Quality of Summer Fibres

When temperatures rise, dressing well becomes less about layering and more about choosing the right materials. Summer clothing often gets reduced to colour or weight, but neither matters much if the fibre itself isn't suited to heat.

At Colhay's, we believe summer dressing should feel effortless without compromising on quality. That means beginning at the source - selecting fibres that are naturally breathable, comfortable against the skin and able to age beautifully over time. For us, two materials stand above the rest in warmer weather: cotton and linen.

Extra-Long Staple Cotton

Cotton is perhaps the most widely worn natural fibre in the world, yet not all cotton is created equal. The difference lies largely in fibre length.

For our Cotton Coach Polo, we use extra-long staple cotton - a significantly rarer category of cotton known for exceptionally long fibres that can be spun into smoother, stronger and more refined yarns. Longer fibres create fewer exposed ends within the fabric, resulting in a cleaner surface, a softer hand feel and greater durability over time.

Our particular cotton is crafted from a blend of Egyptian Giza cotton and Australian cotton. Giza cotton has long been regarded as one of the benchmarks of luxury cotton production due to the length and fineness of its fibres, while Australian cotton is respected for its consistency and purity. Combined, they create a fabric that feels noticeably different from ordinary cotton - smoother, lighter and more fluid in movement.

This is also why high quality cotton performs so well in summer.

Cotton is naturally breathable and allows air to circulate freely around the body while absorbing moisture without feeling synthetic or clammy. Extra-long staple cotton elevates that experience further by producing a fabric that feels cool, dry and exceptionally soft even in warmer conditions. 

Our Coach Polo was designed around this principle. Lightweight, breathable and made in Japan by specialist makers with decades of expertise in jersey and sportswear construction, it is intended to sit comfortably between casual and tailored dressing. The retro inspired proportions, longer collar and elegant drape allow the fabric to speak for itself.

A simple garment made exceptional through material choice.

Sea Island Cotton

Within our cotton collection sits another expression of the fibre, the sea island cotton. 

Historically considered among the world's most luxurious cotton categories, sea island cotton is celebrated for extraordinary softness, natural lustre and an almost silk-like handle. What makes it distinct is again its exceptionally long and fine fibres.

At Colhay's, our interpretation uses a premium blend developed from Giza and Australian cotton to achieve those cottons to achieve those same qualities of softness, refinement and comfort while maintaining excellent everyday wearability. 

The result is cotton that feels lighter, cleaner and more elevated than conventional jersey - particularly valuable during summer when the smallest details in comfort become noticeable.

Linen

If cotton excels through softness, linen excels through airflow.

Our Riviera Shirt is made from French linen sourced from Normandy, a region widely recognised as one of the finest places in the world for growing flax thanks to its climate and growing conditions.

Linen has an entirely different character to cotton. The fibres are naturally stronger, slightly drier to the touch and more open in structure, allowing heat to escape efficiently. This is why linen remains one of the most comfortable materials to wear in genuinely warm weather. 

But high quality linen should never feel rough or overly rustic. French linen develops softness with wear while retaining the relaxed elegance that makes it such an enduring summer cloth. There is structure without stiffness, movement without cling and a texture that only improves with age.

Combined with Japanese craftsmanship and a relaxed Riviera inspired silhouette, our linen shirt is designed to feel effortless - whether worn open over a vest, with tailored trousers for a slightly elevated, smarter look, or simply on its own.

Summer dressing doesn't need to mean compromise. Once you choose better fibres, everything else becomes easier.