A few years back I confessed my growing interest in Western-inspired clothing, and it’s safe to say that my affinity toward the style hasn’t decreased since then. My first foray into this aesthetic was with a denim shirt from Proper Cloth – I ended up wearing this shirt so much that I thought that it might make sense to get another one as a backup. And luckily for me, Proper Cloth still makes this exact shirt so I was able to do just that.
For the full run-down on this shirt, take a look at my previous review. Proper Cloth is the only company (that I know of) that offers made-to-measure garment-washed shirts. While most fabrics are washed before they get to the customer, the difference here is that these shirts are garment washed (in other words, they are washed after the pattern pieces are sewn together). This gives you the combination of a broken-in looking garment AND the ability to design the style and fit to your liking, which is a unique combination.
In the years since I purchased this shirt I have worn it over a hundred times and it has faded to a very pale blue. The fabric has also faded unevenly, making it look like I might have actually stepped onto a ranch and done some physical labor at some point in my life. The slub texture of the fabric has become more noticeable as well, giving the shirt additional visual interest. Beyond the fading, the shirt has held up wonderfully and remains one of my favorites to wear nearly every week.
I didn’t really change anything when I reordered this shirt a couple of months ago. The same slubby fabric from Albiate is still available and all my design details were identical. My only tweak was adding a bit to the length and width of the shirt so that I could wear this over a tee (as opposed to my older one, which I wear as a base layer).
Note that Proper Cloth’s washed denim program is only available a couple of times per year (it’s currently live through 7/18/21). Due to the fact that the shirts need to be washed in bulk after sewing to achieve the desired effect, Proper Cloth needs to collect a large amount of orders before moving forward with the project. The shirts aren’t cheap but it’s the only way to get a washed denim shirt made to your exact specifications. And as always, if you’re trying Proper Cloth for the first time you’re welcome to use my referral code for $20 off of your first purchase.
Proper Cloth’s washed denim program has also expanded in the years since my first order so there are more fabric choices than ever before. Now there are linen options, cotton piques, plaids, and more. There’s no quick route to getting your denim shirt to fade perfectly, but getting one made to your exact specifications is about as close to a shortcut as you can get.
