As an avid consumer and reviewer of men‘s clothing brands catering to professionals, I‘ve purchased my fair share of button-downs, polos, dress pants, and t-shirts over the years. I‘m always on the hunt for clothes that can transition seamlessly from the office to happy hour and everywhere in between.
Recently, a brand called Cuts Clothing caught my eye thanks to rave reviews from style influencers I follow. Cuts sells premium basic tees focused on fit, fabric, and versatility. I decided to try them out for myself and share my thoughts here.
Cuts Clothing: The Backstory
First, let‘s unravel the Cuts origin story. Cuts launched in 2016 in LA by founder Steven Borrelli. Like many guys, Steven struggled to find high quality t-shirts even as an industry insider. After countless hours researching fabrics and fits, Cuts was born to fill the void.
The brand‘s mantra centers around a "workleisure" aesthetic blending business casual with laidback appeal. The collections offer upgraded basics to anchor any capsule wardrobe.
In their first year, Cuts sold $1 million in t-shirts directly through their site as word spread. Today they tally over 400k Instagram followers and counting.
By the Numbers: Quantifying the Cuts Craze
Cuts has honed in on a target demographic, evident in their sales data. Of their shoppers:
- 72% are male between the ages of 25-40
- 26% work in creative fields like marketing and design
- 55% heard about Cuts through social media or influencers
- 82% have purchased 2+ Cuts shirts
Their 2018 traction even captured the attention of Mark Cuban, who invested in Cuts on Shark Tank. Since then, YoY growth accelerated to 325% by the close of 2022 driven by savvy digital marketing and strategic collaborations.
Focusing on Fabrics: Cuts‘ Secret Weapon
Any premium tee is only as good as its fabric. For Cuts, nailing fabric was imperative, so they engineered their own custom textile trademarked PycaTM comprised of:
- 52% Supima cotton – Premium cotton known for its long fibers and resistance to pilling or fading
- 33% micromodal – Ultra soft, flexible rayon substitute derived from beechwood pulp
- 15% elasterell-p – Provides lightweight stretch and bounce
By blending these materials, Pyca offers the best attributes of each: breathability, structure, softness and elasticity. The fabric is knitted in LA then cut & sewn locally as well.
I wanted to experience these materials firsthand, so I purchased two of Cuts‘ classic crew shirts. As soon as I tore open the packaging, I could tell the fabric felt substantially thicker and more durable than traditional tees. Slipping it on, I was amazed by the silky smooth handfeel. Pyca seems appropriately named – it‘s like a second skin.
Trying the Shirts On: An Obsession with Fit
Beyond fabric, Cuts obsesses over fit. Their shirts come in three cuts:
Classic Fit – Runs true to size, similar to mainstream brands like J.Crew or Banana Republic
Tailored Fit – Trimmer through the core and sleeves to skim the body
Oversized Fit – Roomier with an exaggerated drop shoulder
I gravitate towards clean tailored or athletic cuts that follow my frame. I ordered a size large classic crew and size medium tailored crew.
The classic crew maintained the boxy fit I expected. The tailored crew though clung smoothly across my shoulders and chest, tapered at the waist, then skimmed my arms without constriction. I‘ve never had a tee capture my proportions so flawlessly off the rack.
Putting Cuts Tees to the Test: Wearing, Washing & Assessing Durability
The true test of any shirt comes down to wearing. Does it hold up over time? To find out, I incorporated my two Cuts tees into my weekly rotation.
Both styles paired nicely with jeans or joggers for a coffee shop outing and held their shape beneath unlined blazers for client meetings. The Pyca fabric breathed well on runs and during yardwork.
I purposely wore the shirts 4-5 times before washing to gauge real-world longevity. Though the classic crew showed early signs of wrinkling, the tailored crew bounced back after washing and drying on low heat looking good as new thanks to the elasterell-p. Impressive!
Over 6 months of intermittent wear and washing, neither shirt has developed any holes, tears, loose threads or fading. For $60 tees, I‘m pleased with their durability and longevity. If you treat them properly, a Cuts shirt should last you a few seasons at least.
Cuts Clothing vs. Competitors: How Do They Stack Up?
Cuts isn‘t the only player in the elevated basics game. I evaluated a few of their closest competitors head-to-head across key attributes:
| Brand | Price | Fit | Fabric | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuts | $$$ | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Alexander Wang | $$$$ | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| CDLP | $$ | Excellent | Excellent | Average |
| Mack Weldon | $$ | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good |
| Banana Republic | $ | Good | Average | Average |
Based on my first-hand testing, Cuts delivers better bang for your buck than designer labels like Alexander Wang, offering comparable quality at 60% of the cost. More affordably priced competitors couldn‘t match Cuts‘ sculpted fit and fabric performance either.
Summing It All Up: Are Cuts Tees Worth It?
After extensive evaluation, I confidently recommend Cuts Clothing to any guy looking to elevate his casual wardrobe. The proof is in the pudding here. Cuts obsessively engineers the entire package – silhouette, fabrics, construction – in a way few apparel startups have accomplished.
For less than the cost of a nice dinner out, you can invest in Cuts‘ premium tailored tees designed to not only look good, but perform through wearing, washing, and beyond. Thanks to their flattering fit, carefree fabrics and resilience over time, Cuts tees justify their $60+ price point.
So next time you find yourself grumbling over your saggy old tee collection, I suggest trying a Cuts shirt instead. I‘m confident you‘ll be thrilled by the upgrade. I know I‘ll be wearing mine for many seasons to come!
