I wanted to love the Everlane Organic Crew.
Everyone said it was the perfect white t-shirt. Soft. Sustainable. Fits great. Worth the money. I bought two. One in white. One in black.
That was two years ago. Both shirts are still in my drawer. I wear them sometimes. But I stopped buying more. And I stopped telling people they should.
Here's why.
What's Good About It
The cotton is soft.
Not soft like silk or anything fancy. Just softer than a regular Gildan tee. The organic cotton feels a little smoother against my skin. No scratchy spots. No rough seams.
The fit is fine.
Not great. Not bad. Just fine. The shoulders hit where they should. The body is straight but not tight. The length hits right at my hip. I have a small frame. The shirt doesn't swim on me. That's something.
The white isn't see-through.
This is actually a big deal. Cheap white tees show everything underneath. Your skin. Your undershirt. Your nipples if it's cold. The Everlane white tee is thick enough that none of that happens. I can wear it alone and not feel weird.
The collar holds its shape.
After two years and maybe thirty washes, the crewneck hasn't stretched out. Still sits where it should. That's rare for a t-shirt this soft. Most of mine start drooping after six months.
What's Not Good About It
$35 is too much for a plain t-shirt.
That's the whole thing. It's a t-shirt. Not a jacket. Not a pair of boots. Not something you wear every day for five years. It's a thin layer of cotton that goes under other things.
I can get a three-pack of good enough t-shirts for $35. Maybe less. The Everlane gives me one shirt for the same price. That math doesn't work for me.
It pills after a few months.
Not a lot. Just a little. Little fuzzy balls on the sides where my backpack rubs. On the back where my chair hits. The fabric looks less smooth after a while. Still soft. Just not as nice as day one.
The black one faded fast.
The white one looks fine. The black one turned grayish after about ten washes. I wash cold. Hang dry. Did everything right. Still faded. Now it's my sleeping shirt.
The fit changed after washing.
Not a lot. Just enough to notice. The length shortened maybe half an inch. The sleeves got a little tighter. Still fits. But it doesn't fit the same as when I bought it.
What I Use Instead
Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crewneck. $15.
Same softness. Same thickness. Same non-see-through white. The fit is slightly boxier than the Everlane. Works better for my pear shape because the hem sits lower. Covers my hips.
I have four of these. Two white. One black. One gray. Oldest one is three years old. Still fine. Still soft. Still has its shape.
Uniqlo U Crewneck. $20.
Thicker than the Supima. Heavier fabric. Stiffer at first but softens over time. The fit is wider in the body. Good for layering over a long sleeve. Not as soft as Everlane but close enough for $15 less.
Los Angeles Apparel 1801GD. $18 on sale.
This one is actually softer than the Everlane. Heavy cotton. Feels expensive. The fit is more relaxed. Sleeves are a little longer. The collar is thicker. My only complaint is the shirts run big. I had to size down. Once I figured that out, it became my favorite.
Comfort Colors 1717. $12 on Amazon.
Not soft at first. Almost rough. But after three washes, it softens up. The fit is relaxed. The collar is thick. The fabric lasts forever. I have one that's five years old. Still wear it. Still fine. For $12, I don't care if it pills.
Goodfellow Crewneck from Target. $8 on sale.
This is the budget option. The cotton is fine. Not soft. Not rough. Middle. The fit is standard. The white is a little see-through if you look close. But for $8? I have three of these for days when I'm just running to the grocery store or doing laundry. They do the job.
The Price Breakdown
Everlane Organic Crew: $35 for one shirt.
Uniqlo Supima: $15 for one shirt. Two shirts for $30. Less than the Everlane.
Uniqlo U: $20. One and a half Everlanes.
Los Angeles Apparel: $18. Almost two Everlanes.
Comfort Colors: $12. Almost three Everlanes.
Goodfellow: $8. Four Everlanes.
The math is simple. You're paying for the brand name and the "organic" tag. Not for better quality. Not for better fit. Not for longer lasting fabric.
What I Still Use the Everlane For
The white one is my "nice" white tee. When I want to look a little more put together. When I'm going somewhere that isn't work or the grocery store. Dinner with my girlfriend. Drinks with friends. Days when I want to feel like I tried.
Is that worth $35? Maybe. Once.
I bought two. Haven't bought another one since. The Uniqlo ones are in my drawer right now. I wore the gray one yesterday. It was fine. Didn't think about it once. That's what I want from a t-shirt. Not thinking.
What I Wish Someone Told Me
Don't spend $35 on a t-shirt unless you have a specific reason.
If you want organic cotton, fine. If you want a perfect white tee that isn't see-through, fine. If you want to support Everlane, fine. Those are reasons.
But don't buy it because someone online said it's "worth it." Try the Uniqlo first. Try the Comfort Colors first. Try the Target one first. If those don't work, then spend $35.
I went straight to Everlane because I believed the hype. Now I have two $35 t-shirts and four $15 t-shirts that I reach for more often.
The black Everlane is in my sleep shirt pile. The white one is in my drawer. I wore it last Tuesday. It was fine. Just fine. Not great. Not life-changing. Not worth the price tag.
Fine is fine. But fine shouldn't cost $35.
