Not your average T-shirt, this is a lovely linen T-shirt
After a meeting t’other day, I popped into Uniqlo at Coal Drops Yard. The store is quite spacious and not overcrowded, fixed prerequisites for grown-up shopping. There had been a delivery of the Comptoir de Cotonniers linen T-shirt. Slubby jersey fabric in either a round neck or V-neck-style with a dipped hem; and an array of colours, including pink, workwear blue and burgundy. Ooh, nice.
Shortly after purchasing the navy round neck top, I was alerted to the news ( by the journalist and author Tiffanie Darke) that two of the biggest high street companies, Inditex ( who own Zara, Massimo Dutti and so on) and H&M have stopped working with the sustainable cotton certification programme, Better Cotton. The scheme provides an industry standard and was investigated last year when Better Cotton-certified farms were involved in illegal environmental activities, including deforestation and land grabbing in the Amazon, and human rights abuses. On her It’s Not Sustainable Substack, Darke recommends buying organic cotton, and choosing linen or hemp, instead.
Linen, I’m on it.
And, I’m not the only one. At the weekend I met a good friend for coffee. She’s a teacher and had been on a mission to replenish her work wardrobe with a few everyday basics. Yep, she’d bought a Uniqlo linen T-shirt, too. (In white). We eulogised over the fabric’s properties: soft and strong with a lovely texture, linen doesn’t cling and it always feels cool. Spring is the time for T-shirts layered under knitwear and jackets. Anyone want to join our Linen Appreciation Society before things heat up?
Photos: Sarah Brick
And can confirm that the T-shirt washes well ( I had already washed it by the time we took this photo). Of course there are other places you can buy linen T-shirts, including: Cos, M&S, Brora ( good for long-sleeved), Everlane, Eileen Fisher (also has long-sleeved linen), NRBY, J.Crew. and Wrap London. Try Toast for cotton/ hemp T-shirts – and there are more lovely linen tees here:
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STYLE NOTES
Linen T-shirt, Uniqlo. My trousers are the Keaton Trousers from YMC ( This sand colour is from a couple of seasons ago; there’s a size M HERE and an XXS and L HERE) and I’m into the olive green. The belt is an old J&M Davidson sale bargain. Loafers from Dune and the wool cardigan in the first photo was a press gift from Genevieve Sweeney a couple of years ago.
Discussion (24 Comments)
Hi Carol, Hope you are very well. The location is in south London but I always think it looks like the south of France!
(Provence, actually…)
Christine Donne says:
A great article Alison & it’s so good to see summer clothes around again..
Those linen t-shirts are lovely and as usual; you look good in them in fact; you do in anything really. I have several linen T’s in my collection, now a few years old which I also layer up under sweaters – sadly, I find they go out of shape rather quickly even though I wash them on a 14 minute cycle at 30 degrees.
Although my weight has remained almost static for over 45 years, everything seems to have rearranged itself & my upper arms are best left covered up….. do you know of an Ecco manufacturer who make T’s with elbow length selves please. Preferably with a V-neck? ThanksOoh good call. I’ve added them to my list as a good place to buy cotton/ hemp blend T-shirts. Thanks, Pat.
Joyce Morris says:
Thank you so much for informing us about the bad stuff. Essential to dish the dirt on these people.
Uniqlo are now the main choice, especially for work clothes, if my family in Oz, who introduced me to it.Liza Green says:
Gorgeous colour on you. I have two of these t shirts from Uniqlo one in white and one in pale lemon from last year. They wash well but you do have to be careful as they are vulnerable to little holes through differences in the way the yarn is spun. I have a tiny darn in one of mine which I’m happy with but I know that doesn’t suit everyone. I have bought linen t shirts from H&M in the past too. They have quite a different look to those made of cotton.
Sue Bailey says:
Desperately searching for T-shirts or tops with a longer sleeve. Just short of the elbow would be good. And dresses. I still want to look and feel nice. Just need to cover up the tops of my arms which are not nice even with 90 lengths at the swimming baths per week.
Susan-Marie says:
You might like Spirit of the Andes range of Peruvian Pima cotton T shirts which offer a longer short sleeve or long sleeve. Some styles are a bit over designed but I have a plain style in several colours from a few years back. Super soft to wear and wash very well with no colour fade.
Camilla says:
I agree these are fabulous t-shirts. I bought two last summer and have my eyes on another, as the range of colours this year is very broad. They have washed and worn well. Uniqlo are so good at what they do and even for a volume manufacturer are always improving their offerings. The collaborations with Comptoir and Claire Wright Keller are both fabulous, as were their previous collaborations with other designers.
Sarah P says:
I do love a good linen t-shirt but cannot justify buying more. For 3/4 of the year I wear cotton tees under my jumpers, whereas the linen only gets worn in summer. We’ve had more than a week of sunshine but it’s still only 1C at night here, so too chilly for linen IMO.
Liz says:
I would like to suggest that when making a purchase — try to support businesses in Europe and Canada. As a Canadian, I am sensitive to the remarks made about the US “annexing” Canada. We here in Canada are doing our best to purchase from countries that are not making threats to our nation’s sovereignty.
Cindy from Canada says:
Hi Liz,
I’m Canadian, and I only buy MADE IN CANADA as much as possible. I have been buying my t shirts/ tunics/sweaters from a business located in the city I live in – and they are made there (no worries about tariffs). It’s also women owned.
Sarah Cleverdon says:
I agree with all the comments about long sleeves but also I am having trouble with boxy t shirts. Very difficult to find a longer t shirt. Any ideas?
Adele Geras says:
I’ve just bought the v neck version in black and blue! Can I also recommend the Irish firm Linenme? It’s brilliant… for sheets and tablecloths as well as clothes. Also amazing scarves.They send all their stuff in lovely linen bags too! I’m a huge linen fan.
Isobel Reid says:
I’m a huge Uniqlo fan and can’t wait for their Liverpool store to open in a couple of weeks. Another brand that does excellent linen T-shirts and linen tops is Jigsaw. They’ve been doing them for years in fact and yes they are not the cheapest but they do have good sales and seasonal reductions.
My Uniqlo t shirts have arrived in record time and are just perfect! Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Susan says:
Love a linen knit in warmer months.
My problem is finding a T-shirt which isn’t too long!
I’m very short-waisted (and busty) so prefer not to tuck in tops but just feel frumpy in most T-shirts.
Any suggestions?olwyn fleming says:
Just back from a shopping trip in Bordeaux.Went everywhere,but ended up buying in UNIQLO.
Mrs Tonia says:
Good morning Alyson. I’m a fan of linen and cotton t-shirts. I’ve bought several previously from Zara. All hand washed all going strong as are my shirts and trousers in linen. I just dug out an old pair of fairly baggy beige Nicole Fahri linen trousers. Hope to repurpose them with a few sewing tweaks. Linen is perfect to wear in warm weather. Really comfortable. Washes well. I tend to favour hand washing in Woolite. A bit of a faff. But quick then hang up to drip dry over shower or outside.
Good to know it’s more eco responsible. Sorry to learn about end of B corp cotton. I’ve bought these garments and do follow Tiffany Darke on her substack newsletter.
I reckon that rewearing my old linen clothing and t-shirts which I hand wash is fine.
Re longer sleeved t-shirts I’ve got several from previous seasons of Uniqlo. Every season they vary the necklines, degree of boxiness and sleeves of their shirts. Sizing now on a unisex model. So it’s essential to try in person to obtain the fit one wants. I buy them in person and get the colours and fit I need and prefer. Often I size up for looser fit over the bust.
Now they do have some with loose elbow length sleeves. Shapes this spring tend to be square and shorter. I’ve hemmed t-shirts which are an unflattering length on hip. An easy fix.
I’ve bought t-shirts last year from Jigsaw when I was in search of a layering white higher necked shirt. I ordered two sizes.
They were double the price of Uniqlo ones and fairly sheer. I’d go for Uniqlo for its quality and value for money. They last well I’ve found.Deborah Wexler says:
An American brand that offers a super-soft cotton length elbow T-shirt is Jarbo. They have a good website. Also, long sleeve and sleeveless (called a Muscle T). But I support my Canadian neighbors. Don’t buy US. Unless it’s very local. But do remember California as a place to visit and shop. We love and need you!
Pat Wilson 
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Alyson,
I love the lane where you are standing in the photo. It must be warm there too.
Carol in cold, rainy NYC.