Esquire: Singapore-based menswear brand Tropick launches with a performance white shirt

This article was originally published on Esquire on 12 August, 2020 written by Asri Jasman. 

We believe Tropick is addressing a huge gap in the menswear market in Asia, but trying on the shirt is where the real magic happens," expresses Monica Millington, founder of Singapore-based menswear brand Tropick. "By creating pieces that are so comfortable and easy to care for—yet still look polished in this climate—we are setting a whole new standard for the men’s modern wardrobe."

It might be a bold proclamation to make, but Tropick is taking it in stride by launching first with only one product: a quintessential wardrobe staple that is the white shirt. Designed to be worn comfortably in tropical weather, Tropick's white shirt is made from a blend of nylon and elastane sourced in Italy, which gives it a four-way stretch as well as a rather wrinkle-resistant appearance. But most importantly, its white shirt is engineered to be sweat-wicking and quick-drying so you're bound to stay cool and comfortable throughout the day.

Stylistically, the white shirt looks pretty versatile as both a formal, suited-for-the-office piece, as well as a more casual shirt one could wear with a pair of shorts to the beach. Tropick calls the fit for its white shirt a 'modern trim fit', which means that it sits close to the body and is designed with slimmer sleeves as well as a length that allows the shirt to be sufficiently tucked in or proportionately left untucked. Smart.

Millington tells us that the white shirt is just the beginning for Tropick. In the pipeline are more casual shirt designs and a loungewear set that are all poised to take on the same performance-driven approach of its debut product.

There's a reason that Tropick is taking its time with product launches. While Tropick's white shirt isn't currently made using sustainable materials, Millington affirms that the brand believes in producing thoughtfully. Each white shirt is packaged in a reusable laundry bag that can be used to reduce the release of synthetic microfibres during washing, while the mailer that Tropick uses to ship out orders are 100 percent biodegradable. In addition to reducing unnecessary wastes and using options that are better for the environment where possible, Tropick is a member of 1% for the Planet, an international organisation that pairs up businesses with environmental nonprofits. Tropick will donate one percent of its sales to Trash Heroes, that helps with cleaning up oceans and beaches.

When the right sustainable material is able to perform as well as Tropick's current white shirt, Millington says that she'll jump on the chance to improve the brand's environmental impact. But until then, it's about buying responsibly and consciously. And with a white shirt that's poised to be a versatile and comfortable piece that could be an indispensable style arsenal, perhaps it's the right way to start.

The Tropick white shirt (SGD198) is available for pre-order at tropick.com and will be shipped on 31 August 2020.