Our Story
Cotton the First was founded by Charles S.—born into a Bangkok family whose last name means “Golden Apparel.” Though he worked in the Arts at Disney and EA for over a decade, Charles eventually traded pixels for fabric, blending his artistic eye with a love for timeless, well-made shirts.
Each piece is crafted in limited runs of 100, with Charles personally overseeing the quality. Since 2018, we’ve stayed true to one simple idea: fewer, better pieces. Along the way, we’ve been featured in the SF Chronicle and spotlighted by Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s as an emerging brand to watch.
Our Roots
Back in 1973, Charles’ family opened their first retail shop in Bangkok: Sahamit Center—which means “Center for a Community of Friends.” What started as one store grew into seven, offering everything from head-to-toe looks to accessories for generations of loyal shoppers. By 1996, the family shifted from retail to focus on wholesale denim distribution.
While Sahamit Center eventually closed with the rise of shopping malls, its spirit lives on—in the memories, and in the next generation of Charles’ own SF-based venture, Cotton the First.
Our Vibe
Though we’re a digital brand at heart, we jump at any chance to meet our customers IRL. FromSF and LA to Seattle, Austin, and New York, we’ve popped up all across the country—because great shirts deserve great conversations.
Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s hosted us in their San Francisco stores (thanks for the love!), and even teams at Oracle, Adobe, Meta, and Shopify trusted us to help take their work wardrobes from meh to major. Wherever we go, we bring good style and good vibes.
