T-shirt properties
Many aspects affect a fabric’s durability, look, and feel. Understanding them will help you select a t-shirt that looks good, feels comfortable, and lasts long. Let’s take a look at what makes a high-quality t-shirt.
Fabric blends
When it comes to fabric blends, the key is in the name—blends are created by combining different types of fibers. Fabric blends are popular in clothing because they combine the best characteristics of two or more fibers.
Synthetic fibers are known for their strength, wrinkle resistance, and low shrinkage. In contrast, natural fibers have excellent absorbency and feel soft on the skin.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that poly-cotton is one of the most common fabric blends. Polyester fibers ensure durability and good color fastness (resistance to fading or running), while cotton fibers provide breathability and comfort.
Fabric composition
Most of our top 8 tees are 100% cotton, yet they’re not all the same. There’s the plain Jane, aka cotton, followed by its prettier cousin—ring-spun cotton, and, finally, we have the queen of the ball—combed cotton.
The processes for creating these types of cotton differ. So, let’s go over the specifics.
Regular cotton
Regular cotton is made of fibers found in the seeds of the cotton plant. They’re twisted together to make yarn and then woven to create the material. The regular cotton t-shirt is the industry standard. It’s less expensive to make, therefore, cheaper and easier to sell.
Ring-spun cotton
The yarn for ring-spun cotton is made by twisting and thinning the cotton strands to make a very fine, strong, and soft cotton fiber rope. They’ve been through a spinning process that softens and straightens each fiber.
Ring-spun cotton t-shirts are more durable than their regular cotton counterparts but are slightly more expensive.
Combed cotton
As the name suggests, combed cotton is combed to rid the batch of shorter fibers and impurities and produce softer, more robust yarns. Combed cotton is considered higher quality and softer than regular, uncombed cotton.
Ring-spun combed cotton
Ring-spun combed cotton is even more refined. After the cotton fibers are spun, they’re combed to remove any impurities or imperfect strands. This way, the knit is soft and highly durable. Plus, it creates a smooth fabric surface.
Fabric weight
Fabric weight depends on fiber type, weaving method, and finishing techniques. Understanding fabric weight helps you choose the right tee for the occasion, whether it’s layering for winter or hiking on a hot summer day.
Fabric weight is measured in ounces per square yard (and grams per square meter in the metric system). It shows the weight of one square yard of fabric. The higher the oz./yd.² (g/m²) number, the denser and heavier the fabric.
There used to be a close connection between weight and quality—heavier fabrics were better, and lighter fabrics were worse. These days, that’s not always the case. A lightweight shirt can be just as good quality as a heavier one.
So what’s the difference? Well, just like furry boots are made for winter and flip-flops for summer, a heavier t-shirt is warmer than a lightweight one. Your task is to understand your audience’s needs and communicate the benefits in your product descriptions.
Fabric transparency
Fabric weight and color affect fabric transparency. The lighter the fabric, the more transparent it will be.
These aren’t the only factors, though. The fabric weave and yarn type also affect the fabric thickness and transparency.
Check the product description for specifics to better understand the transparency level you can expect.
Fulfillment methods
To ensure your t-shirt design ideas turn out the way you want, you’ll have to find the right fulfillment method for your custom t-shirt. Each technique is different, so let’s go over your options.
Direct-to-garment printing (DTG)
DTG printing is excellent for complex, multicolor designs, such as photos. The print soaks into the clothing fibers instead of sitting atop the fabric. This provides a smooth surface and makes the garment comfortable to wear. The DTG printing method works best on cotton. The higher the cotton percentage, the more vivid the print.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a decoration technique where your design is stitched onto the fabric using a needle and thread. It’s textured, durable, and gives your tees a premium look. Embroidery works well with text, logos, and simple designs. As it can be thick, it looks best on heavyweight tees.
All-over print sublimation
If you want to create patterns or designs covering the entire shirt, the all-over print technique is the right choice.
All-over print sublimation is available for polyester t-shirts. It’s crucial for the ink to bond with the polymers in the fabric, resulting in rich, long-lasting, and high-quality prints.
First, your artwork is printed on a special sublimation printing paper. Then, it’s transferred to fabric by using a heat press machine. Finally, our in-house sewists cut and sew the fabric into a t-shirt.
Branding options
Once you’ve chosen the perfect tee and fulfillment method, it’s time for custom branding.
Give your t-shirt a professional look by adding inside and outside labels. Some t-shirts also have the option to customize sleeves. Custom branding is a way to strengthen customer loyalty and remind them of your clothing brand every time they wear the tee.
If you’re unsure where to place your logo on the t-shirt, check out our t-shirt logo placement guide.
Learn more about different branding options to create an exceptional customer unboxing experience.
What’s the best t-shirt for printing?
So, which t-shirt wins the “best t-shirt” title? Well, one size doesn’t fit all. Think about the shirt’s purpose, the type of design you want to create, and, most importantly, your customers.
The goal is to create premium t-shirts your customers will not only love but will also be willing to pay for, therefore bringing in profit for you.
Consider the fabric material, weight, transparency, fulfillment method, and price when picking out the right t-shirt for you.
If you’re still unsure, order samples to test your designs and the t-shirt quality.
