The classic shorts
Update as of May 13, 2025: Due to a price increase for the fabric (GOTS-certified organic cotton made in Portugal), we had to raise the price of the shorts from €65 to €75.
Released in May 2021
Released in May 2022
- Revised cut for a looser fit around the thighs and buttocks.
- Improvements in Dyeing
To be released in April 2024
- Switch to a softer, more comfortable fabric
- Switch to “garment-dyed” dyeing (i.e., done after the shorts have been sewn), which gives the fabric a less smooth finish and a color that ages better over time
- Adjust the pocket dimensions to prevent items from slipping out when you sit down
We wrote an entire article about how we improved the color fastness of these shorts (link here).
These shorts are made mostly of organic cotton—that is, cotton grown using organic farming methods (we explain this choice here)—and a small amount of spandex for comfort.
A durable, denim-like fabric that is supple and resists wrinkles, manufactured by the Portuguese factory TMG.
With cotton shorts, it’s almost impossible to create colors that won’t fade when exposed to the sun, chlorine, or sweat. So we opted for a garment-dyed finish: these shorts will develop a beautiful patina over time.
These shorts are made in Portugal at the 5D factory, with which we have been working since 2019.
Techniques That Ensure Quality
Twill weave
Commonly used in jeans, twill weave produces sturdy fabrics that don't wrinkle easily... and where barbecue stains are less noticeable.
Twill weave
Garment-dyed fabric
Reinforced seams
Pre-wash
Garment-dyed fabric
The shorts are dyed after they have been sewn, to give them a less smooth look and a more attractive patina. Click here to learn more.
Twill weave
Garment-dyed fabric
Reinforced seams
Prélavage
Reinforced seams
The seams are reinforced in the crotch, the area that bears the brunt of the strain when walking.
Twill weave
Garment-dyed fabric
Reinforced seams
Pre-wash
Pre-wash
These shorts are stabilized and pre-washed at the factory to prevent them from shrinking at home (with cotton clothing, most of the shrinking occurs during the first wash).
Twill weave
Garment-dyed fabric
Reinforced seams
Pre-wash
For many summers
A pair of Bermuda shorts with a timeless straight cut (ending just above the knee) made from a beautiful organic cotton twill fabric that’s thick enough to stand the test of time and resist wrinkles. Special feature: These shorts are dyed after they’re made. This “garment-dyed” technique allows the color to develop a beautiful patina with exposure to the sun, washes, and afternoons at the beach.
In detail
Portuguese twill
You can tell a “twill” by the subtle diagonal lines on the fabric. Ours comes from the Portuguese factory TMG.
Back pocket with a zipper
A button might come undone; without anything inside, the pocket would eventually gape open.
YKK Semi-Automatic Fly
A zipper developed by the leading Japanese brand that prevents your fly from opening on its own: when the pull tab is folded down, the slider is completely locked. As soon as the pull tab is lifted, the zipper unlocks and the fly can be closed or opened.
Metal button
Since regular buttons always end up coming undone, we put on a metal one, like the ones on jeans. Because steel is (a little) stronger than cotton thread.
How to Wear It
A few ideas if you're stuck
Composition
98% organic cotton, 2% spandex
Origin and Certifications
- Weaving, dyeing, and garment manufacturing: Portugal
- Spinning and Cotton: Turkey
How This Product Will Age
How do we know this? We ask our customers for their feedback on the product one year after purchase. And if the product is less than a year old, we provide our predictions based on some unsolicited feedback and our experience with similar products.
The fabric of these shorts is quite sturdy: it will wear over time, but it’s dense enough to last quite a few years. Just like jeans, they’ll stretch out a bit with wear and then “shrink back” after a machine wash.
But let’s be honest: the color of these shorts will fade. Washing—but especially UV rays, salt, chlorine, and sweat—severely break down the dyes used on cotton. It’s impossible to achieve a color that won’t fade without using polyester or toxic chemicals. So we opted for a range of fairly light colors and a “garment-dyed” process that gives them a vintage look and will develop a beautiful patina with sun exposure, repeated washes, and afternoons at the beach…
For more information: we’ve written an entire article on how we improved the color fastness of these shorts (link here).
Care Instructions
Just like jeans, the fabric of these shorts will stretch slightly as you wear them, and will shrink back a bit after a wash.
It’s machine-washable at 40 degrees, but it’s better to wash it at 30°C: it’s just as effective, much more eco-friendly, and will extend the shorts’ lifespan. Wash them inside out to prevent friction that could cause slight discoloration in certain areas, and make sure to fasten the zipper and button before putting them in the washing machine—this will prevent the zipper teeth from getting damaged.
But let’s be honest: the color of these shorts will fade. Washing—but especially UV rays, salt, chlorine, and sweat—severely damage the dyes used on cotton. It’s impossible to achieve a color that won’t fade without using polyester or toxic chemicals. So we’ve opted for a range of fairly light colors and a “garment-dyed” finish that gives them a vintage look and will develop a beautiful patina with sun exposure, repeated washings, and afternoons at the beach…
Environmental Cost
This environmental cost is calculated using the official methodology of the French environmental labeling system (to be rolled out starting October 1, 2025).
The label above shows the product’s environmental cost according to the official French environmental labeling methodology. This represents what its production “costs” nature when considering its impact on climate change, ocean acidification, its toxicity to freshwater, and so on. Currently in use in the textile sector, this label should soon appear on many everyday consumer products (food, cosmetics, furniture, etc.) to help you make more eco-friendly purchasing decisions.
The classic pair of shorts therefore has an environmental cost of 1,453 impact points*.
By comparison, a garment of equivalent weight—made of 100% conventional cotton, manufactured in Bangladesh, and sold by a fast-fashion brand—has an environmental cost of 4,018 points*.
Why is there this difference? Here are the main reasons:
- Countries of origin: Manufacturing in Portugal or France requires less fossil fuel energy than in Bangladesh (one of the leading producers of low-cost clothing). As a result, this more local manufacturing reduces the impacts on climate change, ocean acidification, and resource depletion.
- Sustainability: Fast-fashion retailers encourage purchasing—in particular by rapidly refreshing their collections and offering a vast number of styles—and they discourage repairs by charging rock-bottom prices. This, in turn, increases the number of garments sold per person and reduces the number of times a garment is worn. In contrast, at Loom, we’ve chosen to adopt business practices that encourage our customers to keep their clothes for as long as possible.
Even though we've done everything we can to minimize it, this product's environmental impact is not insignificant. So before you buy, make sure to get the most use out of your clothes.
*Calculations performed by Loom on August 24, 2026. Click on the links to access the simulations from the official Ecobalyse tool and get more details on the assumptions used. Please note: The number of points is not always exactly the same on Ecobalyse (whose methodology changes regularly) as on the official environmental label (based on Ecobalyse version 7.0).
Reviews of this product
The standard practice is to send review request emails a few days after the purchase. We wait a month—the minimum amount of time needed to form an informed opinion.
Customer Review Policy
When do you ask customers for reviews?
We’ll send you a review request one month after we receive your order. We believe this is the minimum amount of time needed to have worn and washed an item several times and to form a truly informed opinion. After that, all your reviews are published within a week, whether they’re positive or negative.
Do you request reviews for 100% of the products ordered by customers?
We used to do that at first, but then we realized we were starting to send way too many emails to certain customers who shop with us regularly. In short, we were spamming them a bit. Plus, it was starting to take the team way too much time to respond to reviews—since we want to reply individually and privately to almost everyone who leaves us a review. Today, we no longer ask for reviews on products that meet the following two criteria: 1/ There are enough reviews posted on the site for potential buyers to form an informed opinion about the product. 2/ We on the Loom team have read enough reviews to understand how to evolve the product into the next generation.
Just a quick thought: What proof is there that we aren't manipulating reviews by giving 5-star ratings to everything?
Honestly: nothing—we’re just giving you our word. Just like with everything else, actually: where we manufacture our products, where our wool comes from, our lab test results, and so on. The only times we might edit what you write is if your message contains spelling mistakes (and even then, quite a few slip past us) or if it’s racist, homophobic, etc. (but that’s never happened so far).
Asking for feedback after just one month isn't enough to know if the clothes are really durable, is it?
You're right—that's why we send you another email asking for a review one year after your purchase—we even ask for a photo to see how your garment has aged. We use the responses to improve our clothing and to provide information on “how this product will age” on our product pages. To avoid unnecessarily bothering our customers, we don’t ask for reviews on 100% of the products ordered: as soon as we have enough data to understand where we can improve, we stop asking for reviews after one year.