Criquet Shirts - Organic Cotton

[SPY ZINGER]

Criquet Shirts

Organic Cotton

 

MyGolfSpy receives a lot of requests from smaller apparel companies. It's common for them to reach out to various golf media outlets in an attempt to generate some exposure. They don't have the marketing budgets of the giants in the industry. So the common theme is, “Hey, can we send you some shirts for a review?”

 

As you probably have come to discover by now, I am really not that into that. It's really difficult to “review” apparel. MyGolfSpy is about exploiting performance, and let me tell you apparel is difficult to present with empirical data. It's so personal to the individual. There are a wide range of variables too, most of which seems to surround price point.

 

To this end, I have gravitated toward handpicked items that I believe MyGolfSpy readers would find a genuine interest in. A “Look-Book” if you will, for the golf apparel segment. I find things that I like, and believe you might find some interest in as well. Criquet Shirts is one of those brands.

 

Criquet Shirts is based in Austin, Texas. They've been around for about five years. Two words categorize their apparel perfectly: Understated & Classic. I had been seeing articles about their apparel not only in golf publications, but mass media as well. Wall Street Journal, Playboy (Golfspy X told me), Esquire, the list goes on. People rave over this shirt. Why? Criquet gives you five reasons why:

 

1. Better Fabric: Super soft 100% certified organic cotton.

2. Better Fit: Not too baggy. Not too skinny

3. Better Collar: Removable collar stays help keep your collar looking crisp

4. Better Service: Free delivery and free returns

5. Better You: Classis style meets forward thinking.

 

Honestly, Criquet could have only listed the first two. This is the reason people are going baboon over their apparel. This is something that is hard to convey to consumers when making attempts to sell apparel online. You can't try it on, and you can't feel it. But true to their word, the damn shirt is probably the best feeling cotton shirt that has had the honor of covering my torso. They got the fit perfect too, it not too big, and it's not too small. At 5'11, 185, a Large is just right.

 

As nice as their shirts are, in my opinion, their sweaters are even better. Style, fit finish, comfort, and feel, they nailed the female dog. A recent trend I see among some of the botique apparel companies is offering similar selections for kids and juniors. As a father myself, I really like this option in an apparel brand. One of the catch prases in the industry today is, "growing the game." Having selections for the kids, that match what Mom or Dad is wearing is fantastic and in my opinion, strengthens the draw to making the game fun. Thanks for doing this, Criquet, I hope this is a sign of things to come among manufacturers. Yes, the kids selections are every bit as nice as their adult counterparts.

 

I realize cotton isn't going to be for everyone. I also realize that plain and simple with classic roots isn't for those with a love for Ian Poulter. There are people, especially in Texas, that won't play golf in anything other than technical fabric. But for those that want cotton, plain, simple, and understand, this is about as comfortable as it gets short of being topless.

Organic Cotton / Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater - Heather Grey

 

 

Our take on the traditional cotton / cashmere crew. Super soft, versatile and featuring our signature chest pocket, which gives a hint of "badassery" to the look. MSRP: $115

• 90% Organic Cotton / 10% Cashmere Fine Gauge Jersey Why Organic?
• Flap pocket at chest with button
• Rib cuffs, neckline, and sweep
• Designed in Austin, TX
• Imported

The Players Shirt - Augusta Green

 

https://vimeo.com/96857007

 

Inspired by our favorite vintage golf shirts, our 4-button placket Players Shirt is the perfect choice for both on and off the course. This versatile high performance shirt for the 19th hole will never let you down. MSRP: $75

• Super soft 100% Organic Cotton Jersey Why Organic?
• Removable collar stays to keep your collar crisp
• Designed in Austin, TX
• Imported

[Aotearoa_Brad]

Nice Zinger,

I have one of the Augusta green Players shirts (though mine is striped). Have had it for over a year and aside from one little spot (where I caught it on something) it still looks as good as new.

Super comfortable. Not as cool, in my opinion, as some of the tech fabric shirts available now but a great polo for both on or off the course. I'm a big fan of the 4 button placket.

[PlaidJacket]

Clothing is boring to me. Sure I like to dress nice and do. I may spend a lot of money for certain things... like golf clubs and related equipment. But clothes? Neh. You don't have to if shop smart. I've never had anyone suggest that I don't dress nicely. In fact I get occasional complements. Heh!  I hate shopping for clothes. It's usually a get in get out situation for me. I sometimes purchase clothes online too. I've had mixed results at best. Boutique clothes are not my thing. As for the Criquet line I say go for it. I didn't see one golf shirt that appealed to me. Every shirt had a chest pocket which I do not like on a golf shirt. What's going in a chest pocket? A pack of Lucky Strikes? I guess that's their "old school" ah-la retro styling they're after. Another angle they tout is "organic". Like that's really going to cinch the deal for me. What's wrong with regular old cotton grown in the dirt like organic cotton is? Oh, I get it... they don't purchase cotton where the farmer might use a herbicide or a fertilizer made from a petroleum product. (another reason their shirts are more expensive) I can assure you when I go into a store and grab a golf shirt I don't ask to see shirts that are "responsibility" produced. And what does that mean anyway? If I'm a cotton farmer I want an acre of my land to yield as much cotton as possible so I can make as much money as I can to provide for my family. To not do so would be irresponsible wouldn't it? And besides, the more cotton produced the less a golf shirt will cost. These days I prefer non-cotton golf shirts. Or if cotton is used only a blend of cotton and poly. I've found that cotton golf shirts are not that comfortable during the middle of summer. And they don't hold up well through repeated wash cycles They come out of the dryer wrinkled. As for their styling it appeared to me their pockets and plackets are thick and rather chunky looking. More so the ones with a flap. It's like an after thought. At the last minute someone slapped on a pocket. For some reason. These days I wear mostly the so called "tech" shirts. Probably made from petroleum products. But so is most everything else in our lives to some extent. And you'd have to agree. Us Americans live a fairly good life don't we? We play lot's of golf and that's good. 

That was a nice review. I just thought I'd give my take on golf clothing.

[JohnBarry]

Borning, but could have some potential!

[fozcycle]

Couldn't have said it better Plaid.....Back in the day, my wardrobe was 100% cotton. Today, however, I choose to wear synthetics as they are cooler and dry quicker living in the Tampa Bay area.  I can also keep my body in fashionable clothing without paying full retail.  I do not have anything in my wardrobe that was paid at full price.  The local Macy's provides many great Greg Norman shirts & shorts mostly at less than half price...just gotta know when to shop.

[SPY ZINGER]

Great feedback here guys, enjoyable to read! Completely agree on the lack of flash but with Criquet, that's the point. That's their thing. I'll wear cotton in the cool spring and early fall but it's a hard sell in the humid Midwest summers. Criquet is really marketed on the feel on their shirts when worn, hard to beat the soft comfort.

[Kenny B]

I prefer cotton, especially in the summer; but maybe that is because it's not humid here.  When I wear a cotton shirt and it's 100* the shirt is bone dry and soft.  Over the past year I have picked up a few "tech" shirts which remind me of the polyester shirts of the '70s.  They keep the heat in, don't breathe, sure they stretch but when I get hot, they cling which I hate.  I'm just the opposite of Zinger.  The tech shirts are OK in the late fall through early spring when it's cool, but when the temp hits 70 like it did this last week, it's all cotton, baby!

[furu]

Criquet is personal style. A lifestyle. It sounds like a cliche, but trust me. Understated, relaxed and cool. 

 

The guys behind the brand are amazing. Product quality is excellent. I've had 5 shirts for more than a year. Placing an order this weekend for 2-3 more in the new colours. $75 + shipping + 11% tax + 25% VAT. I could probably get any shirt I wanted to from Nike, Adidas ++. But I still choose to buy Criquet shirts.

 

Nike got pretty upset when I wrote that man-boobs and dri-fit was a bad match.....  

[mr_divots]

I love cotton, just not for golf.

[furu]

I love cotton, just not for golf.

 

George Costanza disagrees! 

[Bogey in The Woods]

It is funny, as I was looking at the offerings they have, my wife glanced over and asked if I plan to get any of those shirts so I might fit in at Bushwood with The Judge and Ty Webb. Then i scrolled down and saw JohnBarry's Caddyshack signature.

 

I buy last seasons clothes at the semi-annual Tent Sale at Golfsmith and supplement muy golf wardrobe at Goodwill.

 

 

"....... and tell the chef this is low-grade dog food."

[mr_divots]

George Costanza disagrees! 

I love Seinfeld, and I know George had a thing for velvet, but I don't remember this?