For men with longer-than-average arms, finding a shirt that fits well can be very challenging. Tom Shaw of Mendham knows this frustration well.
“A few years ago, I was sitting down reading and journaling, and with my arm bent, my cuff was all the way down at my elbow,” he says. He knew other men were having the same issues and set out to find a solution. “I have some family members who are in fashion so I was able to tap into those resources. I was surrounded by expert designers who were able to provide advice.”
In 2021, Tom founded Broadyarns, which offers three different styles of high-caliber shirts – Button-down, Fleece and Henley – with sleeve lengths that are about two inches longer than most mass retailers.
“We've created something that fits the gap in shirts for the regular guy who’s not going into big and tall shops, and who desires a super high-quality shirt that they can put on and have it look and feel good.”
Every shirt is made in New York’s Garment District. “I want to keep control on quality and the people there are extraordinarily conscientious and care about their craft. Plus, our business is based in New Jersey, and the Garment District is in our backyard.”
The small-batch all-cotton shirts consist of organic and sustainable materials. “That has to do with our values, and after a bit of field testing the market, we realized there’s plenty of demand from people who care about the environment in the demographic that fits the Broadyarns customer,” he says. “Plus, being eco-conscious also means building a durable garment that will last for years to come. The result is less waste in the environment. Customers have literally said to me, ‘This is what quality feels like.’”
Many of the people ordering from his website are actually women. “They're giving me the dimensions of their fiancés or their sons and they're so happy to have finally found this type of product for them.”
Tom’s wife, Mari, is a huge asset to the business. “She’s amazing when it comes to fashion and she's extraordinarily creative.”
He and Mari have a blended family of six children and two dogs, Bingo and Henry, and when not working, the family loves going backpacking. “We went to the Spanish Pyrenees last summer,” he says. “This year we're going backpacking at Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.”
For Tom, Broadyarns is not just a business, but a passion. “We're just getting started and we're so excited.”
Broadyarns.com