From Field to Fabric: The Making of the Hill Loch Shirt

From Field to Fabric: The Making of the Hill Loch Shirt

Field Notes · Shirts

A Working Shirt.
Made to Last.

The Hill Loch is Ghillie's cotton twill shirt — cut wide in the shoulder and long in the body for a day that starts at the gate and ends at the fire.

By Hamish Godman  ·  Ghillie Field Notes

The Hill Loch came from a simple question: what does the person who spends real time outdoors actually need from a shirt? Not a fashion piece. Not a technical garment dressed up in outdoor language. A proper working shirt — one that fits well, ages well and earns its keep every time it's worn.

This is its story.

The Fabric

The Hill Loch is cut from a medium-weight cotton twill — a close-woven fabric with a subtle diagonal texture that sits between a poplin and a canvas in feel. It's smooth enough to be comfortable against the skin all day; dense enough to resist wind, light rain and the kind of wear that comes from pulling it on and off over other layers.

The Colour

We chose earth tones deliberately: the palette of the Scottish hillside in every season. Tawny browns, slate greys and deep olive greens that don't ask for attention and don't show every mark from a day in the field. These are colours that improve as the shirt ages.

The Cut

The fit is relaxed but not oversized — full through the chest and shoulders, slightly tapered through the body. The tail is long enough to stay tucked when you're bending and stretching; the sleeves are cut with enough ease to layer without binding. A shirt that gets out of the way and lets you work.

Fabric
Cotton Twill
Fit
Relaxed, Field Cut
Collar
Button-Down Point
Pockets
Two Chest Pockets
01

The Long Walk In

Light enough to walk in without overheating; heavy enough to resist the wind off the loch. The Hill Loch shirt moves as well as it stands still.

02

Under a Gilet or Fleece

The relaxed cut and smooth twill allow a fleece or wool gilet to sit cleanly over the top with no bunching or binding. A natural layering piece.

03

At the End of the Day

A cotton twill shirt doesn't look worked-in after a day of use — it looks worn in. The Hill Loch moves comfortably from field to lodge without needing to change.

Care: Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle. Cotton twill softens and improves with every wash — don't iron out the character. Hang to dry and it will hold its shape season after season.

The Hill Loch Shirt

A working cotton twill shirt built for the Scottish countryside. Made to be worn hard and kept for years.

Shop the Hill Loch

© Ghillie · Field Notes · Handmade in Scotland

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