M.J. Bale Linen Shirt Alternatives in Australia: French Flax or Italian Making

Australia

Prices in Australian dollars. 10% GST is added at checkout and there is no duty on orders under A$1,000, so nothing extra is due at your door. Ships from Florida, usually 7 to 10 business days, free on orders over US$360. Between two sizes, size up. Our model is 180 cm, 85 kg and wears L, see the size guide. Returns within 30 days of delivery, return shipping paid by you. Three or more Positano shirts take 10% off automatically.

M.J. Bale is one of the best known names in Australian menswear, and it is more open than most about its fabrics. The Bradfield is one of its 100% linen shirts. I make linen shirts in Napoli and ship them to Australia, so this is a straight comparison from the other side of the counter.

What M.J. Bale tells you about the Bradfield

M.J. Bale's product page says the Bradfield is 100% linen from flax grown on two farms in Normandy, France, and lists China as the country of making. It comes in XS to 3XL, at A$169 with GST included.

That is more than most brands tell you, and it is worth respecting. French flax is good flax. The shirt is then sewn in China.

M.J. Bale and Santoli Napoli side by side

M.J. Bale details from mjbale.com, Bradfield linen shirt, checked 9 November 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.

When the Bradfield is the better buy

• Price. It is A$169 all in. Ours is A$218.90 with GST, plus shipping.
• Sizes. M.J. Bale goes from XS to 3XL. We make M to 2XL.
• Speed. You can buy it in a store this afternoon. Ours usually takes 7 to 10 business days from Florida.

When the Italian shirt is worth the difference

• You want it sewn in Italy. The cutting and sewing decide the collar and the shoulder. Ours are cut and sewn in Napoli.
• You want a cloth with some weight. 180 GSM hangs straight under a jacket and does not cling on a humid afternoon.
• You want it soft from day one. Every shirt is washed and pressed before it is packed and does not shrink in your first wash.
• You are buying three. Three Positano shirts take 10% off automatically, A$537.30 before GST.

For the office and after

If your linen shirt goes to work with you, the darker Positano colours do that best.

• Marina. A deep navy. Works under a navy or grey jacket and on its own at Friday drinks.
• Midnight Blue. A slightly brighter dark blue for a client lunch.
• Vesuvio. A warm stone. Easy with navy trousers.
• Pescatore. A faded grey blue for the weekend.

Press it in the morning. By the afternoon it will have creased at the elbows, which is linen doing what linen does.

Fit and sizing

Ours is close through the shoulder and armhole, with room through the body. Our model is 180 cm, 85 kg and wears L, which measures 111 cm across the chest and 47 cm across the shoulder. Lay a shirt you own flat, measure across the chest under the arms, double it, and compare with the size guide. Between two sizes, size up. The AU and NZ sizing guide has more.

Frequently asked questions