A little bit ago, we brought you word of a new shirt showing up on Kickstarter, the Lotushirt. Since then, we’ve gotten a sample in, and we’re back to give you our thoughts on this rather unique travel shirt.
At it’s surface, the Lotushirt looks like a shirt that you’d wear for just about any situation – it’s got some of that OCBD style to it (though it’s definitely not oxford cloth), and the bright white means it goes with just about anything. The big kicker here is that fabric. 80% polyester, and 20% memory yarn, this feels rather unlike any other button-down shirt you’ve had. However, if you’ve bought any sort of wicking, quick dry shirt (or undershirt) from a sporting goods store, then you’re on the path of the handfeel for this shirt.
I’m specifically thinking of some undershirts that I had for travel. While they didn’t have exactly the same feel, there were similarities there. Lots of tiny holes, quite breathable and quick to dry, and you can see why this reminded me of them. Of course, the Lotushirt has a few other tricks up it’s sleeves. The first of those being resistance to stains courtesy of it not allowing water to really soak in. While I didn’t try dumping coffee on myself, I did notice the water repellant nature of the fabric when I washed it (by hand for the first go though it is machine washable). Eventually water will make it’s way in, of course, and you can wash it as you’d expect.
Next, the Lotushirt is fairly quick-drying (again, like those travel shirts I had before). However, if you’re simply hand washing and wringing things out, quick dry is only part of the story. If you have to iron, then you’ve got a different problem to solve. Fortunately for you, dear traveller, the Lotushirt is relatively wrinkle-free. I found that I did want to do some touch up on the collar and cuffs, but otherwise, I was good with how it turned out (particularly if I was living out of a suitcase).
So, yeah, you can see how the Lotushirt would be good for travel. If it’s uncomfortable, though, that’s not going to do you any good. Given how stretchy the fabric of the shirt is, the comfort is definitely there. It also has a slightly slippery feel to it, which means the shirt – if it’s not moving with you – will sort of glide. For me, this was the most present on the cuffs. If I was still, they were right at my wrist. Once I started moving, though, they’d lift up a bit. Not a problem, per se, but it makes for maybe a less perfect fit than one might hope. This was exacerbated moreso when I wore it under a sweater – the cuffs liked to sneak up under the sweater cuff.
When I was first looking over the Lotushirt, I thought I would try pairing it to a tie, but that’s really not what this fabric is about. Sure, you could probably do it in a pinch, but I think it would look (and feel) odd. Instead, what I think the Lotushirt is really intended for (if you couldn’t tell) is for someone who’s traveling. Whether it’s by plane, train, or bus, this sort of shirt is going to be a good companion. You’ll look sharp without being overdressed (paired to jeans, slacks, or shorts, you’ll be good), and it adapts to a variety of climates. Add in how easy it is to wash and dry (say, in a hotel room sink) and you’ve got a shirt that would quite easily be worn over a number of days in your travels.
Funding for the Lotushirt is currently at 200%, with the campaign slated to close on June 2. You can pick up your own Lotushirt with pricing that starts at $59 with delivery expected for August 2018. While I wouldn’t call the Lotushirt quite a dress shirt, I think it would make for a very, very good traveling shirt. One might wish for slightly longer sleeves and some color choice, but for the first one out of the gate, I think they’re doing well here. project page
