The bike shirt from Outlier Inc., a New York company, is made of cotton, a special blend tightly woven with fibers stitched intentionally to swell when wet. The fabric, an offshoot of a relic material from the World War II era, is nearly comparable to Gore-Tex in its waterproofness and breathability, Outlier cites. One of the cotton weave’s first known uses was for “immersion suits” created for jetfighter pilots who might crash in the North Sea, ostensibly shot down by Nazis. Today, Outlier revives this anachronistic cotton to sew shirts that cost upwards of $300 and appeal to bike-commuting city office workers, fashion dabblers, as well as a certain well-off niche of the hipster set.
This is all to say the Supermarine Rain Shirt, the aforementioned $300 piece, is among the strangest apparel products I have tested all year, if not ever. In use, the collared button-up fits flatteringly close and comfortable, though still a bit restrictive like all dress shirts can be. Paradoxically, rain beads on its cotton face. Wear it outside in a storm and this tuck-in shirt can do double duty for you in lieu of a raincoat.
Bird watchers and British survivalist nuts, it is said, are longtime fans of this special cotton weave, which uses a fine, long-strand cotton fiber. One blend, the most known, is made by Ventile Fabrics at a mill in the county constituency of Chorley, England. There are a few niche outdoor brands, including West Winds (U.K.) and Wiggy’s (U.S.A.), that use Ventile in jackets and clothing. Outlier, which is based in Brooklyn, gets its “magic cotton” from a Swiss mill, and the company adds on a DWR (durable water repellent) coating to further boost its propensity to shed rain.
This spring, on misty days in April and May, I put the Supermarine Rain Shirt to use. My sample from Outlier, which as noted sells for an astonishing $300 — $326.63 with tax! — fits nicely and feels semi-formal to wear. I got compliments each time I buttoned it up. On the bike, I felt alarmingly preppy pedaling with a wool cycling cap and knickers on.
Outlier sells the shirt in white, gray and navy blue. It is made in New York City. The material has a dense feel to it, though the company’s design lets it fit just right. For biking the sleeves have a “pivot construction” for leaning over and gripping your handlebars tight.
