GSM stands for grams per square metre — the weight of the fabric, and the single best number for judging a plain tee. 240gsm is a premium midweight: substantial enough to hold its shape, light enough to wear all year.
The GSM scale, roughly
130–160gsm — thin, fast-fashion territory. 180–210gsm — standard high-street weight. 230–260gsm — premium midweight, where considered brands sit. 280gsm and up — heavyweight; impressive on paper, but stiff and hot.
Why we target 240gsm
It's the point where a tee stops feeling disposable and starts feeling like a garment — without tipping into the boardy feel that reads as a gimmick. It drapes cleanly over a boxy cut, isn't see-through, and survives washing without thinning out.
GSM isn't the whole story
We use combed cotton — combed to remove short fibres, leaving a smoother, stronger, softer surface — and garment-wash it for a broken-in hand-feel. A good 240gsm combed cotton tee beats a cheap 300gsm one every time.
See it in the Essential Tee and across Chapter 01.
