Hometown Hero: David Hayes

The founder of one of the most inventive fashion statements of this era hasn't forgotten his family roots.

David Hayes' family has been farming cotton almost as long as it's been growing. And while it might strike you that a career in fashion for one of its heirs would be a no-brainer, what you likely wouldn't anticipate is the reinvention of a wardrobe staple as American as apple pie: the t-shirt. How can you improve upon such a classic piece? Simple: add silver.

Hayes' new luxury line of men's t-shirts, EST. 1887^Ag, is the first ever antimicrobial, temperature-regulating, premium men's clothing line in the world. Each shirt contains a combination of 5% pure silver (Ag), and 95% Supima® cotton... hence the (Ag) in the line's name, with 1887 representing the year his family began growing cotton.

"The process of developing this exclusive fabric was very challenging," Hayes admits. "But we're extremely proud of the results."

Hayes should also be extremely proud of his ambition – especially considering he's never had any traditional fashion design training. Having produced a few fashion shows and nightlife events in college, Hayes got a taste of the issues that tend to plague club-goers: repetitive fashion. "I always loved the challenge of standing out of the crowd without trying to get attention," he says, which is why he drew inspiration from life experiences, traveling, art, and – naturally – science. And it's the science that proves to be the most challenging part of his line's construction process.

"Timing is everything – if you don't get it out there fast enough you can loose your chance to make it," Hayes points out. "My shirts have an extra month of production time due to the technical nature of the fabric. This makes it quite challenging to keep pace with everyone else."

But by the sounds of things, Hayes is aiming to change the pace so everyone else has to keep up with EST.1887^Ag. The collection features essential tanks, crew shirts, and henleys in a classic color hues, knitted specifically for this collection. Each individual garment is packaged in a custom-made jewelry box that compliments the company's elegant and detailed approach to design.

But back to the line's most intriguing aspect – its functionality. Through antimicrobial and thermodynamic advantages, the fabric actually eradicates all bacteria it comes into contact with, including odor-causing bacteria. By neutralizing ammonia, silver protects the shirts from common discoloration caused by perspiration. And perhaps the most luxurious benefit to EST.1887^Ag clothes is the fact that the silver-cotton garment blend regulates body temperature, keeping you warm in cold temperatures and cool in hot temperatures. Sounds like Hayes is on the cusp of a new trend, and one that's already creating rabid fans.

"I am thrilled with the success of all the pieces but there is a close tie between the v-neck tee and four- button Henley in terms of our most popular sellers," Hayes says. "V-necks are definitely back in style and my V-neck is not cut low like so many are. This makes it much more masculine and a better fit for most of my customers."

And what kind of customers are those?

"My customers understand what the phrase 'you get what you pay for' truly means," he says. "Some say my shirts are expensive but I am not trying to upsell myself or my brand like so many others do. You might go into any of the exclusive boutiques that my shirts are sold in and pay hundreds of dollars for other items that cost a fraction of that to make, all because the designer thinks they are worthy enough to charge the high price. My shirts are expensive because my costs are high to make such an exceptional product. My customs buy them because they know it's worth it."

Hayes admits he's obsessed with the style and marketing genius of Martin Margiela, and notes that as time goes on he gets more and more minimalist, choosing instead to wrap the intricate details of his t-shirts into the details rather than create something that's all flash and no substance. And though every piece of his line is rich with family history and sentimentality – blending his mother's cotton with his father's love for technology – what would make Hayes happiest is to create the perfect basic t-shirt, and help reprogram the minds of the people who wear it.

Says Hayes, "I want to change the way people feel about the basics they wear all the time. People should spend more time considering the clothes they wear everyday."

For more information on where to find Hayes' designs, visit www.est1887.com.