Fabrics, fibers, finishes

Most cotton is harvested and spun as-is. Combed cotton goes a step further — it's processed to strip out short, weak fibers, leaving only the longest, strongest strands. The result is a fabric that's noticeably smoother, softer, and more durable than standard cotton, with a natural resistance to pilling even after repeated washing.

Our men's Driggs tee is made from 100% combed cotton (140g) — lightweight, breathable, and built to hold its shape wash after wash. Our women's Marcy tee elevates it further with a 50/50 Pima cotton and modal blend — Pima being a premium variety with extra-long fibers, even softer and stronger than standard combed cotton, combined with modal for a silky, curve-skimming feel.

Modal is a semi-synthetic fabric from beech tree pulp — 50% more absorbent than cotton, exceptionally soft, and resistant to shrinkage.

Mott & Bow uses modal in:

• Luxe Stretch Tee (57% cotton / 38% modal / 5% spandex) for men
• Marcy tees for women (50% Pima cotton / 50% modal)

Modal adds drape and a slightly silkier hand feel, elevating the tee’s appearance for dressier occasions.

Dynamic Stretch is Mott & Bow’s proprietary denim technology for their 26–35% stretch jeans. Unlike standard stretch denim that only stretches horizontally, Dynamic Stretch fabric moves fully with the body — ideal for road trips, long flights, and demanding workdays.

It sits between their Comfort Stretch (5–25%, day-to-day) and 4-Way Stretch (+35%, activewear-grade) offerings. The jeans maintain denim’s structure and appearance while delivering gym-pants-like flexibility.

Denim weight measures ounces per square yard of fabric — the most reliable indicator of jean quality and durability.

Mott & Bow’s structured jeans use 12–14oz denim sourced from Japanese and US mills — the heavyweight territory of heritage denim that lasts 3–5+ years with regular wear.

Pre-washing and pre-shrinking expose the fabric to heat and moisture before the garment is finished. The result: the fabric has already completed its shrinkage, so the finished garment maintains its exact shape through hundreds of subsequent home washes.

Mott & Bow applies this process to their tees, jeans, and chinos — significantly reducing the most common quality complaint: unexpected size loss after the first wash.

Mott & Bow’s cashmere uses 100% cashmere yarn described as finer than typical retail cashmere, with a 14gg lightweight construction — a gauge indicating high yarn fineness and softness.

Their cashmere hoodies and sweaters are pilling-resistant, a significant differentiator, as pilling is the most common failure mode in lower-grade cashmere. Suitable for year-round wear due to the lightweight construction.