It all started with a seemingly simple search for a basic long-sleeved cotton top. A formerly ubiquitous garment, the humble long-sleeved cotton top was one that could be found in pretty much any clothing store, year round. It was almost guaranteed you could find a basic slim-fitting crew neck long-sleeved cotton top in either black or white at even the most middle-of-the-road store — nothing groundbreaking, but dependable. And those who wanted something a little less standard didn’t have to look too much further to find long-sleeved cotton tops in a variety of price points, neckline cuts, and colours.
However, times have changed and the once-quotidian piece has morphed into an unobtanium of sorts. Check the material tag and that form-fitting long-sleeve top is surreptitiously housing a predominantly polyester fibre content; it’s made from cotton so thin you can see the outline of your kidneys through it; or it’s cut in such an unflatteringly oversized boxy shape that you start thinking “maybe that polyester version won’t be so bad…”
Finding the foundational pieces of your wardrobe—i.e. the fitted mock neck that seamlessly tucks into that bronze tiered fringed midi skirt, the perfect tank top that can be worn on its own in summer or be seen peeking out from behind a cardigan in winter, the aforementioned lamented cotton long-sleeve, or natural fibre knitwear—is harder than it used to be; doubly so if you want them to not only be well crafted, but also feature form-flattering cuts, interesting details, and—gasp!—come in colours other than black and white.
Internet searches for “the best high-quality natural fibre basics brands” are liable to lead to forums with recommendations that range from fast fashion retailers and big-box chains (some might even tell you to head to the men’s section for best results, which sounds…functional, but not particularly appealing) to thrifting (environmentally friendly! But also time consuming) or spending upwards of three figures on a simple tank top with the promise that it’s a ‘lifetime investment piece’. Spoiler alert: even ‘lifetime investment’ white tanks are not immune to red wine stains or yellowing at the ‘pits.
That said, there are still a few brands crafting clothing from natural fibres in interesting cuts and colours — if you know where to look, that is. The work of a lot of trial and even more error, our editors have cried over polyester, bemoaned odd seam placements and awkward necklines, and waded through the trenches of shockingly clunky e-commerce design to find the best brands for non-boring basics.
Overview of the best basics brands for women
- Best basics brands for the perfect fit: Flore Flore, Leset
- Best basics brands for the perfect white tank top: Kowtow, Presics
- Best brands for feminine basics: Olga Joan, All Is A Gentle Spring
- Best brands for affordable basics: Assembly Label, Uniqlo
- Best sustainably minded basics brand: Kowtow
The best elevated basics brands in 2026
1. Flore Flore
When it comes to elevated cotton basics in a variety of colours and necklines, Dutch brand Flore Flore nails the brief. Cut from thick organic Italian cotton and manufactured in Portugal, Flore Flore’s tanks and short- and long-sleeved tops are available in necklines from crew and v-neck to boat neck and roll neck, in an appealing lineup of permanent core and ephemeral seasonal shades. The key drawcard to Flore Flore’s tees and tanks lies in their attention to detail — considered fabric weight, thick ribbed hems, double-stitched back seams, and the rare ability to skim over the contours of the body, simultaneously smoothening and hugging the body. While they’re on the pricier side, the brand’s commitment to high-quality materials, design, and craftsmanship shows in each garment.
Priced from: $140AUD (for tanks)
Established in: 2021
Founder: Flòrian van Zuilen
Best for: organic cotton tanks, long- and short-sleeved tops in stylish colours
Materials: organic cotton
2. Assembly Label
Representing one of the best value-for-money basics brands in Australia, Sydney-born clothing brand Assembly Label prioritises natural materials in predominantly neutral tones. Going beyond classic cotton tops, the brand also has silk knit tees and cashmere cotton polo shirts, which lend textural interest to otherwise quotidian staples. Assembly Label’s tees and tanks are available in a few different cuts and necklines (with long-sleeved options too!) and start at a very reasonable $35AUD, making it a solid start for building out the foundations of your wardrobe.
Priced from: $35AUD (for tanks)
Established in: 2011
Founders: Damien Horan and Daniel Oliver
Best for: tees, tanks, and natural fibre knitwear in predominantly neutral tones
Materials: cotton, wool, silk
3. Olga Joan
For those who don’t want their basics to be uite so…basic, allow us to introduce you to Olga Joan. Feminine and playful, Newcastle-based label Olga Joan creates striking tops with flirty cuts—think asymmetrical Bardot necklines, cropped boleros, and corset-style cinching—yet is underpinned by an emphasis on natural fibres. The brand’s staple tops are crafted from cotton jersey and mulberry silk, ensuring they’re both fun to look at and comfortable to wear.
Priced from: $89AUD (for tanks)
Established in: 2018
Founder: Rebecca Pastro
Best for: short- and long-sleeved tops in playful cuts and colours
Materials: cotton, mulberry silk
4. Friends with Frank
Friends With Frank has that quintessential Australian ‘cool girl’ look on lock. The Melbourne label designs clothing that’s simultaneously impactful and understated — basics done well, basically. The colour palette here is predominantly neutral, but there are a few seasonal colours (think earthy olives, baby pinks and blues, and chilli red) and stylish patterns thrown in. Friends With Frank started its life over a decade ago specialising in outerwear, so it’s no surprise that this continues to be a highlight within the lineup — the cotton trenches and raglan coats are among our favourites. That said, the brand has also refined the layers beneath in recent years, with its merino wool tees and long-sleeved tops serving as ideal base layers.
Priced from: $129AUD (for tees)
Established in: 2012
Founder: Julia McCarthy
Best for: transitional and cold-weather outerwear, merino wool long-sleeved tops, natural fibre knitwear
Materials: cotton, wool
5. Buddy
Buddy does one thing and it does it well. The New Zealand label champions hemp fibres across its tightly curated range, touting its hemp-cotton blend as a durable, breathable alternative to pure cotton. In addition to the standard shades of black and white, Buddy has striking colours like tomato red, moss green, lilac, and butter yellow, as well as alternative neutrals like wasabi cream and java brown. The brand has both short- and long-sleeved tees, with mini shrunken versions of both. Standard tees err on the more relaxed side and feature lower fabric weights, contributing to a lived-in feel; while mini iterations have higher fabric weights and vintage-inspired shrunken, more close-cut fits.
Priced from: $83AUD (for tees)
Established in: 2016
Founder: Helen Young-Loveridge
Best for: hemp t-shirts and long-sleeved tops
Materials: hemp-cotton blends
6. Kowtow
Another New Zealand label, Kowtow has dedicated itself to exclusively working with organic cotton. Far from feeling staid, the label continues to prove the multifaceted ways with which the material can be interpreted — from thick ribbed jersey in its tanks and cotton jersey in tees and long-sleeved tops, to fine cotton knit polos and chunky cotton cable knit sweaters.
What we think: “As Kowtow has committed to being one-hundred-percent plastic-free, you won’t find any elastane for stretch in its tanks or tees. However, I found the ribbed jersey fabric of the tank to have some natural stretch and be comfortable enough for everyday wear. I’m pretty picky when it comes to tanks, but the thick ribbed trims on the neck and the close-fitting arm holes have made this a wardrobe staple for me.” — Arabella Johnson, fashion & beauty editor
Priced from: $89AUD (for tanks)
Established in: 2006
Founder: Gosia Piątek
Best for: cotton tees and tanks, denim, transitional knitwear, and casual dresses
Materials: organic cotton
7. All For Mimi
Founded by influencer Sophia Begg (better known as Sopha Dopha in online spaces), All For Mimi is perhaps best known for its polyester-based viral tank tops that purport to “snatch you in.” However, the real hit item is the comparatively under-the-radar baby tees and long-sleeved tops, which achieve a tight, flattering fit through a blend of ultra-soft modal cotton with a little spandex for stretch. Hitting just above the hips, it’s the perfect fit to wear with high-rise jeans or pleated trousers. For those partial to a boxy fit, the brand also does a solid mid-weight oversized cotton t-shirt.
Priced from: $59AUD (for tees)
Established in: 2023
Founder: Sophia Begg
Best for: baby tees, oversized t-shirts, long-sleeved tops
Materials: modal cotton, cotton and spandex blends
8. Kotn
Canadian brand Kotn was founded with the goal of creating the perfect t-shirt. Over a decade on and the brand has expanded to encompass a holistic range of men’s and womenswear, with both classic and trendy cuts rendered in Egyptian cotton and ECOTEC yarn, crafted from recycled cotton fibres.
What we think: “Kotn creates basics that are basic in the sense that they use natural fibres (predominantly Egyptian cotton) and feel reassuringly comfortable on the skin, but from a design perspective, it’s anything but. The brand isn’t afraid to play with cut and colour, resulting in eminently wearable basics that never feel staid. The brand’s rugby shirts and boat neck long-sleeved tops are personal wardrobe staples. Just be sure to check the material composition for each product if having exclusively natural fibres is important to you, as while the basic tees and tanks are cut from cotton, a few of the blouses and skirts use viscose and small amounts of polyester.” — Tanisha Angel, editor
Priced from: $45AUD (for tanks)
Established in: 2015
Founders: Rami Helali, Mackenzie Yeates, and Benjamin Sehl
Best for: cotton t-shirts and long-sleeved tops, rugby shirts
Materials: Egyptian cotton
9. Presics
Presics recognises that the perfect basic cotton t-shirt doesn’t look the same for everyone. The Australian brand is almost obsessive about their cotton, using both Supima cotton which has undergone mercerisation which lends it a subtle lustrous sheen, and Good Earth cotton, a traceable, climate-positive cotton sourced from Moree, New South Wales. The brand has t-shirts in various cuts and necklines, as well as a standard tank top and long-sleeve. The colour palette here errs on the safe side, with neutral, muted tones which make the brand’s styles good building blocks when putting together an outfit.
Priced from: $34.95AUD (for tanks)
Best for: t-shirts and tanks
Materials: Supima cotton, Good Earth cotton
10. Leset
Sitting in the liminal space between loungewear and going-out-wear, Leset creates pared-back cotton essentials in effortlessly stylish cuts and both neutral and bold shades. To make finding the perfect fit easier, the New York-based brand keeps the same nomenclature across its tees, tanks, long-sleeves, and cardigans; the Margo offers a slightly relaxed fit, while the Nando is a figure-hugging style cut from baby ribbed cotton.
Priced from: $130AUD (for tees)
Established in: 2019
Founder: Lili Chemla
Best for: cotton tanks, tees, cardigans
Materials: cotton
11. Uniqlo
A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with Uniqlo, but say what you will about the fluctuating quality of their designer collaborations, there’s no denying the Japanese brand nails the basics. Checking the material composition is key here, but among the brand’s safe bets are the U Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt—its heavyweight cotton, elevated shades, and sturdy ribbed neckline punch above its price point—as well as the Mini T-Shirt and the brand’s range of Australian merino wool cardigans and sweaters, cashmere sweaters, and jeans. There’s more, if you have time to explore — drink a coffee before and arm yourself with a list before going in.
Established in: 1984
Founder: Tadashi Yanai
Best for: cotton t-shirts, cashmere/merino/lambswool sweaters, jeans
Materials: combination of natural and synthetic fibres, but there are some 100% cotton and wool pieces
12. Still Here
While best known for its 100% cotton jeans, New York-based brand Still Here knows how to do solid basics across the board. The brand applies the same insouciant, cool girl aesthetic it approaches its jeans with to its tops, with striped, double layered, and knit tops crafted from cotton and designed to be thrown on over a pair of baggy jeans.
Established in: 2018
Founders: Sonia and Maurice Mosseri
Best for: cotton tees, long-sleeved tops, knit tops
Materials: cotton
13. Samsøe Samsøe
Relaxed and irreverent, Samsøe Samsøe does minimalist, pared-back staples that befit the brand’s Scandinavian origins. Rendered in a predominantly neutral colour palette, the Danish brand puts forward both form-fitting and oversized silhouettes. Despite the minimalist bent, there’s often a cool detail or two, like visible ribbing or two-tone hues.
Established in: 1993
Founders: Klaus and Preben Samsø
Best for: cotton tees, long-sleeved tops, cotton cardigans
Materials: cotton
14. All Is A Gentle Spring
Offering a feminine, flirty take on basics, All Is A Gentle Spring has a tightly curated selection of tops crafted from cotton and merino wool. Cut with a boat neck and designed to hug the figure, the Melbourne-based brand’s basics stand out from other tees on the market, offering the comfort of natural fibres without sacrificing silhouette. The brand also nails basics from the hips down, with mini and midi skirts, trousers, and capris cut from wool and silk.
Established in: 2018
Founder: Isabelle Hellyer
Best for: boat neck short- and long-sleeve tops
Materials: cotton, wool, silk
15. Primi
Although it’s not too difficult to find good short-sleeved tees, the long-sleeved cotton top remains somewhat elusive. That may be because Primi is hoarding them all, with the Australian brand continuing to iterate on the style. Going beyond the conventional crew and scoop neck styles, the brand also offers off-the-shoulder, cut-out, and henley takes on the style. That said, the standard Carina Classic style cut from 93% cotton and 7% spandex in a ribbed fabrication is our pick of the bunch.
Established in: 2022
Founder: Katherine Mauro
Best for: long-sleeved tops
Materials: cotton, modal cotton
Enjoyed this story on the best brands for non-boring, elevated basics? Check out our other women’s style guides here.
Words by Arabella Johnson
