A plastron is a chest covering which sits over a lower layer. The same term is used to describe a fencer’s chest pad, an armoured breastplate, and a tortoise’s belly. The Plastron shirt is cut with large pleats set under the armholes, forming a pseudoplastron across the chest. The pleats add volume into the skirt of the garment, which is cut without side seams, so that the tails hang freely without weight or stiffness. A single chest pocket on the left and full tailored cuff plackets behind the wrist refer to more traditional shirt making.

Wool Calico is woven in England from fine wool worsted yarn on the same plain weave pattern as the standard Tender cotton calico used for jeans pocket linings. The twist of the yarn causes a subtle diagonal crosshatch texture to develop as the fabric is dyed, worn, and washed.

Turkey Red is a pure ‘lake’ (a more stable and light fast isolate) of the colour found in madder root. Just as indigo was synthesised in the 19th Century, so the colour compounds in madder were reproduced in England by William Henry Perkin and in Germany by Carl Graebe and Carl Liebermann. Both discoveries were made in 1868, but Graebe and Liebermann registered their patent a day earlier.

As with many dyes, Turkey Red reacts differently to different fibres- on wool it produces a deep red, while cotton takes on a softer, more peachy colour.

I'd stop short of saying this is a big human's shirt as William's designs can be worn as you see fit, if you forgive the pun. However, it comes up large, especially the length, so please consider the measurements on the size guide.

Buttons are real shell interpretations of a standard cats eye button, and the whole garment is sewn with cotton thread.