The Complete Fit & Care Guide for Suvin Gold, Supima, and Polo T-Shirts by Noo-Brand.
Getting your hands on a quality cotton t-shirt is the easy part, the hard part is keeping it looking and feeling good for years to come. You have Suvin Gold and Supima, two of the most premium cotton varieties on the planet, but they can still turn rogue if you don’t treat them right. There are plenty of ways to accidentally ruin your favorite t-shirt, whether you’re washing, drying or storing it. So we’ve created this guide to help you navigate all the ins and outs of finding the perfect fit and maintaining your Noo-Brand t-shirts and polos in their prime.
Why These Fabrics Are Different From Regular Cotton
The kind of cotton most of the t-shirts you wear everyday are made from is a type called short-staple cotton. The cotton fibers are really short, so when you spin it into yarn, it has to be done with a lot of tension. That’s why many cheap cotton clothes feel stiff and rough, and they often pill or lose their shape after just a few washes.
Two types of cotton rise above the rest: Suvin Gold and Supima. They're called extra long staple or ELS cottons. What is special about them is that their fibers are very long. That means they can be spun into yarn with much less tension. The result is an incredibly smooth yarn and when it’s made into fabric it is super soft. And also, the clothes made of this fabric are really good in shape even after a lot of washing. They don’t sag or thin like some other fabrics do after just a few months.
Understanding Fit Before You Buy
Suvin Gold and Supima are not like regular cotton, so it’s a good idea to have some idea of what you’re getting into before you pick a size.
Suvin Gold clothes are really good at keeping their shape, they don't stretch much at the neck, wrists or bottom, even after a long time.
Supima garments feel slightly softer when you first take them out of their packaging, but the real treat is how well they spring back into shape after you wash them. This is because the fibers in Supima are very elastic, meaning they can stretch and spring back into position, helping your clothes stay looking their best.
It's common for a garment dyed polo shirt to shrink a bit when you wash it for the first time, usually between three and five percent. Don't worry, that is just the fabric settling into its soft, relaxed shape, which is what it is supposed to do. After that first wash, the material will feel nicer and it’s all part of what makes garment-dyed polos so comfortable to wear.
Generally polos made of a blend of panel-dyed and Merino wool are likely to fit as expected and not shrink much after washing. You can pretty much count on them to hold their shape.
Finding the perfect fit is all about your personal style. If you're looking for a more relaxed, laid back look, you might want to size up, especially on the garment dyed styles. If you’re looking for a fit that’s a little more tailored and close to the body, you can’t go wrong with Supima or Merino Wool blend polos – they’re great at keeping their shape. But here's the thing, don't just go by the size labels, like S, M or L.
How to Wash Suvin Gold and Supima Correctly
There’s no denying that laundry can ruin nice clothes — yours and everyone else’s. Here are some habits you can develop that will improve the life of your garments.
Always wash with cold water. You should never wash above 30°C. Once Suvin Gold enters above 30°C, the heat starts to break the natural oil in the fiber (also what has the fiber so soft and with a sheen) and that garment will age quicker.
Always wash clothes inside out. Turned like this, there’s less friction between the garment and the buttons or whatever else in the load.
Pick washing detergents that are gentle on your clothes. Always eliminate washing detergents that have enzymes or “whiteners brighteners.” Overtime, these will dull out cottons and shine away.
Drying the Right Way
When drying knits, it is best to air dry or tumble dry at the lowest heat setting to minimize heat exposure. Natural fibers like cotton can lose structural integrity with high heat.
The weight of a Suvin Gold knit can cause the shoulders and neck hole to stretch if hang dried, which can also change the shape of the garment. Lay knits flat to dry in order to best maintain garment shape.
Knits that have dye should be kept out of direct sunlight. UV light makes color fade and leaves dried knits looking worse for wear.
Reshape the cuffs and collar by hand while the knit is still slightly damp to prevent curling when dried.
Ironing and Storage Tips
To preserve natural texture and unique properties of cotton, set your iron to low or medium heat, and iron your garment when it is still slightly damp, or place a thin cloth between the iron and the garment. Ironing your cotton t shirt this way allows you to avoid high heat which will remove the natural texture, and iron it flat, making the shirt feel ordinary.
There are a several best practices to keep your wardrobe in top condition. How you store your t shirts is important. Folding t shirts and avoiding hanging will prevent the fabric from stretching at the shoulders. The fabric will keep its shape and help the collar of your polos avoid sagging if you use a wide hanger to store polos. Keeping your clothes out of direct sunlight will help prevention clothing and garment dye from fading. The longer you implement these practices to clothing storage, the better your clothes will look.
Suvin Gold vs Supima: A Few Small Differences
Both fabrics follow a mostly standard core care routine, but some details differ.
Suvin Gold has a lot of natural oils, creating a lovely sheen but also resulting in a need for a special care routine. Washing the fabric frequently will lead to a loss of that sheen, so to preserve the coating, wash them rarely using a mild detergent
Supima is an easier fabric to care for. It is more resistant to wear and tear and can withstand more frequent washing.
Polos need to be washed less frequently than cotton fabrics due to the natural insulating properties of wool. Washing wool frequently leads to a loss of loft.
What If Something Feels Off
As with most natural fibers, wool can be unpredictable. Unlike cotton, which typically has a uniform appearance, wool can have batch to batch variations, and may shrink more during washing. That is why we at Noo-Brand provide a 160-day guarantee on our wool products. If you have a problem with fit or quality during the guarantee period and have followed our care guide, we will replace your product. We can offer this guarantee because we have total control over the products from the Tamil Nadu mills to your doorstep.
The Bottom Line
It's not just about the fabric when it comes to the best t-shirts, they need to last as well. When cared for properly, Suvin Gold and Supima t-shirts have an advantage in this category. Cold washes and drying flat can keep t-shirts in long lasting condition. Leaving t-shirts flat can best keep them presented. As a bonus, this will keep your shirts looking good and preserved for years while providing the best comfort! These shirts are a worthwhile investment! They will last long in comparison cheap, bulk t-shirts.