality.
It’s this mix between techwear and casual pieces that makes me very happy.
I really hope you enjoy wearing this t-shirt on all your next adventures, as I did myself.
How to get the merino t-shirt?
The t-shirt is now available on the BonneGueule shop .
