About this project
Wool&Prince: The Better Button-Down. Guaranteed.
$314,241
2,352
Normal button-downs wrinkle and smell after a wear or two. This requires harsh washing, dry-cleaning, and ironing which slowly wears down the shirt until it is worn out after 2-3 years.
Well then...what now? We found that guys love jeans for their versatile, low-maintenance nature, but didn't have an above-the-waist option that even came close...until now.
-Wool lasts six times longer than cotton.
-Naturally anti-wrinkle and odor-fighting.
-We spent 6 months developing our Cotton-Soft(TM) wool fabric.
-Sheep are awesome and make for a great spokesman.
Fit: comparable to J.Crew Tailored Fit® or Brooks Brothers Slim Fit®
Style: Tucked or Untucked
Sizes Offered: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
Kickstarter Shirt Prices: 1 for $98, 2 for $190, or 3 for $280.
Colors:
Care Instructions: Sit back and let the wool do the work. When absolutely necessary, dry clean or gently wash. Do not put in the dryer.
Origin: Designed in Brooklyn, made in Shanghai.
Many different sheep breeds means many different types of wool. Some are fine, others are coarse and itchy. We use the finest wool shirting yarn out there--usually reserved for the luxury fashion industry. Our Cotton-Soft(TM) fabric will redefine what you think of wool. Those itchy sweaters your grandma knitted will be an afterthought once you get your hands on a Wool&Prince button-down. We promise the softness of our shirts and that's why we've guaranteed them.
We've labored over every detail for the past six months and we're giddy about starting production, but we need to place a minimum order of 300 shirts with the factory and 600 yards of fabric with the mill. Join us in our vision for better, longer lasting apparel.
100 Day Field Test: After wearing a wool shirt for 100 days straight, I can stand behind wool shirts and say that they deliver.
*I don't expect you to wear your shirt 100 days in a row, but I do expect that you'll want to see how this shirt holds up compared to your other shirts. But hey, if you want to go for the 100 Day Challenge, we aren't going to stop you.
**Also to note, 100 day shirt was worn with and without an undershirt.
Wear Testers: We gave various wool shirts to a fleet of 15 wear testers around the world. They did everything from backpacking in the Andes to dancing in "Tropical" NYC clubs. We received constructive feedback about the different fabrics, fits, and patterns. The no-wrinkle, no-odor properties of wool impressed the testers, but they wanted slimmer fits, work appropriate patterns, and softer fabrics. So that's what we made! Here's one of my favorite wear tester quotes:
Aaron Flack, Consultant
"I crumpled the shirt into a ball and put it in the bottom of my backpack when I am running around the city just to see if I can ruin it. No luck--it comes out ready to wear every time."
Laboratory tests have shown that wool fibers resist tearing and can bend back on themselves more than 20,000 times without breaking. Cotton breaks after 3,200 bends. (Lackman).
"Wool is the most resilient fiber to wrinkles, because it has a natural crimp that helps it keep its shape. Wool fibers can be stretched and still bounce back to their original shape." (Lackman).
Sweat itself has no odor, and if it remains on the skin bacteria develop and create unpleasant body odors. Wool reduces the opportunity for odors to generate, because it is more efficient than other textiles at absorbing sweat and evaporating it into the air. (Adams).
"Hospital studies have shown that bacterial colonies are common in cotton sheets, while not present on wool blankets subjected to the same environmental conditions. Unlike synthetic fibers, wool does not retain odors and will freshen just from airing out." (Aebi-Magee).
Wool is a natural insulator to keep you warm in winter and naturally breathable to keep you cool in summer. Studies conducted at both the Polytechnic Institute of Wales and the Hohenstein Institute in Germany have shown that "sleeping with untreated natural wool actually slows the heart rate and helps regulate body temperature, making for a more comfortable, more refreshing sleep."
Other Resources:
Wool used for technical activewear
Kickstarter Shirt Prices: 1 for $98, 2 for $190, or 3 for $280.
$50: W&P Ram's Horn Bottle Opener
$80: W&P All-Purpose Sheep Hide
$5,000: Man Feast Lamb Roast on Oregon Farm
Wool and Prince is the product of talented people from around the world. Thank you!
Katie Elks and Mike Major
Nicole Antonuccio, Milos Balac, CM and Goman, Milan, Emily Longfield, Marco Kaye, The 15 Wear Testers, 6 Roommates, Photographers and Photographees, Tina Chou, Greg Monte, and FAMILY&FAMILY.
Risks and challenges
I've been working on fashion projects with teams of designers and production specialists since 2007--haven't missed a delivery date yet and don't intend to!
We (the Wool&Prince team) gave ourselves a conservative six month window to deliver your shirts. We'll most likely have them to you before December, but wanted to be absolutely sure to meet our commitment!
We are working with a sourcing agent to help produce our shirts internationally. He and his team have helped large-scale apparel companies source product for the past 30 years. They have experience with shipping, importing, exporting, and international manufacturing.
In the case of high demand, we have capped our December shirt delivery capacity to ensure an on-time order.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support this project
Funding period
- (30 days)