Summary: I tried four pieces from Kotn to wear in elevated summer looks. Kotn is a sustainable fashion well-kept secret, offering high-quality, chic pieces made at an affordable price point. I recommend their breathable, easy-to-wear garments for anyone looking for sleek yet comfortable silhouettes during warmer weather.

Pros:

  • Kotn’s sustainable clothing options are made with natural fabrics (like cotton!) which are ideal for hot weather and environmentally friendly, too.
  • The brand’s silhouettes offer a sleek and modern look suitable for various summer occasions, from casual outings to professional meetings.
  • Despite its focus on sustainability and quality, Kotn has accessible prices.
  • Kotn’s unique and thoughtful details like seamless sleeves and ribbing really bring a sophistication to their designs.
  • Now through 8/30, readers can use the code TGT10 for 10% off purchases!

Cons:

  • You might have to work to find your size for both baggier and more form-fitting items. Their 15-day return policy should help. 😊
  • Certain items are prone to shrinking in the wash due to their 100% cotton composition so consider line drying them.

Dressing for the summer is hard. I mean, so is dressing for winter — but summer has its unique challenges sartorially. I find myself struggling to find something that’s not too revealing, and even a little dressed up, without nursing a burgeoning heat rash on my way to the park hang. How do you look sleek and modern in the summer when the easiest thing to wear is always cut-off denim shorts and a tee? While that uniform might work as you head out to the lake for the weekend, there are other occasions where I find myself wanting to look more pulled together. For instance, to a coffee meeting when it is 80 degrees.

“How do you look sleek and modern in the summer when the easiest thing to wear is always cut-off denim shorts and a tee?”

I’m very happy to report that there is a brand out there that’s helping us meet the challenge. You won’t be surprised to hear that they’re sustainable — since natural fabrics are the best at keeping you cool in hot temps, and since any brand worth their salt is being conscious about their environmental impact. (The best are worried about labor practices, too.) The silhouettes are baggy, in a chic way, that makes you feel like you’re pulling rank alongside the other fashion girlies. (More on this in a moment, but I literally saw a picture of Gwyneth — yes, that one — wearing shorts in Capri that are so similar to the ones I wore for this review that I did a double-take.)

Okay, enough suspense building. Since you’ve already read the headline you know, it’s Kotn that I’m referring to. The founders of Kotn (three friends, cute!) dreamt up the brand during a hot New York summer — and those are the exact conditions in which I conducted my review. 

With the idea for the line in mind, one founder, Rami Helali, returned to his homeland of Egypt. He lived in a cotton farming community on the Nile Delta for six months, drawing inspiration and learning from the tradition. All of this was folded back into the brand, and some of the materials still come from this part of the world. Others meet an equally high standard, as Kotn sources all their materials through third-party certified vendors. Thoughtful and sustainable, through and through.

The brand is Canadian — but they’re expanding in the US, too. The shop in my neighborhood opened within the past couple years, and now feels like a neighborhood staple. So, shop online or shop in-store. There might be a Kotn near you, if not now, soon.

Shopping, shipment, and unboxing

Before placing my order for these pieces, I swung by the shop IRL to make sure I got my sizing right. For pants, I usually land at a size 28 or 6. I was curious especially how the unisex denim would sit on my frame. If you’re in a major Canadian city, NYC, or LA, I highly suggest popping in.

Either way, I recommend picking up a Nemat roll-on perfume as you head to checkout. As a perfume head, I can tell you that the Amber scent (followed by Egyptian Musk as a close second) is much more affordable, and smells better, than a lot of what’s out there on the market. I digress, but honestly the option to restock my Nemat is such a perk of shopping Kotn. I love it.

The other lovely thing about shopping Kotn is you get a tote bag with every order, online or in shop. You can nod at others carrying the bag, knowing you’re part of the same club. The club that knows where to get interesting and sustainable pieces at an affordable price. Yes.

A beige tote bag with "KOTN" printed in black letters lies on a textured floor next to a black and white image partially covered in shadow.
A hand holds a small glass bottle of Amber fragrance oil with a gold cap, labeled "Amber" by Nemat.
The perks of shopping at Kotn include the tote and option to pick up Nemat’s Amber fragrance, an affordable perfume alternative that this editor loves.

I tried four pieces from Kotn for this review — though I’ve previously owned a number of items including their Rugby shirt collab with Barbarian from this past fall which I adore and was heavily complimented on with every wear. But we’re here to talk about summer, so let’s dig in to each of these pieces, how they felt, how I styled them, and what I wore the most.

Knit Mock Tank in Black (S) — $65

Starting off strong with this mock tank! I must confess, this is a favorite silhouette for me — anything sleeveless with a high neckline is immediately considered for purchase. That also makes me a connoisseur of this type of shirt, and Kotn’s is one of my favorite versions. The fabric is a thick, 100% cotton knit that doesn’t feel suffocating even on really hot days. I also love the thickness because I feel held in by it. The details give it an elevated quality. The sleeves are constructed without a seam, yet somehow hold their shape so that they fall perfectly flat around the shoulder. There’s a seam running up the back that adds a bit of interest and will have people thinking, “Where did she get that shirt?” as you walk away.

“This shirt was really great for more professional and buttoned up activities on warm days.”

This shirt was really great for more professional and buttoned up activities on warm days. It felt like wearing a tank top temperature-wise, but offered the security and vibe necessary for taking a meeting. On a mild, mid-70 degree day, I paired it with jeans, ballet flats, and a colorful raffia bag for a pulled-together yet easy-going fit. In the end, this was my most worn item of the bunch — not only because it was in my safe zone, shape-wise, but also because it was so useful. Even with a jean short, it gives off an “I’m an adult who considers her clothing” vibe.

A person with long brown hair wearing a sleeveless black top takes a selfie while sitting on a red chair in a room with white walls and a door with glass panes in the background.
Close-up of the back of a person's head and neck, showing a brown hair bun and a black sleeveless top with a seam running down the back.
Kotn’s Knit Mock Tank is made of a thick, 100% cotton and falls so nicely on the body. The thoughtful seam detail along the back brings this home as an elevated summer option.

Plaza Shorts in Black (28) — $128

I never thought I would be able to find an affordable place to purchase, nevermind successfully pull off this shape. After the plaza shorts arrived, I realized they were perfect for me since I’ll never be a follower of the capri-that-falls-right-below-the-knee trend. My calves and ankles simply won’t be seen under such conditions. 

This baggier silhouette manages to be so comfortable — honestly, what can’t you do in these shorts? It’s like they’re made for riding your bike to the function and yet still looking like you know who showed the best collection at the last Fashion Week. They’re made from 100% Lyocell Twill so they’re delightfully breezy and swishy. I styled this with a vintage Mickey Mouse tee in case, unlike me, you won’t be wearing black all summer long. 😎

“Honestly, what can’t you do in these shorts?”

If you are on board for all black, take a look at this. Gwyneth in Jacquemus in Capri — rocking all black in shorts extremely similar to these. This could be you! Imagine how great they would be with a heel for a late summer night out on the town. Cool girl look complete.

Person wearing a black sleeveless top and high-waisted, pleated shorts with black sandals standing on a carpeted floor. Only the torso and legs are visible.
A person is wearing a T-shirt with a classic cartoon character and high-waisted black shorts, standing near a window.
The Plaza Shorts are genius. They’re so comfortable and easy to wear while adding polish to any fit — dressed up or dressed down.

Unisex Antifit Denim in Natural (28) — $138

Okay, I’m going to be honest with you here: I wanted to try the shorts version of this denim. But, when the brand sent over a full length pair, I tugged them on fast. In fact, if you are going to do denim in the summer, these are the perfect pair. You need a light wash and a baggier fit, otherwise — well, if you’ve worn a skinny jean in the summer before, I don’t need to tell you what happens. Pairing these with Kotn’s 90s Tee, fisherman sandals, and my L.L. Bean boat tote made me feel like Jennifer Lawrence after her recent fashion renaissance. Iconic.

“If you are going to do denim in the summer, these are the perfect pair.”

By the end of the day, they were slightly less structured and fell lower on my waist, so less J. Law and more of a slouchy, downtown vibe — which I didn’t hate. My previous Kotn pants have tended to shrink in the wash so I’m confident they’ll bounce back. One last thing to note here: This item is the most size-inclusive of the bunch, offering up to a size 38. Generally, their bottoms come in a wider range than the tops!

A person wearing a black shirt and beige pants stands inside a room by a window with partially open blinds. They have one arm resting on the windowsill and sunlight is coming through the window.
Close-up view of a light-colored, textured fabric with a subtle diagonal pattern. There is a small shadow and portion of a darker surface visible at the bottom right corner.
Kotn’s Unisex Antifit Denim in Natural is a great option for a summer jean — loose, lightly colored, and with their signature bit of interest. The speckled “Natural” color is fun.

90s Tee (Small, Black) — $40

This is such a cute tiny tee — but while the mock tank felt perfect in the size small, I think I needed to size up on this one. It’s super form fitting so you need the seams to fall in all the right places. I found myself needing to pull on the sleeves to prevent the dreaded bunching up above the shoulder, and every time I would pull, the neck stretched out to a slightly uncomfortable shape approximating a boatneck. In short, I should have gotten a medium or a large here. Another 100% cotton joint, it’s bound to shrink, so consider this molded to your body and pick the fit closest to your exact measurements or a little over.

“While the mock tank felt perfect in the size small, I think I needed to size up on this one.”

I will say, this shirt avoided bunching around the stomach and riding up which is stellar. A staple summer tee-shirt that isn’t cropped is a must. And one that actually stays put, and makes you feel confident, well that’s everything a girl dreams of. The cute ribbing adds some interest, and the cap sleeve makes it feel youthful and dressed up. We’re not talking about just any old tee-shirt here! Find your size and you’ll be in great shape.

Close-up of a black ribbed T-shirt with a white tag attached, displaying the brand "KOTN" and a barcode. The tag describes the item as "Women's 90s TEE," priced at CA$48.00.
A person wearing a black ribbed short-sleeve top is shown from the neck to the torso, with a tattoo of a small outlined figure on their upper left arm.
I had a little trouble getting the sizing right on the 90s tee — but check out the measurements listed on Kotn’s site. With the right fit, this is an ideal summer tee. I’m also wearing it above with the Antifit Denim.

Final thoughts

Kotn feels like a well-kept secret of the sustainable fashion world. Before this review, I’d seen a fashion-forward friend donning palazzo shorts and structured tanks, and wondered — where does she shop? and could I pull off that look? Well, it was all available for me at Kotn, and at really accessible prices for how considered the designs and materials are. 

“For elevated summer pieces that are so easy to wear, Kotn is my rec.”

For elevated summer pieces that are so easy to wear, Kotn is my rec. Depending on your style, it can lean minimal (dare I say, quiet luxury? 👀), timeless, or trendy. I hope you partake and pass it on. And pick up a Nemat fragrance on your way to check out. Let me know what you pick up in the comments!

Ashley D’Arcy is Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She holds an MA in philosophy from The New School for Social Research and a BA in English & American literature from New York University. Her writing has been featured by The Nation, 032c, and sold by Printed Matter. In 2017, she was featured on Apple’s first original series “Planet of the Apps” where she was mentored by Gwyneth Paltrow. She is currently a psychoanalyst-in-training at Pulsion Institute in New York City.