In the age of athleisure, it’s finally possible to dress professionally, comfortably. Mizzen + Main is one of a handful of companies creating menswear with performance properties. You (usually) wear your clothes most of the day, so why not be comfortable in them?
If you’re a guy who works in a somewhat professional environment, chances are you have a steady rotation of dress shirts. Kevin Lavelle, founder and CEO of Mizzen + Main, was one of those guys back in 2005. As an intern in Washington, D.C., he witnessed a man rush to a meeting in a dress shirt drenched with sweat. This sparked an idea to create a shirt with the moisture-wicking properties of athletic wear and, seven years later, Mizzen + Main was founded.
Since its founding in 2012, Mizzen + Main has taken off and is carried at over 365 stores nationwide, in addition to being sold online at Nordstrom, Man Outfitters, Country Club Prep, and their own site. They’ve expanded their product line and are bringing their moisture-wicking expertise to other menswear staples including chinos, jeans, polos, sweaters, and more.
Your Grandpa's dress shirtMen have been wearing dress shirts for centuries with little innovation or change. Brooks Brothers, America’s oldest clothing retailer, has been a household name in menswear and quality dress shirts since it’s founding in 1818. It wasn’t until 1953 when they introduced the first non-iron shirt.
The creation of non-iron shirts allowed men everywhere to forgo the laborious task of ironing, making their lives just a little bit easier. While saving time, the fabric is soaked in a resin that releases small amounts of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is used in the embalming process and is classified as a carcinogen. While the largest risk associated with the chemical comes from inhalation, contact with skin can sometimes cause skin irritation and rashes.
The traditional dress shirt is made from 100% cotton. While cotton is a soft and durable fabric, it absorbs moisture and traps heat, which can lead to those embarrassing sweat marks.
According to Mizzen + Main’s site, their shirts “breathe, stretch, and wick away moisture”. They are also machine washable and don’t require ironing. Their shirts, available in two blends, are composed of synthetic fibers similar to that of athletic wear:
By comparison, here is the makeup of popular athletic-wear:
The company has taken things a step further and partnered with top professional athletes including All-Pro NFL player J.J. Watt and Jake Arrieta, World Series champion pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Watt, who has said he could play a basketball game in Mizzen + Main clothes, recently designed his own collection of dress shirts and polos with the company.
In case you were looking for another reason to like Mizzen + Main, they actively give back to the community. They're creating new jobs at home by manufacturing all their products in the US. They also help veterans transition back to civilian life through programs like “Shirt for a Start”, a paid internship program that helps servicemen and women develop valuable professional experience and networking opportunities.
If you would like to stay connected with Mizzen + Main, you can follow them online at Dealspotr, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Partner Marketing @ Dealspotr. Bargain shopper extraordinaire. Sloth enthusiast.
