The Art of the Perfect Collar

A collar is more than a finishing detail — it is the frame through which a man presents himself to the world. In an age of mass production, where corners are routinely cut in the name of efficiency, the collar remains the truest test of a shirtmaker's skill.

At LORO, every collar begins with a conversation. We ask not merely about preference, but about proportion: the width of the face, the length of the neck, the typical knot of the tie. These subtle considerations determine whether a collar will merely sit upon a shirt, or whether it will elevate the entire ensemble.

The spread collar, perhaps our most requested style, demands a particular precision in its construction. The angle must be exact — too narrow and it crowds the tie knot; too wide and it loses the quiet authority that makes it so compelling. Our pattern cutters work to tolerances measured in millimeters, adjusting the spread for each client's neck circumference and face shape.

Construction is where the distinction between an ordinary collar and an exceptional one becomes irrevocable. We employ a floating interlining technique, where the canvas is attached only at strategic points rather than being fused across the entire surface. This allows the collar to develop a natural roll over time, softening and conforming to the wearer's neck in a way that a fused collar never can.

The choice of interlining itself is critical. For our cotton shirts, we use a lightweight cotton interlining that maintains the collar's structure while allowing it to breathe. For evening shirts, a slightly heavier interlining provides the additional stiffness appropriate for formal occasions. And for our linen shirts, we've developed a proprietary interlining that respects linen's natural drape while preventing the collapse that plagues lesser constructions.

Perhaps the most telling detail is one that few will ever see: the collar's underside. Here, the quality of the hand-stitching reveals itself — tiny, even stitches that speak to patience and precision. It is a detail made not for the observer, but for the wearer, and for the maker's own conscience.

In our atelier, we say that a collar should look as though it has always been there — as natural as the wearer's own confidence, as effortless as grace itself. This is the standard to which we hold every shirt that bears the LORO name.