Michael Masterson has been making some of the very best tailored chambray shirts you can find for well over a decade. To us here at S&S, he's our beloved Uncle Mike, expert Shirtsman and former resident of Standard & Strange Oakland (he literally lived here for a bit). His garments are a stellar blend of fine detail and simple design, beautiful but subtle pieces that don't sacrifice fit, comfort, or stylistic versatility. 

We caught up with Uncle Mike in an interview about this latest release, The Head Janitor 2.0, that we strongly encourage you to check out — Michael's own words are truly the best medium to absorb the philosophy and artistry behind his work.

The Head Janitor 2.0 is a lightweight chore coat based off of a vintage French prison jacket from Michael's personal collection, with a few small tweaks to give it a proper Masterson chambray shirt flair. Prison uniforms exist at a very specific historical intersection between workwear and military apparel, combining utilitarian design with generally austere construction & aesthetics - garments that are more concerned with function than form, essentially.

A slight departure from the usual chambray shirt styles Michael loves to iterate upon, the Head Janitor 2.0 chore coat features a more relaxed fit through the chest, with three external pockets, a curved back yoke, and a slightly extended torso. Though unrestrictive and fairly open through the body, the fit is generally slimmer, with tailored sleeves that more closely follow the shape of the arm. The collar can be worn fully- buttoned, but sits neatly with the top button undone as well, folding out into a mock camp collar.

The fabric is exceptional, weighing in at a comfortable and lightweight 6.5oz, it's an indigo rope-dyed jacquard from Cone Denim. Woven with 100% cotton yarns, it features a subtle grid design throughout, with a complex texture that becomes more apparent the closer you look. It's slightly rigid at first (as rigid as any lightweight fabric can be), but rinses down into a much more relaxed drape, gradually fading with time as indigo is lost as a result of wear and washing.

The tag is special - a photograph of a painting by an Anonymous Cuban artist, depicting the painter's father, who was himself the head janitor at his workplace. Each jacket also features a small cord hanging loop sewn into the collar just above the tag, and closes up with agreeably-sized khaki buttons down the placket & at the end of each sleeve. The stitch work is immaculate and precise, with tiny reinforcing triangle details, as well as numerous different threads and colors used throughout, hidden mostly on the inside of the garment.

Fits true to size. Wash cold and hang dry.

• 100% cotton
• 6.5oz rope dyed indigo jacquard fabric
• Three external pockets
• 6 button placket
• Custom collar "tag"
• Cord hang loop
• Multiple different threads
• Curved back yoke
• True to size
• Wash cold and hang dry
• Made by Michael Masterson in the USA