For many people, dressing comfortably and sustainably is needed when looking for something new to wear. Sustainable clothing is something that I feel is important and should be taken seriously, so when I stepped foot into SoHo’s Merz B. Schwanen, I was elated to peruse what this store had to offer.

Founded in 1911, Merz B. Schwanen is a German clothing company that emphasizes sustainability and, as quoted from their website, “simply good basics.” Some may recognize the brand from Hulu’s hit series, The Bear, as the show’s main character is often seen wearing the brand’s 215 loopwheeled white t-shirt while he’s working in the kitchen. Having had the opportunity to browse the store, I was pleasantly surprised at how small and cozy the store was. Aside from its neat displays of t-shirts and pants, the store displays “artifacts” of its past, so to speak, such as a 90-year-old shirt neatly folded in a display case, and a vintage sewing machine, almost reflective of Merz B. Schwanen’s usage of loopwheelers used to make its products.

With all of their clothes made with organic cotton from Greece and mulesing-free wool, the brand shows its dedication to sustainability, and making a change not only with the textile industry but the environment as well. Just from looking at what was being sold at the store, you could tell that everything was made with the utmost precision and care. As to be expected with any store that can be found in SoHo, the products are certainly expensive, though the quality justifies the price. Their t-shirts in particular feel especially comfortable to wear during a casual day out.

As someone who can appreciate basic fashion and comfort while being conscious of sustainability, I was glad to have visited Merz B. Schwanen. Anyone visiting SoHo should absolutely take a look at this store on Canal Street if they’re looking for anything basic, comfortable, and sustainable. As their website puts it, they truly are, “the good basic.”