Robert Barakett T-Shirt Review: Worth the Price?

Yes, a Robert Barakett T-shirt is worth the price if you want a tee that reads as clothing rather than underwear, and you will wear it under a blazer or on its own for years. The Barakett Tee (the Georgia crew) is $79.99 CAD at Ed's Fine Imports. If a T-shirt to you is a $15 three-pack for the gym, skip it. Here is what the money buys.

Why are Robert Barakett T-shirts so expensive?

You are paying for the fabric and the finish, not a logo. The brand's product page lists the Barakett Tee as 100% USA grown Pima cotton, made in its signature Georgia fabric with an exclusive Soft Water finishing treatment. Pima is a long-staple cotton, and the brand's own claims for it are long-lasting colour retention (the store listing says up to 50 washes) and what it calls shape retention engineering.

In plain terms: the tee feels smooth rather than fuzzy, the collar stays flat, and a black tee stays black long after a cheaper one goes grey. The Montreal-based brand describes it as a dressy T-shirt for wearing under a suit or blazer, which is how most of our customers use it. The trade-off: it costs four or five times a basic tee, and the brand's own note says shrinkage may occur if you are careless in the dryer.

How do Robert Barakett T-shirts fit, and should I size up?

Buy your normal size. The Barakett Tee is not labelled slim or classic on the product page; it sits close through the chest and shoulders without pulling, and the length is cut to be tucked or left out under a jacket. The brand's size guide gives garment measurements in inches (the shirt, not your body), and sizes run Small through XXX-Large.

Where fit names do appear: the Thoreau V Tee is listed as a slim fit, and the Herringbone Polo is listed as a classic fit. If you like a roomier tee, the crew and the polo are the safer picks; if you want it trim, the V-neck styles lean slimmer.

On shrinkage: it comes from hot water and a hot dryer, not from a cold wash. If you are between sizes and plan to tumble dry anyway, take the larger size.

Which Robert Barakett styles does Ed's carry?

We stock the crew neck tee, the V-neck, a long sleeve crew, and the Pima polo. Prices are in CAD and reflect what is on the site today.

• Robert Barakett T-Shirt- Core Colors, $79.99. This is the Barakett Tee in the Georgia fabric: 100% USA grown Pima cotton, short sleeve crew, in colours like Black, White, Iron and Blue Night. Start here.
• Robert Barakett - Long Sleeve Crew Neck, $110. A long sleeve henley-style crew in 52% Pima cotton and 48% polyester with a slight sheen, so it reads a touch dressier than a plain tee.
• Robert Barakett - Herringbone Polo - White - SS25, $145. 100% extra fine Pima cotton, classic fit, herringbone taping on the placket. Sizes are limited, so check the drop-down.

The full range is in the Robert Barakett collection.

Who should skip Robert Barakett?

Skip it if you want a heavyweight, boxy, workwear-style tee. The Georgia fabric is light and smooth, made to layer under tailoring, and it will not give you that thick, structured look. Skip it if you tumble dry hot and will not change that habit, because Pima rewards care and punishes heat. And skip the polo if you need a full size run right now; the tees are the deeper stock. If you want one dressy tee for a sport coat on Friday and jeans on Saturday, this is the one we recommend most.

How do I care for a Pima cotton T-shirt?

Cold wash, gentle cycle, no bleach, lay flat to dry, cool iron if needed, and do not dry clean. That is the brand's care label for the Barakett Tee.

Common questions

What is the Robert Barakett Georgia T-shirt?

Georgia is the brand's name for the fabric in its core tee, also called the Barakett Tee: 100% USA grown Pima cotton with the Soft Water finish. If you see Georgia in a product name at Ed's, it is this fabric.

Do Robert Barakett T-shirts shrink?

They can. The brand states on its product pages that shrinkage may occur as part of the fabric's natural character. Washing cold and drying flat keeps it minimal; a hot dryer is what causes trouble.

Is Robert Barakett a Canadian brand?

The brand describes itself as Montreal based. The product pages do not state where the tees are sewn, so we do not claim it. For US orders, treat it as an imported brand and expect that duties may apply.

Can I wear a Robert Barakett tee under a suit?

Yes, and that is the brand's own pitch for it. The crew shows cleanly at the neck of a jacket, and the smooth Pima face does not bunch under wool. Pair it with Alberto pants or a blazer for a business casual look that still looks intentional.

Next step

Pick your colour and size in the Barakett Tee Core Colors, or browse the whole Robert Barakett collection. Shipping is free over $75 in Canada and the US, which one tee clears; US orders may have duties applied on arrival because the brand is imported. Or come see us in Markham and try it on.

Read next: How to make a premium T-shirt last: Pima cotton care guide, Why Alberto pants are worth the investment, and A five-day work wardrobe from twelve pieces.