What Does a Female T-Shirt Even Mean?
When I started Uani, it was merely meant to be a design factory. Get Tshirts from other brands and put the kinds of designs I had hoped to find on them.
You probably already know that story. And here’s the thing, outside of quality, one thing I struggled with was fit.
I’ve never been a fan of loose-fitting Tshirts. Don’t get me wrong, they have their place. But it’s just never been my preference, and I realized that there is a place for Tshirts with a more feminine fit.
I truly felt like there is a need for Tshirts that still maintain the overall relaxed and comfortable fit that Tshirts offer, while accentuating a woman’s body, as opposed to having to tuck, tie, and perform all forms of distortions for it to fit right.
So, what makes a women’s Tshirt different?
A women’s Tshirt is not simply a smaller version of a unisex Tshirt. The difference comes down to a number of things. Including the shape of the bodice, sleeve length, fabric, neckline, overall length, and how the hem sits around the body.
I believed in the need for a female Tshirt made with the African woman’s body in mind. So we took apart the classic Tshirt, identified what makes them less flattering on women, and defined possible solutions.
Here are some of the things we identified, and how we added a feminine touch.
Bodice: How should a women’s T-shirt fit through the body?
Most T-shirts are cut straight. While most men want to accentuate a straight silhouette around their bodice, women want the reverse. A female Tshirt accentuates some curve in that area, without becoming so fitted that it totally escapes Tshirt territory.
Sleeve: What sleeve length works for a women’s Tshirt?
Most women can relate to having to roll up their Tshirt sleeves, because most Tshirts have longer sleeves to account for safety across both genders. It’s easier to make them shorter than to make them longer. Women would typically lean toward more defined sleeve lengths - short, mid-length, or long, that complement their arms, except when going for a baggier look. Our first Tshirt was designed to capture this.
Fabric: Why does fabric matter?
There are Tshirts out there with amazing fabric, albeit pricey. But it would be impossible to make a female Tshirt without considering the fabric. Comfort matters just as much as fit. It is for this reason that the first Uani T-shirt is made from 100% cotton.
Collar: How should the neckline sit?
Those collars that cling to your neck like there’s no tomorrow, we fixed that. It’s still a round neck, but it’s more relaxed. You can finally breathe freely in a T-shirt.
Length: How long should a women’s T-shirt be?
Tying your T-shirt at the back. You can relate, right? We made the length sit right at the waist, without being too short. Lengths that go past the hip are not female friendly. A female t-shirt should sit properly. Uani does.
Hem: Why does the hem matter?
Women with fuller busts and hips can often struggle with straight-cut T-shirts. Because most T-shirts are straight, they can either struggle to move comfortably over the hip or look awkward hanging there. We adjusted that too. We made the hem a bit wider so it doesn't hang. It sits, relaxed.
So, how should a women’s T-shirt fit? It should still feel like a Tshirt. Relaxed. Comfortable. Easy.
A Tshirt sounds like the simplest thing to make. It’s not. But when you get it right, you stop noticing it and that’s the point. That’s what the first Uani Tshirt is. Not a reinvention. Just a T-shirt that was actually made for you.
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