Men's Cotton Shirts - A Shirt For All Seasons

Thinking of buying a new shirt? For most men, there is one over-riding criteria. It must be cotton. Yet whether you opt for plain, striped or checked shirts, few men realise that the simple pleasure of putting on a crisp cotton shirt is something that has been enjoyed for at least the last seven thousand years.

The cotton shirt as we know it is relatively new arrival on the men's fashion scene, but shreds of this favoured fabric have been found in Mexico dating back to the dawn of history - around 5000 B.C. A continent away, cotton fragments have also been found in the Indus Valley of Pakistan dating back at least five thousand years.

Cottons special qualities originally led it to be described as White Gold. For men who value comfort and want an image that projects contemporary class and style, the term is just as relevant today.

So what lies behind mens long love affair with the cotton shirt?

• Cotton breathes, keeping you cool when it's warm and retaining warmth when its not, especially if a cotton shirt is teamed with a pure wool sweater.

• It feels great. Super-soft against the skin, nothing compares to the feel of cotton.

• A cotton shirt will not slip or slide to give the unpleasant slithery feel of many synthetics.

• Cotton equates with quality and style. The makers of the worlds finest mens shirts would not dream of using anything other than 100 % cotton.

• Unlike synthetic fabrics, which can

retain odours after a few washes, a cotton shirt will come up smelling sweet every time.

• Cotton is durable, easy to care for and stays looking good for longer.

• Men choosing cotton in the 21st century are also making an environmental statement. It is a wholly natural, renewable and biodegradable resource. Unlike synthetic fabrics, which are a spin-off from the plastics industry, discarded cotton shirts will not be hanging around in landfill sites for the next millennium.

Fashion is fickle and preferences change. Plain cotton might be in vogue one year and stripes the next, but there should always be space in the wardrobe for a new take on this eternal favourite.

If you have found this article interesting you can find out more about mens cotton shirts or mens checked shirts here. Kelly Panther works for Peter Gribby a UK Mens Shirt + Knitwear Company.