The easy cotton dress I have not stopped reaching for.

On the soft 100% cotton dress that's cool on the skin and kind to the middle — an easy relaxed cut, two deep front pockets, and four colours you'll want more than one of.

I am 63 years old, and once the weather turns warm, getting dressed had become a small daily battle. Everything cool clung in the heat or was made of that shiny synthetic that sticks to your back by lunch; everything comfortable looked like a sack. And not one thing had a pocket I could use.

What I wanted was simple: one easy dress I could throw on, that was cool and soft against the skin, that skimmed my middle instead of gripping it — and that let me carry my phone without a bag. But the pretty ones weren't comfortable, and the comfortable ones weren't cool. Nothing was all three.

Then a friend of mine turned up to the farmers market in the easiest, loveliest cotton dress — cool, relaxed, with her hands in real pockets — and I asked her on the spot. She told me to read the Clarke family's letter first.

The Clarke family runs a small boutique here in South Carolina, family-run since 1986 — three generations, mother to daughter. The dress is called the Kwani, and their letter walks through the handful of things they refused to compromise on. I am going to let their words carry it, because they say it better than I could.

1Soft, breathable 100% cotton

We made the Kwani from real, breathable 100% cotton — cool on the skin, soft to the touch, and made to let the air through instead of trapping it. It doesn't cling or stick the moment the heat arrives, and it holds its easy shape wash after wash.

2And yes — two deep front pockets

We set two deep, roomy pockets right into the front — the kind you can actually slide a phone, your keys, or your reading glasses into. No little bag to carry, no hunting for somewhere to put things. Just hands-free, all day.

3An easy cocoon fit that skims

We cut it in a soft, relaxed cocoon shape that gently tapers at the hem, so it skims over the middle and the hips instead of clinging to them. Easy to move in, forgiving where you want it, and it flows beautifully when you walk — comfortable from morning to evening.

4Short sleeves that cover the tops of the arms

The soft short sleeves cover the tops of the arms — the part most of us would rather not think about — while staying cool and easy in the heat. Covered enough to feel comfortable, light enough to never feel warm.

5Four colours to choose from

We offer the Kwani in four easy shades — a soft beige, an olive green, a classic black and a warm orange — the kind that go with the sandals and jewelry you already own. Most women who buy one come back for a second before the summer is out.

6It fits the body you have

We make the Kwani from a size S all the way to 5XL and cut it relaxed on purpose. It is meant to fit the woman — not to make the woman fit the dress.

The Kwani, against the dresses you've been buying

	Typical summer dress	The Kwani
The fabric	Hot synthetic that clings	Soft, breathable 100% cotton
Pockets	None, or too small to use	Two deep front pockets
The fit	Clings, or hangs like a sack	An easy cocoon that skims
Your arms	Bare, or a hot cardigan	Short sleeves that cover the tops
Sizing	Runs small	True fit, S–5XL

Why they're clearing it now

They priced the Kwani at $179.95 when it launched, and it sold at that price all season. But for America's 250th, the Clarke family wanted to give something back to the women who have kept their doors open since 1986 — so every dress is going out at a fraction of that.

I ordered the green. It arrived a few days later in a kraft-paper parcel with a short handwritten note from the family. I have reached for it more than anything else in my closet since.

I do not usually write things like this. But I spent too many summers in dresses that clung, or had nowhere to put my keys — and this easy cotton one quietly fixed all of it. If that sounds like you, I hope you find your colour before it clears.

— Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, SC

See the Kwani — $69.95 →

This is a personal account from a Clarke Family customer. Sandra was not paid to write it. · The Clarke Family · Family Fashion · South Carolina, since 1986 · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.