Is Sea Island Cotton all that?

Dicky Dicardo · May 26, 2011

As a follow-up to the recent cordovan thread, how much of Sea Island Cotton is legend versus reality? Has it become just a marketing term? Is it worth the extra cost?

If there's an advantage, is it comfort, durability, or appearance? Is it better suited for one class of garments such as shirts, sweathers, or socks; or are its advantages, if any, across the board? Does the quality of SIC vary from vendor to vendor, or is pretty consistent?

patrickBOOTH · May 26, 2011

I have found it to be softer and have a nice sheen. With that comes the durability issue. One of my shirts lasted only about 8 washings before I was left with shreads with a collar and cuffs attached.

Will · May 26, 2011

I've had women exclaim that my sea island shirts felt like silk to the touch.

Never had any durability issues with a couple dozen shirts.

Kuro · May 26, 2011

^ am wearing one today and agree with Will... smooth as silk and no durability issues (must have washed it close to 50 times by now). It is, however, a touch wrinkle prone.

LanceW · May 26, 2011

I've never had certified sea island cotton but Giza 45 shirting feels like it's made from pure sex

Beetleything · May 26, 2011

John Smedley Sea Island Cotton is of very high quality.

I bought 2 long sleeved tops in Harrods on sale years ago and they lasted for years - washed them in the machine on delicates.
So it depends on the quality - not all the same me thinks.

David Reeves · May 26, 2011

Its good but theres cotton just as fine these days. Its more pricey because it has the sea island tag which only cotton from the south sea islands can claim. Usually the crop is bought up by Japanese firms every year and sold onto others at crazy prices these days. I don't think even Turnbull carries sea island cotton now. Its very nice but these days your paying extra for the name.

hpreston · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by David Reeves

Its good but theres cotton just as fine these days. Its more pricey because it has the sea island tag which only cotton from the south sea islands can claim. Usually the crop is bought up by Japanese firms every year and sold onto others at crazy prices these days. I don't think even Turnbull carries sea island cotton now. Its very nice but these days your paying extra for the name.

I just bought a T&A Sea Island Cotton shirt form their store in NYC about two weeks ago.

It was a pretty heafty premium over their standard cotton, but it felt soooo much nicer.

DerekS · May 26, 2011

I have a few Turnbull & Asser Sea Island shirts that i absolutely love.

aravenel · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by DerekS

I have a few Turnbull & Asser Sea Island shirts that i absolutely love.

I'm actually thinking of buying one of their Sea Islands for my wedding--have you had any durability issues?

David Reeves · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by hpreston

I just bought a T&A Sea Island Cotton shirt form their store in NYC about two weeks ago. It was a pretty heafty premium over their standard cotton, but it felt soooo much nicer.
They must have brought it back because they stopped a few years ago. good to know. They called the substitute "sea island quality" to get round the trademark. You can get cottons with a higher thread count these days though. If you like fine cottons ask them about Acorn Imperial or Grasmere which they stock. You could also just have your shirts made in silk, theres some nice shirtings out there that are not very shiny and blouse looking.

musicguy · May 26, 2011

Here's an interesting article about Sea Island Cotton. Apparently true Sea Island cotton hasn't existed for over 80 years.

http://supimacotton.blogspot.com/200...hy-it-was.html

Dicky Dicardo · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by musicguy

Here's an interesting article about Sea Island Cotton. Apparently true Sea Island cotton hasn't existed for over 80 years.

http://supimacotton.blogspot.com/200...hy-it-was.html
That article, at first, sounds a little biased given that it's from a supima cotton group. But further on, it begins to sound more factual and legitimate. It states that the islands are along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts, but a previous post suggested they are in the South Sea. So, it's not even certain if the stuff still exists and where it came from when it did.

Will · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by adb

That article, at first, sounds a little biased given that it's from a supima cotton group. But further on, it begins to sound more factual and legitimate. It states that the islands are along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts, but a previous post suggested they are in the South Sea. So, it's not even certain if the stuff still exists and where it came from when it did.

Sea Island comes from the coastal islands off the eastern U.S.

DerekS · May 26, 2011

Originally Posted by aravenel

I'm actually thinking of buying one of their Sea Islands for my wedding--have you had any durability issues?

none at all. I wear it quite a bit too. Id have no problem buying one again.

Is Sea Island Cotton all that?

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