SPIER & MACKAY - Official Affiliate Thread

[SteveMc]

You do realize that when you’re taking your shirts to dry cleaners they are being laundered in water and detergent just like they would be at home? Or are you telling them explicitly to chemically wash your shirts and not use water and regular detergent?

Is it possible that dry cleaning will shrink clothing?

I have a feeling that a couple of dress chinos got shrink after dry cleaning. I can't be 100% sure, I didn't measure before and after, but after the dry cleaning I noticed they are almost too short to wear. Is there a way to avoid this?

 

[Jlee80]

Is it possible that dry cleaning will shrink clothing?

I have a feeling that a couple of dress chinos got shrink after dry cleaning. I can't be 100% sure, I didn't measure before and after, but after the dry cleaning I noticed they are almost too short to wear. Is there a way to avoid this?

Always possible, but I haven’t noticed any.

 

[Jlee80]

I think it looks fine. I personally prefer my jackets on the slightly shorter side. I find the old "cover the whole butt" rule makes the jackets seem too long and old-fashioned IMHO

Thanks. I’m 5’6 so I don’t think it’s too short, and I took the advice of a fellow forum member and took some photos from a more natural vantage point.

 

[AtlRock]

My first S&M purchase ... 46R Neo. Feedback on fit/sizing.

 

[AtlRock]

My first S&M purchase ... 46R Neo. Feedback on fit/sizing. View attachment 1727307 View attachment 1727308 View attachment 1727309 View attachment 1727310

I personally think it fits very well .... sleeves could be a tad long. But I do not know what I am talking about.

 

[noverbeck]

Is this shirt shrinkage occuring once only after the first wash or is it progressive shrinkage after each wash?

 

[alkydrinker]

Is this shirt shrinkage occuring once only after the first wash or is it progressive shrinkage after each wash?

For me, it's been after the first wash and very obvious. I've read it's been the same for others.

The thing that's weird to me is it's not like like Spier is a fabric manufacturer...they offer many different shirt fabrics assumingly from various different sources (just like any other brand). Why is it that their shirts have this widespread tendency to shrink so much? Are other manufacturers prewashing the fabric, while Spier's factories skip this step? Are they just sourcing from dodgy, low-cost sources without taking the time to test them out, whereas other companies do some basic tests on fabrics? - I really don't know.

I have a variety of MTM shirts from Ratio and never had this problem (I've gone back to them for MTM). And like I mentioned in my original post, you buy cheap cotton shirts from cheap places like Target, Gap, etc....those never notably shrink when line dried...many won't even shrink much when hot dried in a dryer.

EDIT: I should add that I do have some S$M shirts that are holding up OK after several washes, with either modest shrink or no noticeable shrink. Many others here are perfectly happy with several of their shirts as well. So I don't want to universally say all their shirt offerings are bad....the shrink risk is just much higher than should be, and higher than any other brand I've dealt with. Believe it or not, I also just ordered two more casual shirts from them, decided to roll the dice one more time, but if either of these two shrink I'm probably completely done with their shirts.

 

[ULCajun]

For me, it's been after the first wash and very obvious. I've read it's been the same for others.

The thing that's weird to me is it's not like like Spier is a fabric manufacturer...they offer many different shirt fabrics assumingly from various different sources (just like any other brand). Why is it that their shirts have this widespread tendency to shrink so much? Are other manufacturers prewashing the fabric, while Spier's factories skip this step? Are they just sourcing from dodgy, low-cost sources without taking the time to test them out, whereas other companies do some basic tests on fabrics? - I really don't know.

I have a variety of MTM shirts from Ratio and never had this problem (I've gone back to them for MTM). And like I mentioned in my original post, you buy cheap cotton shirts from cheap places like Target, Gap, etc....those never notably shrink when line dried...many won't even shrink much when hot dried in a dryer.

EDIT: I should add that I do have some S$M shirts that are holding up OK after several washes, with either modest shrink or no noticeable shrink. Many others here are perfectly happy with several of their shirts as well. So I don't want to universally say all their shirt offerings are bad....the shrink risk is just much higher than should be, and higher than any other brand I've dealt with. Believe it or not, I also just ordered two more casual shirts from them, decided to roll the dice one more time, but if either of these two shrink I'm probably completely done with their shirts.

They’ve always defended their shrinking shirts claiming they were within tolerance and all manufacturers experience it. I think it’s BS. Like you, I don’t notice it on every shirt but the majority of them.

 

[James1051]

For me, it's been after the first wash and very obvious. I've read it's been the same for others.

The thing that's weird to me is it's not like like Spier is a fabric manufacturer...they offer many different shirt fabrics assumingly from various different sources (just like any other brand). Why is it that their shirts have this widespread tendency to shrink so much? Are other manufacturers prewashing the fabric, while Spier's factories skip this step? Are they just sourcing from dodgy, low-cost sources without taking the time to test them out, whereas other companies do some basic tests on fabrics? - I really don't know.

I have a variety of MTM shirts from Ratio and never had this problem (I've gone back to them for MTM). And like I mentioned in my original post, you buy cheap cotton shirts from cheap places like Target, Gap, etc....those never notably shrink when line dried...many won't even shrink much when hot dried in a dryer.

EDIT: I should add that I do have some S$M shirts that are holding up OK after several washes, with either modest shrink or no noticeable shrink. Many others here are perfectly happy with several of their shirts as well. So I don't want to universally say all their shirt offerings are bad....the shrink risk is just much higher than should be, and higher than any other brand I've dealt with. Believe it or not, I also just ordered two more casual shirts from them, decided to roll the dice one more time, but if either of these two shrink I'm probably completely done with their shirts.

They’ve always defended their shrinking shirts claiming they were within tolerance and all manufacturers experience it. I think it’s BS. Like you, I don’t notice it on every shirt but the majority of them.

I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, because I’m not. I have long arms for my size and so I’m very sensitive to shrinkage, especially in the sleeves.

that said, it’s been two or three years since I’ve had an SM shirt shrink noticeably. Partly for that very reason, I have bought a ton of them. 20 - 30 this year alone, I am embarrassed to admit. including two of the flannel shirts that gave you problems most recently. Call me lucky, but it’s not a “widespread” issue—although again, I am not doubting your experience.

 

[MrFingers]

Cozy!
Forest green turtleneck
Moon caramel herringbone sportcoat
Botto charcoal flannel trousers

 

[1st Step]

View attachment 1727806
Cozy!
Forest green turtleneck
Moon caramel herringbone sportcoat
Botto charcoal flannel trousers

I Love It, It Looks Like Winter!

 

[AtlRock]

I Love It, It Looks Like Winter!

Very nice ... my "Wheat" version arrived today.

 

[ericgereghty]

Have to assume the Minnis DB flannel suit is in their lighter weight offering?

 

[MrFingers]

Very nice ... my "Wheat" version arrived today.

Do post a fit!

 

[DonRaphael]

Have to assume the Minnis DB flannel suit is in their lighter weight offering?

If you're referring to this, it's 12oz/370g according to Minnis' website, but Spier's says 15oz/465g. I think the latter is a typo.

https://www.spierandmackay.com/product/hms---prince-of-wales-check--510062-tdbst-02-fw21