What 300gsm actually means

If you've been buying basics for a while, you've heard the word "heavyweight" used to mean anything from "slightly less transparent than usual" to "genuinely built to last."

Gsm — grams per square meter — is the honest measure. Here's the range:

• 150–180gsm: fast fashion weight. Thin, prints crack after 10 washes, goes sheer when stretched.
• 180–220gsm: the high-street standard. Most branded basics land here. Wearable, not durable.
• 250–280gsm: the step up. Used by most premium basics brands. Good weight, holds shape.
• 300gsm+: where we start. The tee that feels like something.

At 300gsm, a tee sits on the body instead of against it. It has enough structure to hold a shoulder seam in place. It doesn't distort under the arms after the third wear.

It also costs more to produce. That's part of why it's rare in the under-$50 price tier. At $65, we're not making a margin bet — we're making a quality bet: the piece that lasts two years is worth more than two pieces that last one.