ASKET Review: What to Buy and What to Avoid

If you’re looking for simple yet quality menswear basics, check out ASKET. Here’s my review of this popular Scandinavian brand.

A few years ago, I visited Stockholm for the first time. I loved exploring the city which many of my ancestors called home. It felt simultaneously foreign and familiar. My travel experiences helped me to better understand my own family culture. For example, as a kid, I was taught to dress modestly. In other words, I was told that it’s preferable to not stand out too much or draw attention to yourself. Similarly, in Sweden, I noticed that people dressed stylishly but in a very understated way. 

The menswear brand ASKET is the epitome of this Scandinavian minimalist mindset. They offer high-quality, no-nonsense menswear basics at reasonable prices. Today, I’ll share my thoughts in this ASKET review.

About ASKET

When I was in Stockholm, I stopped by ASKET’s flagship store. When I walked into their immaculate showroom, I was immediately impressed. Everything was so sleek and clean. The staff were very considerate and immensely knowledgeable. They told me about ASKET’s commitment to transparency and sustainability. 

The brand focuses on using natural fibers which are used in ethical, EU-based factories to create well-fitting garments. Read more about their zero-compromise philosophy here. 

Not only does ASKET promise sustainability in clothing manufacturing, they also support customers make sustainable choices throughout their clothes’ lifecycle. What does that mean? ASKET offers free online care and stain guides to help you get more life out of your clothes. They have a repair guide too, with spare parts available to boot. Lastly, with their revival program, you can send back your ASKET clothes when you’re done with them (such as if you outgrow them or they get too worn out to wear). In return, ASKET offers up to 25 USD per garment. Your returned items are then resold, remanufactured, or recycled.

I was thrilled when, two years after being introduced to the brand, ASKET offered to send products for my unsponsored, unbiased review. 

ASKET Review

I tested six items from ASKET. Here’s what I thought about them. While I haven’t had enough time to thoroughly review them, I’ll share my initial impressions. 

For reference, I’m 5’6” and 142 pounds. I sent ASKET my height and weight and a couple of other body-type details (for instance, I told them that I have long arms and a short torso). They offered feedback on what sizes they thought would fit me best. 

The Wool Coat

ASKET’s simply-named The Wool Coat is breathable and water-repellant. The thing I like the most about it is its felted double twill fabric. It feels luxurious and drapes well. 

The coat fits pretty well, but it could be better. Mine is size XS regular, as I wanted some more length. My coat reaches a couple inches above the knee.

The sleeves are a tad shorter than I prefer on an overcoat but are definitely still wearable. The fit in the chest area feels off. I think that’s because the shoulders are too wide. An overcoat should fit looser in the shoulders than a suit jacket, but here the shoulder seam extends well past my shoulder bone. 

Also, just personal preference, but I prefer overcoats that have Ulster or peak lapels rather than just a turndown collar like this one has. Consequently, I often wear this coat with the collar popped (i.e. turned up). 

The tag has a lot of information. It tells where the wool was collected, the yarn spun, fabric woven, and lining dyed. It even says where the material for the Corozo buttons were farmed. I applaud ASKET’s transparency. Unlike with many clothing brands I’ve reviewed, I feel like ASKET has nothing to hide. 

I’ve worn this coat a few times on chilly evenings. It looks good and has been warm enough so far. That said, it’s not something that I’d purchase with my own money. At $450, the price is decent (albeit a bit steep), especially considering the sustainable manufacturing and the quality details, such as Corozo buttons. However, the fit isn’t perfect, the collar style isn’t what I prefer, and I don’t think it would be warm enough for me to wear all winter long.

While it’s not my cup of non-caffeinated herbal tea, I could still see myself recommending it to a friend. If someone lives in a place with mild winters and wants a basic topcoat to wear with a suit, The Wool Coat from ASKET is a solid option. 

The Merino Roll Neck Sweater

Like The Wool Coat, The Merino Roll Neck Sweater I received is also a size XS regular. 

I tried out a turtleneck for the first time when I reviewed products from the made-to-measure brand Son of a Tailor. The sent me a navy Merino wool roll neck sweater that is almost exactly the same as this one from ASKET. If anything, ASKET’s fits slightly better. 

My ASKET roll neck fits very close to the body. It has a ribbed neck, cuffs, and bottom hem. The wool is quite thin. When I tried wearing it with only a white undershirt underneath, when I looked in the mirror I saw white coming through. While the material is thin, it is high quality. 

I’ve worn this sweater tucked into more formal tailored trousers and paired it with a jacket. I’ve also tried it out untucked with more casual chinos. 

Out of all the ASKET pieces I’ve tested, this one is my favorite. 

The T-Shirt

The ASKET T-shirt is as high-quality as the other offerings in their lineup. Unfortunately, most tees are made extremely cheaply in sweatshops. ASKET’s tee, on the other hand, is made in Portugal in humane conditions. ASKET shares the average salary of factory workers and photos of the facility. In this case, t-shirt makers make around 1,200 euros a month, which is almost exactly the average wage in Portugal.

Not only that, ASKET even goes so far as to tell prospective customers exactly how much it costs them to produce one T-shirt — 11 dollars. They sell their tees for 55 bucks, so it’s up to you if you think that’s worth your money. 

I think that price is pretty fair. Again, it’s a bit expensive, but isn’t it worth it to pay a bit extra to help people make a livable wage? And don’t worry, the tee is well-made — it definitely is comparable to other T-shirts in the same price range. For example, the tees from Buck Mason are quite similar. (Here’s our Buck Mason review for reference.)

I like this T-shirt. It fits me well, and the off-white color is perfect. I don’t have anything else to say — it’s a great product. 

The Linen Shirt

This loose-fitting beige linen shirt feels very light and comfortable. However, it wrinkles if you look at it. As they say, with linen you just have to embrace the wrinkles. (If anyone asks, chalk it up to sprezzatura.)

With a size XS regular, the sleeves on The Linen Shirt fit a tad long, but otherwise the shirt fits well. The shirt’s body is too long for me to wear untucked, but I have a very short torso for my build. This is a shirt that I’ll have to wear with shirt-stays, as it’s nearly impossible to keep tucked in. I may end up getting it shortened by my alterations tailor. 

I see a lot of hallmarks that let me know that this is a darn good shirt. The stitching is clean and consistent. There is also a button on the back of the neck of the collar. This is a detail that you don’t see too often anymore. By the way, the buttons are mother-of-pearl rather than plastic. Quality buttons are one of the easiest ways to quickly judge a shirt. 

The tag indicates that linen was grown and harvested in Normandy, France, and the shirt was made in Portugal. 

While I really like this shirt, I think I may exchange it for a white one in size XS short for a better fit and greater versatility. 

The Merino Wool Polo

I unusually love long-sleeve polos, but I’m conflicted about ASKET’s Merino Wool Polo. It fits super well, but on me it looks almost transparent. I always wear an undershirt, and when I do, it’s clearly visible (I’m not wearing one in the photo above.). I’m going to contact ASKET about this issue. I may end up exchanging this light grey polo for one in a darker color. 

Also, I think I would’ve preferred it if this shirt was available in white. I find that white long-sleeve polos are perfect to wear with a tailored jacket for a relaxed look. (I only wish floppy polo collars didn’t bunch up under jacket lapels!)

This polo is made from extra-fine Merino wool and has mother-of-pearl buttons that have been dyed to match the shirt color. 

The Slim Chino

These Slim Chinos in Dark Navy from ASKET fit me pretty well (size 28×30). However, I’ve tried comparable chinos from the likes of Banana Repbulic that were half the price. Unless the transparency and sustainability missions of ASKET really resonate with you, I’d recommend looking for less expensive chino options. 

However, that’s not to say that these chinos aren’t a cut above what you’ll typically find in a big box store. They have Corozo buttons, for instance. Also, you’ll find a tonal lining and a really solid metal hook closure in the front. While these details are certainly nice to have, I’m not sure that I’d pay the premium for them on a pair of chinos.

Is ASKET Worth The Money?

In short, yes, I think that buying clothing from ASKET is worth the money in most cases. However, it depends on your values. If traceability, sustainability, and ethical business practices are important to you, then ASKET is a great brand to check out. 

While some of the items I tried weren’t 100% perfect for me, I was impressed by the quality of what I tested out.

Their tops are excellent for anyone just wants high quality basics, and especially for guys who have trouble finding shirts that aren’t too long or short (i.e., extra tall and extra short men).

I love ASKET’s mission, aesthetic and dedication to quality, and I highly recommend checking them out next time you need to buy some clothes.

Please leave your questions and comments down below!