Clothing brand Tentree’s eco-focus is commendable, but are the clothes as stylish and well-made as they are sustainable? And how modest-man-friendly are they?
Do any other elder millennials out there remember when the phrase “tree-hugger” was derogatory? I’m glad times have changed. You don’t need to be an activist to agree on the importance of the environment, particularly trees. Even clothing brands have gotten on board, likely as a response to fast fashion. Tentree is one of those brands.
Tentree’s aesthetics stand out to me. They don’t exactly exude that granola styling that many environmentally conscious brands have, nor do they have the neutral organicness that green Scandinavian brands, like Asket, do. They’re outdoorsy and fun, but perfect for everyday casual wear.
I’ve been wearing several pieces from Tentree for the past few weeks. I’m going to deep-dive into the brand (and whether they’re as environmental as they claim to be), the style and function of the clothes, and, of course, whether or not these pieces work on us shorter gents.
Tentree: A Little Bit About the Brand
Vancouver-based Tentree was founded in 2012 by brothers Derrick and Kalen Emsley and their friend David Luba. The goal was and is to implement sustainable practices and have a positive impact on environmental restoration. As such, the brand plants a tree for every product sold.
When it comes to the social awareness factor, I find two things particularly impressive. Tentree uses only organic and recycled materials, resulting in 98% of their range being eco-friendly. Second is who they partner with. It’s through these partnerships that they’re able to facilitate so much tree planting. Moreover, they ensure the factories they use are audited regularly.
From a style perspective, the Tentree line is a mix of everyday casual and outdoorsy pieces. It isn’t a hardcore survivalist brand, but there are many versatile, practical items in there. They don’t shy away from environmental motifs, but they aren’t overly crunchy, either. Here’s what I mean.
Tentree Quick Take: Are They Actually Eco-Friendly?
Okay, let’s start with the environmental awareness aspect of it. Is this greenwashing, or are they legitimate? Upon further research, I’m confident that Tentree walks the walk. They have one of the highest scores as a Certified Sustainable B Corporation. They even won the Best For the World in Community prize in 2021. As mentioned, they use only non-virgin and organic materials, like hemp and organic cotton. Even the polyester they use is recycled.
I was suspicious of a new company’s ability to plant a tree for every product purchased, no matter how small. However, Tentree manages to do this by partnering with local non-profits. So no, there isn’t some poor intern running around planting trees every five minutes. Plus, you can register your tree and track it with a unique code. This is a pretty neat touch, which I more often see with sponsoring endangered animals.
Tentree Quick Take: The Clothes Themselves
I tried the following pieces from Tentree:
- Dundas Shirt, size S, in agave green undyed
- Baker Henley Longsleeve, size S, in grey and meteorite black heather
- Whistler ¼ Zip, size M, in midnight blue elkwood
- Simcoe Pant, size S, in deep olive
- Reynolds Shorts, size S, in khaki
- Cork Icon Hemp Elevation Hat
The first thing I noticed was how absolutely comfortable every single garment is. You can basically sleep in all of the pieces I tried; they’re so soft and well-made. The stitching is solid, and all the high-pressure locations boast proper fortification.
Style-wise, I’d say these casual pieces are sporty with an outdoorsy touch. If you’re not into the lumberjack look, you can still find fantastic pieces at Tentree. In fact, I think most men can find something they like. They’re classic casual but with an inoffensive sense of humor.
As far as how modest-man-friendly they are, I’d give them an A-. I like how everything fits on me, but that’s subjective. I’d say worst-case scenario, a gent under 5’4” might need to hem some sleeves or legs. I personally don’t think that casual clothes should ever be super skinny or short, though. More importantly, the exact measurements of the garments are available.
My Build
I’m 5’7” and a half (easily 5’8″ and up in shoes) and 130 lbs at my fittest. Still, I’m generally a “skinny” guy. I have a 35” chest and wear XS tops. My waist is a size 28, which means I even have to get XS shirts tailored half the time. I figured knowing this could help you figure out how you might fit into these pieces.
Okay, let’s get to it, starting with the Dundas shirt.
The Tentree Dundas Shirt Review
The Dundas Shirt is a camp-style, short-sleeve button-up made from hemp and wood pulp fiber. The core color is an undyed, canvas-like white. It’s very versatile. However, I received one of the special editions, the agave green, which features fun stripes. It’s almost like a thicker, more spaced-out pinstripe or a slightly more defined chalk stripe.
Style and Construction
From a sartorial point of view, there’s a lot you can do with this shirt. It’s so relaxed, but the collar adds some structure without looking at all stuffy. Visually, it sits somewhere between a camp collar and a traditional polo collar. As such, I was able to wear it at the beach, with chinos, and even with khakis and a blazer to a boat party.
For a casual shirt, the Dundas fits a wide range of dress codes and situations. You can wear it open with a shirt underneath, or open without if you wear it to the beach like I did. It can also be buttoned up, tucked in, or untucked.
Related to its construction, the surface has so much character. It isn’t overly textured like wool or cotton slub, but there’s just enough topography. I imagine minor snags would just blend right in. Moreover, this is the kind of shirt that I think will develop character over time. The chest pocket’s horizontal lines add a compelling contrast against the rest of the shirt’s vertical ones.
While there isn’t any stretch here, the relaxed fit and soft fabric provide enough mobility. It’s just so darn comfortable. There were a few slacks of thread here and there, but nothing that denotes carelessness. All of the stitching was consistent, even, and strong, which is the most important thing.
Is the Dundas Shirt Modest-Man-Friendly?
I say yes. For one thing, it fit me exactly as it fits the model on the website, so there’s no false advertising here. The sleeves hit right above the shoulders, which I know isn’t everyone’s style for a button-up collared shirt.
However, keep in mind that, between its camp-esque collar and slight scoop hem, this isn’t meant to fit like a dress shirt. I imagine this would fit men in the 5’5” range just fine. Moreover, you can always cuff the sleeves.
The Tentree Baker Henley Review
The Baker Henley is a three-button, long-sleeve shirt made from Tentree’s TreeBlend. It’s a mix of recycled polyester, organic cotton, and lyocell, which is made from sustainable wood pulp. It comes in three core colorways: all black, black and white, and black and grey. I went with the black and grey.
Style and Construction
The Baker Henley is my second favorite item that I’ve tried after the Whistler zip, which I’ll talk about next. It’s lightweight and so comfortable. The polyester ensures it’s still durable, but the natural blend provides softness and a beautiful heathering throughout. The texturing isn’t blatant, but it adds a casual softness, contributing to the overall organic yet sporty look.
This is one handsome shirt. I even love how the coconut buttons add to the eco-aesthetic without going full granola. In fact, it could register as wine cork.
I wear this shirt on my work-from-home days since it’s as plush as pajamas, but I can also wear it with jeans for an errand. I actually think it might even look fantastic with a blazer, jeans, and loafers for that off-duty sports agent look.
Is the Baker Henley Modest-Man-Friendly?
Definitely, if this henley is any indication, I feel comfortable recommending all of Tentree’s shirts to us shorter gents. The size small sat flatteringly on my chest and draped cleanly down the rest of my torso.
When my hands were down by my sides, the sleeve stopped at my base knuckle. As I moved around, it would come up just past my wrist bone. This is the perfect Goldilocks length. You can move it down by your hands for a cozy vibe or roll it up for more hand exposure.
The Tentree Whistler ¼ Zip Review
The Tentree Whistler ¼ Zip is a functional hooded quarter-zip sweater with a two-tone, multi-material aesthetic. The main colorway features a dark blue cotton body and a tech-material hood and collar in elkwood, a cool medium brown. At the time of this writing, there’s also a special edition in khaki with a dark teal hood.
Style and Construction
This hoodie is purpose-built for the outdoors. I’ve made it a point to pack it during all of my hiking or camping trips. It’s proven to be a fantastic travel hoodie, too. The techie hood served me well when I ran from the taxi to the airport terminal during some mild rain. Then, that soft cotton body was like a blanket on the flight itself.
The medium two-way stretch has a lush handfeel. Meanwhile, the interior has an almost fluffy finish that’s cozy but not heavy, providing a downright relaxing experience. This is a highly practical sweater.
The design itself is almost superhero-y. It’s a distinct look that mixes sporty, leisurely, and techie. I think the Whistler can satisfy pragmatic sartorialists as well as fashion guys looking to add a cool factor to their outfits. You can play with the silhouette by choosing how far to zip up the high neck or using the drawcords to adjust the hood.
I think it looks great with workwear, such as cargo pants, everyday casual, like jeans or chinos, and even high-low combos. I wore it with a Peter Pan collar, club tie, white slacks, and loafers to a cocktail party.
Is the Whistler ¼ Zip Modest-Man-Friendly?
Yes, but it also depends on how you wear your hoodies. I went for the medium because I like an oversized hoodie, particularly if it’s purpose-built for the outdoors. It’s only slightly bigger than a classic crewneck sweater fit, which makes me think the size small would fit me more like my crewneck pullovers do. As such, if you’re closer to 5’5” and 5’4”, I’d say the small would be a good fit, from a classic outdoor hoodie perspective.
With the medium, the arms go down to my top knuckles, similar to the henley. However, the ribbing and thick material make it look and feel bigger than the henley. Overall, I can work with this.
The Tentree Simcoe Pant Review
The Tentree Simcoe Pant is what I like to call an on-the-go pant. I’ve used it for physically demanding errands like Costco trips that require heavy lifting and outdoor runs on cooler days. These pants definitely keep you cool and dry.
What’s most impressive is the fact that the fabric incorporates recycled water bottles. In my book, it gets extra eco points for that.
Style and Construction
This pant has an undeniably well-thought-out design. As mentioned, the fabric is the most impressive feat here since it’s challenging to make tech fabric and athleisure sustainably. The Simcoe is made of 90% recycled polyester and just 10% spandex, which is more than enough stretch. The polyester comes from old water bottles, textile waste, and even fishing nets.
The moderate inseam and reinforced gusset allow for a full range of movement. It’s like wearing lightweight uncinched joggers. Moreover, the hidden zip pocket will enable you to store valuables. You don’t have to worry about your ID or keys falling out during an outdoor run.
Despite being made for function, I think these pants are easy to style. They’re clean, tapered, and have a flattering mid-rise. Visually, they sit somewhere between athleisure and everyday pants. You can wear them with a t-shirt and
Is the Simcoe Pant Modest-Man-Friendly?
If you want a practical pair of pants, yes. The 31-inch inseam is long for many shorter guys, but I found that, with this particular fabric and the gusset, it’s highly functional. Men under 5’5” may have to fold the pant hems, but you get a lot of movement here.
From a style perspective, it might be too long for men under 5’5”. I personally like having a slight break by my feet, so it works for me. Plus, the overall clean lines temper the breaks. Personal preferences play a significant role here.
The Tentree Reynold Shorts Review
Tentree makes the Reynold Shorts out of hemp and organic cotton. Like all of their other offerings, they’re light, stretchy, durable, and sustainably constructed. I received the khaki version. Other colorways include a cool, dark green called deep olive, a brighter military green called olive night green, and black.
Style and Construction
Like everything else I tried, these shorts are super comfortable. They’re breathable enough for hot days out but sturdy enough for fresh mornings in the spring or summer. The two-way stretch comes from the 3% spandex in the formula. I find the waistband and drawcord incredibly useful, which I’ll get into during the discussion of how short-gent-friendly these shorts are.
Essentially, the waist stays up without me having to use the drawstring, but it isn’t too tight either.
You can wear the Reynolds with a tank top and sandals or a camp collar shirt and
Is the Reyonld Short Modest-Man-Friendly?
Absolutely, yes. Depending on how high I wear the waist and how tightly I pull the drawstring, I get a range of fits. I can wear the hem as low as an inch above my knee or as high as a good three inches above. Again, I’m 5’7”. This means that there’s room here for guys as small as 5’4” and under to work with these shorts.
The Tentree Cork Icon Hemp Elevation Hat Review
Like all of Tentree’s pieces, this is a well-made hat that uses eco-friendly materials. Like the rest of the range, it also has a casual everyday vibe with a touch of all-natural aesthetics and sportiness. It’s easy to like. I particularly like the cork brim. It provides a distinctness that doesn’t take away from the overall versatile look.
The brand constructs this hat from hemp, recycled polyester, and just a touch of spandex for comfort and two-way stretch. I got the khaki version. The core line includes a heathered blue and a heathered graphite. And finally, the classic snapback ensures that a wide range of head sizes can enjoy this hat.
Conclusion: Is Tentree For You?
Overall, Tentree is for anyone looking for some core casual classics, particularly if you like sporty, athleisure, techy, and outdoorsy vibes. I particularly like their outerwear. The pieces are well-made and are some of the most genuinely environmentally conscious in terms of manufacturing and materials.
Again, most of the items are indeed conducive to short height. Some pieces are more modest-man-friendly than others. It’s a matter of height and personal preferences. Just make sure you check each piece’s measurements and the size guide. Tentree makes it really easy for you. Finally, I find genuine sustainability initiatives to be creative and genuinely compelling.
Have you tried anything from Tentree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
