Note: this item was provided for review.
I love a good heavy work shirt. I’ve come to find that this type of shirt, something which sits just shy of an overshirt/shirt-jacket, is insanely versatile and a type of shirt I constantly reach for. Perhaps it’s the climate I live in, or perhaps it’s that I work from home, but whatever it is, I’m a fan. So when Haven was getting ready to release their fall lineup, and offered to send me a Travail Shirt in Cotton Corduroy — I jumped at the chance.
My last go with Haven was with a Polartec Alpha Fleece which was hard for me to review because my wife kept swiping it to wear. I’ve hidden away this shirt better, and I have to say, I would be shocked if this was not one of my most worn items through the next several months.
Materials & Specs
This shirt is Made in Canada with 100% Japanese Cotton Corduroy. It’s a very fine wale on the material and there’s effectively no sheen to it. The closures are all snaps, which are ‘YKK Michel’ and custom branded. They are smaller, nicely colored, and excellent.
The hem is straight, and there is a gusset under the arms, lending better arm movement.
Haven states this is a ‘relaxed fit’ but if that’s the case then trim must be quite snug. It’s certainly what I would classify as more standard, a slight box to it, but it doesn’t feel at all like I am swimming in it.
The fit and finish on it is top notch. The collar is nicely structured, and everything is very well done. Top marks.
Wear
I should start this section by saying there are two things about this shirt, and my wearing of it, you need to understand:
- I love wearing this shirt.
- This shirt looks great.
I therefore cannot think of a negative on this shirt. I’ll do my best to tell you why it is great though, here’s how Haven positions it:
The HAVEN Travail Shirt reimagines the classic work shirt with elevated fabrication and contemporary ease. Made from soft Japanese cotton corduroy with fine wales and a low-lustre finish, it offers both durability and comfort with an elegantly structured drape. A straight hem, boxy fit, darted elbows, and underarm gussets provide a relaxed silhouette with enhanced mobility. Finished with snap-closure chest pockets, it’s a versatile staple that balances utility and refinement for everyday wear.
I still don’t get the boxy fit, and would suggest it’s not boxy by USA fit standards. All in all, I find the cut on this to be excellent. It moves well, keeps the just-shy-of-overshirt feel without pushing too far. A great workwear cut with a very nice material — no, actually, an excellent material. I’ve not had corduroy this good before.
On the style side, this shirt nails it. It pairs well with chinos, denim, or workwear duck cotton pants. It has a fantastic texture that lends itself to looking a little nicer, but still substantial in appearance, balancing work-wear styling well.
I’ve worn this up to about 75°F with a t-shirt under it, and down into the 50s like that as well — it’s decently comfortable. At the high end 70°F is around the hottest I’d ideally like to wear it, while 55°F is the lowest without a jacket over it. The material does a good job of being a substantive layer, without soffucating you in warm air, nor caving the moment a breeze kicks up.
At home, it’s a near perfect weight for working in my office which tends to be a touch cooler than I like. There is likely an alternate universe where people wonder if I ever wear a different shirt, as I show up in this on every video call — I can feel the desire for that. Which is to say, I make an effort to not wear this every day, instead of needing to make the effort to wear it. A hallmark feeling I get with the best items I test.
This is also a rare item where the fine outdoor apparel lovers in Boulder have taken note, and handed out compliments. Many awkwardly asking to feel the material — I get it, it feels fantastic. Still, a bit awkward, bud.
I’ve also had fun tossing this over the top of a linen button down, to add some layering and playing with the textures. If done carefully, this can work, though the Travail is very much a shirt not a jacket, so you have to be careful with the collar interaction with other collared shirts — but it can be done.
There’s two things on this which fly under the radar, worth pointing out:
- The underarm gusset is a functional gem. It’s barely noticeable visually (as it’s on the underside of the arm), but when wearing the shirt this makes what would otherwise be a restrictive fabric, something which you can move quite easily in. You won’t feel the material pulling on you as you drive a car, for instance.
- The sizing of the YKK snaps is perfection. Visually they are about the same size as a standard shirt button, which makes the entire shirt feel less like a jacket, and more like a shirt. While still adding a nice overall consideration for how this wears when worn open over another shirt and allowing the look to remain cohesive.
I can’t think of anything bad to say about this shirt, it strikes an excellent balance stylistically, it has an excellent color hue, and it’s an amazing material — all sewn up quite nicely. It’ll be the type of shirt you can easily wear with most clothing, adding some style to what might be an otherwise boring outfit.
Overall
I probably need to say yes faster when Haven checks in with me — while I’ve only tried two items from them, they have both been astoundingly good. The Travail shirt is no exception, and I might dare to say, I like it better than the Alpha sweater I last tested from Haven.
Killer shirt.