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A Legacy Since 1899
The white shirt is at first glance simple, and then again, not at all. For a lot of people, it is
nothing more than cloth and collar, buttons and starch. But history knows better. For
centuries, it has been the quiet semaphore of power, purity, and occasionally—rebellious.
History facts: In the Middle Ages, white linen shirts were not for show at all; they were the undergarments of both men and women, the discreet layer against the skin. Only the aristocracy could afford to wash them frequently enough to keep them white. Thus, laundry became the true heraldry of class. A crisp shirt was not just clothing, it was proof of privilege.
By the 18th century, men’s shirts had become canvases for flourish. Frills, ruffs, and cuffs —men swaggered in lace like peacocks on their way to Parliament. Women, meanwhile, tucked themselves primly in high-necked chemisettes, the shirt whispering modesty even as it conspired with corsets beneath.
And then came the 19th century: industrial smoke, Dickensian grime, and the “white-collar worker.” The shirt became a banner of modernity, sobriety, and serious intent. For men, a starched collar was the architecture of respectability. For women, the suffragette’s shirtwaist was radical—a declaration of equality, fabric folded into politics.
Enter Stenströms. In 1899, in the Swedish port town of Helsingborg, August Stenström listened to his customers—sea captains, merchants, gentlemen of the Sound—all clamouring for shirts of higher refinement. With scissors sharp and standards sharper, he began what would become Stenströms Skjortfabrik, a factory of precision, elegance, and whispered luxury.
The brand’s reputation spread around Europe. One hundred and twenty-five years later, Stenströms is still known for the highest quality and the well thought cuts and details.
The white shirt is never neutral, even if you thought so, It carries centuries of sweat, starch, and symbolism. It has dressed kings, suffragettes, sailors, clerks, lovers, and revolutionaries.
Our white shirt takes 60 steps to make. Any less, it wouldn’t be a Stenströms shirt.
It’s all in the details. The stitches, the mother of pearl buttons, the craft and the knowledge of our designers and manufacturers.
We’ll make sure the white shirt will stay as the most essential garment in your wardrobe.
