Photos: Chris Fenimore

Releasing this Thursday both in-store and online is a new collection of Slub Tencel pieces that are a perfect weight for hot summer days. This release includes three styles: our Mechanic Shirt and Drawstring Pant which we first introduced in Tencel back in SS21, as well as a reworked version of our vacation shirt.

Tencel is a fabric that we are always excited to incorporate into our seasonal offerings. As we strive to act more responsibly on a brand level, we are proud to use a fabric manufactured in a closed-loop system that repurposes sustainably sourced natural materials. The fabric itself is a lyocell, which is a cellulose fiber created from the dissolving of eucalyptus pulp. The processes used to create the fabric are both low impact in terms of environmental impact as well as water usage. The resulting fabric is one that is breathable and temperature regulating, which is perfectly suited for the silhouettes we’ve applied it to.

Compared to our SS21 Tencel pieces which featured a fabric sourced from Japan, this collection features a custom fabric developed for us from the ground up in India that utilizes slub yarns for a streakier, textured fabric. Slub refers to yarns being spun at differing thickness, which creates some variation and inconsistency in the look of the fabric. While originally seen as a defect, we opted to embrace these inconsistent yarns to give the pieces a more interesting hand. The black and olive colors have a slight bit of sheen in direct sunlight, which we particularly love.

We believe that all these pieces find a special place in the wardrobe as they pair nicely with some of the heartier fabrics you might be used to from us. Although we’ve styled the shirts and pants together in matching fabrics in these photos, the shirts are a super easy go-to look when thrown over a t-shirt or tank top and paired with some broken-in jeans or fatigues.

All three silhouettes are well-loved core styles that we will continue to experiment with using new textiles in the seasons ahead. Be sure to stop by one of our flagship stores to check them out for yourself. All Slub Tencel styles release on 3sixteen.com and in store tomorrow, June 2nd, at noon EDT.