I first read about the Ministry of Supply when they were doing their Kickstarter campaign. Their main product is a performance dress shirt made using high-end fabrics, anti-microbial features and moisture wicking qualities.
The dress shirts are pretty cool, but I don’t dress like that in the office. I don’t work in a suit and tie sort of place, and I mainly wear button up shirts when I want to dress it up a bit. So in the summer time my uniform is more likely to be a v-neck tee with a cardigan or a flannel/ plaid shirt. As a bicycle commuter, I’m tired of showing up with a sweaty back though, so I’ve been on the lookout for a great fitting v-neck tee with quick drying properties. Pedaling around and getting sweaty riding in normal cotton tees just hasn’t been cutting it.
Most cycling jerseys are made with some amount of polyester, so I’ve been looking for shirts made from alternative materials to cotton with similar performance qualities to poly. I might have found my perfect tee with the Atmos.
At $40 for a shirt, at first these seem a bit on the pricy side, but once you compare it to a designer shirt or a casual cycling jersey, you’ll find they’re inline with pieces made using performance fabrics.
The label lists the fabric as having 80% cotton content with 20% polyamide. The fabric is woven in a manner that results in a slightly puckered texture that reminds me of seersucker. Assuming I’m right, (I’m no fabric expert) it explains why the shirt does such a good job dissipating heat, and would aid in air circulation. I just know the shirt is my first pick for wearing when I’ll be riding my bike to get around town.
Ministry of Supply Atmos Tee. Size small.
None of this stuff would even matter to me if I didn’t care for the fit, but someone at Ministry of Supply is dialed into fashion, and so is the fit. I’m a 38 1/2″, which generally puts me right in a weird place between most companies’ small and medium sizes, so I often try both before deciding which fit I prefer. A phone call to MOS resolved that thought, and taking their advice I found that the small fits me great. It looks slim fitting, without looking like a second skin or base layer, so the tee works by itself, as well as a layering piece. (for reference I’m 5’10” and weigh about 162lbs.)
I bought two of these shirts. My main regret is I didn’t buy four. I haven’t quite had the shirt long enough for a thorough review, but to date it has been comfortable on the bike, and wicks sweat as promised. I’ll be posting a follow up in the upcoming months.
Check it out: Ministry of Supply Atmos Tee
