© Merz b. Schwanen
A crisp, simple white T-shirt is the ultimate summer closet staple for women. Whether paired as a casual classic with blue jeans or worn with work trousers or pencil skirts, a well-made white T-shirt is part of an effortless look.
With seemingly every clothing brand carrying its own version of this essential piece, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to narrow down a choice. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you.
These 12 selected brands combine premium workmanship, flattering fit, and the best quality fibers—from Sea Island Cotton to Pima and silk—for the perfect white T-shirt that’s anything but basic.
Merz b. Schwanen
Origins: 1911
Based in: Germany
Highlight: Reviving antique loopwheeler machines
Dating back to 1911, the roots of Merz b. Schwanen were planted when Balthasar Merz began operating a textile manufactory on the Swabian Alb in Germany.
Production later shut down but was revived in 2011 when fashion designers Gitta & Peter Plotnicki came upon a 90-year-old Schwanen henley at a Berlin flea market. The shirt’s unusual construction fascinated the couple, who followed its trail to discover the brand’s long-discarded circular knitting machines.
Reviving the traditional textile production method, the Plotnickis combine authentic clothing designs from the 20s, 30s, and 40s with a modern, sustainable sensibility.
- Magnifissance Magazine
