I have had several of LL BEAN's no iron or Wrinkle Resistant shirts given to me as gifts. The collars are self destructing MUCH too soon. On one shirt, the sleeve actually just SPLIT along the crease. Very disappointing. I wonder if it is the wrinkle resistant treatment that is causing this, as other reviews have speculated, or if the quality of cotton is lower than in past years.
I've bought thesea shirts several times over the past year. They look great out of the package and really hold their non-iron looks. But oddly enough, after several months every shirt has started to fray in exactly the same spot - right above the cuff and at the edge.
The frays start as small blue spots and then just grow after each wash and wear until the shirt becomes unwearable. The rest of the shirt stays perfect! And I'm not hard on my shirts.
I've tried to nip this problem in the bud by ironing patches under the cuff before I start wearing them. But this hasn't helped either. I'm just mystified at this problem in what is otherwise a very sturdy and attractive shirt.
I replaced my first set with new shirts but same problem. I guess I'll have to return these as well. A shame.
This review is for the shirt quality only. The L.L. Bean service and guarantee are excellent. I purchased 2 of these shirts. They are worn once, maybe twice per week. In less than 1 year both shirts were full of multiple small holes. One shirt (blue color) was much worse than the other. Holes were on the creases (collar, sleeves, cuffs). L.L. Bean quickly replaced them at no charge. I will try these out. If the same thing happens then I unfortunately will have to go elsewhere. As stated above, their service and return guarantee are unmatched anywhere.
Response from L.L.BeanBy L.L.Bean Product Team, April 14, 2014
Thank you for taking time to share your feedback. We're sorry you were disappointed with our Wrinkle Resistant Oxford Cloth shirt. We’ve noticed similar comments about the durability of the fabric from other customers, and would like to assure you that we are looking into the issue. This shirt has been a popular item for many years, and the fabric has not changed. We have enhanced our quality inspections in an effort to make sure that everything we receive meets our high standards.
Quality remains a top priority for us at L.L.Bean, and we want you to be pleased with every item you purchase. That’s why we back everything we sell with our legendary guarantee.
Thanks again for taking time to share your comments, and we apologize for the inconvenience
