Switch concept: #1#2#3← Back to synthesis
IN/TLTECH PACK · v0.1
Generated 2026-07-17 · Spec Synthesis #20 · Concept #2
IN/TL/2 — Boxy Tencel-Cotton Tee, Off-White
220gsm 55/45 Tencel-cotton single jersey in a drop-shoulder boxy cut; soft-touch hero at under-$50 accessible entry.
Categorytee
Target retail$48
Fabric weight220 gsm
Estimated landed cost$21.92
Estimated margin54.3%
Confidence81%
Material & construction
| Fabric | 220gsm Lenzing Tencel Lyocell × GOTS-certified organic cotton (~55/45), single jersey, pre-shrunk; Tencel provides soft-touch drape, cotton provides structure and GOTS certification continuity |
|---|---|
| Silhouette | boxy relaxed crew, drop shoulder 1.5", body length 27" at size M, slightly longer back hem (+0.5"); not oversized — structured drape, not board; reference Lady White Co Our T-Shirt silhouette, not Cole Buxton |
| Construction | drop shoulder set-in sleeve, double-needle hem, neck binding tape (not ribbed collar — preserves drape), side seam construction (not tubular), slight back neck drop for drape |
| Trims | woven satin neck label (inside, low placement), embossed leather flag at left hem — same-tone as shell (Off-White flag on Off-White shell, etc.), no external chest or sleeve print |
| Finishing | pre-shrunk after knit, single garment wash for hand softness; Faded Black colorway enzyme-washed for tonal fade; tonal embroidery on flag only — whisper-level contrast |
Colorway
Off-White (#F2EDE4)Faded Black (#2E2C2A)Stone (#8C8880)
Points of measure (size M)
Specs as recommended. Grade S/L/XL using standard rules (2" chest/hem jumps for tee, 1.5" waist/hip for sweatpant). Tolerance ±¼" on critical dimensions.
| Point | Size M |
|---|---|
| shoulder drop | 1.5" |
| sleeve opening | 6.5" |
| chest pit to pit | 22.5" |
| sleeve length sho | 9" |
| neck binding height | 0.75" |
| body length hps back | 27.5" |
| body length hps front | 27" |
Recommended factory profile
| Region | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Required certifications | GOTS, OEKO-TEX 100 |
| Rationale | Inarbel (composite 91): knit_jersey + tencel_lyocell capabilities, accepts indie, GOTS + OEKO-TEX 100 certified, heavyweight_specialty relevant for 220gsm precision. Somelos (composite 92) as first-choice if capacity available — broader cert stack including GRS, confirmed tencel_lyocell. Coelima as tertiary backup. |
Demand evidence
- competitorTee category avg price $75 with zero drift across the tracking window — market is paying $75 for basics tees; IN/TL's $48 entry undercuts by $27 while maintaining Portugal + Tencel story, creating genuine value-transparency delta
- competitorLady White Co: 9 tee sellouts in 30 days — the closest aesthetic reference to IN/TL is converting at the premium end, validating the boxy-soft-touch positioning
- editorialbing_sustainable '19 Brands Like Everlane' (relevance 64): active consumer search for transparent-basics tee alternatives post Everlane-Shein acquisition — IN/TL's open-ledger story directly fills this search query
- socialr/malefashionadvice 'What are essential shirts and tops every guy should have?' (86 upvotes, ai_topic: silhouette): wardrobe-rebuilding intent signal in IN/TL's 25-35 male audience; basics-first mindset, not hype-driven
- brand_fitPinned signals [2][5][6]: 220gsm Tencel-cotton is the locked spec — lighter than Cole Buxton (anti-board), aligned with Lady White Co weight band (~210gsm analogue), Tencel drape separates from all-cotton competitors in this price tier
Risk flags
Tee category has 897 new drops in 30 days — highest new-drop volume of any category; commoditization risk is real; differentiation must rest on fabric story and open-ledger proof, not silhouette alone
At $48 retail and 54.3% gross margin, net margin is ~18.8% — thin; tee is brand-narrative anchor, not margin driver; do not launch tee-only without sweatpant in the same drop
Cole Buxton dropped 15 SKUs at $55–$75 this cycle — the budget-heavyweight tee space is actively being flooded; IN/TL's Tencel blend and transparent pricing are the only structural moats
55/45 Tencel-cotton at 220gsm is a precision blend — mills must hit the Lenzing Tencel certification; verify Inarbel or Somelos can certify the blend, not just handle the fiber
Why this for IN/TL
The tee is the brand-narrative entry point — the piece that explains what IN/TL is before the customer reads a word. At $48 (under the $50 psychological threshold, pinned [1]) with a Tencel-cotton blend no $75 minimalist competitor is running at this price, it creates a transparent-value argument the open-ledger story can actually close. Pairs with the sweatpant as a set buy, lifting AOV toward $130.
Acceptance criteria (sample review)
- Hand-feel matches reference garment within ±10% weight tolerance.
- Color matches Pantone TCX / lab dip approved before bulk.
- All points of measure within ±¼" on size M; grade rules pass for S, L, XL.
- GOTS + OEKO-TEX certificates received and verified before bulk PO.
- Sample washed 5x at home temperature — no shrinkage beyond 3%, no pilling.
- Stitch density ≥ 10 SPI on critical seams; coverstitch on hem.