What Do You Want to See in Bonobos T-Shirts?
Marshall Roy — August 3, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
We are fired up about the product development feedback we’ve been getting lately via this blog and CEO Andy Dunn’s Twitter page. From polo shirts to board shorts to yogawear, we’re learning that these social media tools are extraordinary resources for keeping in close contact with our most important investors: our customers.
Over the weekend, Andy twittered:
…and the response was terrific! We got awesome input—some guys demanded crew necks, others swear by v-necks. (For an interesting entry into this discussion, check out Trunk Club expert Lisa Bruckner’s opinion.)
A few themes ran common and deep: Bonobos t-shirts should fit flatteringly; be made of soft, lightweight, premium fabric; have a comfortable printed (rather than sewn) label; and be uncluttered by logos—guys want vibrancy and distinction, but don’t always want to be a walking advertisement.
Sounds good to us.
Help us out here, though—does the world really need t-shirts with the Bonobos touch? Is this market under-served by American Apparel, J. Crew, etc.? Could we innovate in an exciting way? Would you be willing to pay more if the shirts were manufactured in the United States?
Use the comments section below, or Andy’s twitter page, to let us know where you like to buy your t-shirts and why you like them. I’ll get the ball rolling: My favorite t-shirts, regardless of brand, are always soft, with a bit of stretch. The very best are usually made of a modal blend. (Modal is spun from beechwood cellulose. It’s lightweight, sleek, blends well with other fibers, and is particularly great for guys who want excellent fabric integrity and performance but like to avoid synthetics.)
I should mention that Bonobos already makes a nice line of soft, lightweight tees that pair well with a number of our trousers and are perfect if there’s a crusader for women’s Bonobos in your life.
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If I’m going to wear a tee-shirt then either I’m doing yard work and it can pretty much be whatever, or I want to wear a tee-shirt that is elegant and understated to dress up jeans or dress down slacks without looking sloppy.
That means, the it has to have an elegant, clean type of fabric and not just be a plain cotton t-shirt. My favorites come from places like Banana Republic, but even those are not really that elegant — basic colors, etc. Nordstrom carries “tee-shirts” in great wrinkle free fabrics, but mostly synthetics and they look too old, not fitted enough.
I’m hard pressed to really point to a solid contender in this category, so I’ll bet that through fabric selection and cut, you guys can make a mark here too.
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The two main things that Bonobos could bring to tshirts are the same as you do for pants: quality fabrics and fit. To elaborate on the fit, most shirts follow the same sizing as normal shirts and pose real problems fitting guys whose waists are smaller than their shoulders. There’s a real lack of tapered fit shirts out there, so go ahead and fill that void.
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I have a weak spot for the J Crew Broken In T’s – I seem to end up with 4 of them per season. If you’re looking for an example of impossibly soft, well cut Tee’s – I’d use them as a benchmark.
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I agree that the most important qualities that are currently lacking in t-shirts are great fit and quality fabric. I’ve had a hard time finding quality shirts that fit both of those criteria.
it seems like t’s are either made for a scrawny, emo punk rocker (american apparel) or little league coach.
make a great shirt with an athletic fit and you can get rid of the “beer gut” look in t-shirts like you did with “diaper butt” in pants.
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Tees would be a great addition to your merchandise assortment. It’s all about the fit and fabrication. You can find cotton tees from $9.99 to $39.99 and it doesn’t matter if the fit isn’t right. Find the perfect fit and build them out of premium cotton.
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I would second Dean’s comment, I have an extremely hard time finding well-fitted t-shirts as well. If anything, I agree that this is where the focus should be. Generally, t-shirts I have tried on are much too loose for my liking around my waist.
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I’m in search for good t-shirts right now. My criteria are simple and similar to previous posts. The best T-shirts are super soft, thin, and slim or athletic fit. Basically so a guy who’s fit and in good shape can wear it and not have extra fabric chilling out in the back or on the sides. A subtle design, logo, phrase, or word is cool. Bold and in your face designs are usually over kill. I live and work in east Germany and t’s are part of the standard uniform for going out. Wear a dress shirt to a sick club in Leipzig and you’ll get stares all night. Fresh t’s are key. Hook it up!
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Jersey Sheets-like feel. My girlfriend has tons of shirts like this that feel amazing but I’ve yet to find a men’s t-shirt that has the same material.
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I agree with all above. Either t-shirts, no matter what size, could substitute for tents and look sloppy and cheap; or they’re cut for anorexic 14-year-olds. There’s definitely a need for both crew and v-neck t-shirts that are made from quality fabric cut well, that fit and are flattering, and that are in fashionable colours.
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yes. v neck. crew. no logo is good. some logo is good too. some cool designs (instead of plain shirts) are also good.
i like a close fitting shirt. not too tight where it looks like pain but not too loose where it looks like i’m hiding something. soft fabric is a must.
I HATE shirts that have cheap dye. every now and then a little bit a bleach manages to makes its way into a load of laundry and the clothes with cheap dye always have to pay! so use superior dyes that’ll never go (like procion)!
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As a tall guy, I have trouble finding t-shirts that fit nicely & are long enough. I prefer Ts with no branding from J-Crew & American Apparel. Please consider making Bonobos t-shirts longer than they are now.
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i have a hard time finding t-shirts with kangaroo pouches where i can keep cool things hidden from my wife. there is also a severe shortage of deep v-neck sleeveless t-shirts with hoods (i call them “voods” – like this, but deep v-neck and for a man). http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28408686
one other idea includes developing a reversible t-shirt that can be changed without actually removing the shirt. might want to bring in IDEO to help with that one.
if you don’t like those ideas, just go ahead with the excellent suggestions above. and please make sure your XXL is really XXL. you promised me it would be last time and that is the only time i have ever been disappointed in the ape.
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The market is under-served by current manufacturers. UNIQLO, Topman & AA make awesome lightweight tees that fit my body and fall well but don’t fit around my arms.
I don’t have huge arms but do knock out a bicep curl here and there. Would love a t-shirt that fits around my arms, but is still lightweight and chic.
Simple, I know. But there was a time when guys wanting pants that actually fit was a simple request–so simple that someone in the market just had to fill it, right?
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OH GOOD LORD the fit is the most important part. For most brands I am a medium in length and a large in the shoulders. Which means most medium make me look emo yet larges make me look like I am hiding a non existent gut. BECAUSE MOST BRANDS DO NOT TAPER THEIR SHIRTS WELL!. I would love a tee with the ‘B’ on the chest, just think it would look sharp.
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[...] Click here to read this interesting take on the rapidly expanding Twitterverse. Andy’s big takeaway? “What I see from our customer base is just a real desire to participate in what we do…. We’re going to have a real product development feedback loop.” [...]