A Higher Level of Shirts with Mercerized Cotton Shirts

Treating standard cotton with sodium hydroxide creates a stronger, shinier cotton that has a smoother texture than that of standard cotton.  In addition to altering the composition and feel of the cotton, it also makes cotton more absorbent to dyes, thus creating very rich colors for fabric and yarn.  Treating the cotton with sodium hydroxide and the surrounding process is called ‘mercerization’.  This process was invented in 1851 by John Mercer, and has since been tweaked and made better by others.  Although not many people were impressed by the invention at first, mercerized cotton shirts are now very popular, and are worn by many.

Mercerized cotton shirts have a shinier appearance than standard cotton, and are sometimes also be referred to as “pearl cotton” or “pearle cotton” shirts, due to their shiny appearance.  When choosing this type of shirt for oneself or as a gift, there are several different factors to consider.  The first is what style of shirt to purchase.  These shirts are available in a number of different styles, most popularly seen in standard t-shirt shapes, in both short and long sleeves.  The benefit to this type of mercerized finished is that one is able to wear a shirt that is as comfortable as a standard cotton shirt, but which appears to be more dressy than a standard cotton shirt.

Although they are available in several different colors, mercerized cotton shirts are popular in neutral tones, as are most other types of shirts.  Due to the ability to wear a neutral colored shirt with several different items in their wardrobe, many choose mercerized shirts in neutral colors as well.  For those who prefer a more varied color palate in their wardrobe, these shirts are available for purchase both online and in retail stores in a wide array of colors, both bright and subdued.   

After having decided on a style and color, it is important to next decide where to purchase one’s mercerized cotton shirts.  Many retailers offer shirts of this type, and one could identify them in the store by their thick texture and shiny appearance.  If the goal is to purchase this type of shirt through an online retailer, finding the right retailer starts with a simple query in any popular search engine.  There are several companies that offer shirts of this type, and even some high-end designers offer these shirts online in various styles and colors.  

One thing to keep in mind when shopping for mercerized cotton shirts is that some very severe chemicals and dyes are used in the manufacturing process.  For some that are concerned about the environment, this may be offensive, so one should be aware of this prior to purchasing these shirts as gifts.  In addition, those concerned with the environment may be opposed to purchasing these shirts because the dyes used as well as the manufacturing process itself are harmful to the environment.  In a case where the environment or sensitive skin is an issue, it is best to stick with organic or natural cotton, which uses no harmful dyes or chemicals during production.