An Introduction to 8 Common T-shirt Fabrics
- 100% Cotton
- Description: This fabric is made entirely from natural cotton fibers. It is soft, breathable, and comfortable to wear. However, it can shrink after washing and may not retain its shape as well as blended fabrics.
- Usage: Ideal for casual everyday wear or as a base layer.
- Combed Cotton
- Description: Combed cotton goes through an additional process that removes short fibers and impurities, resulting in a softer, smoother, and more durable fabric compared to regular cotton.
- Usage: Great for premium T-shirts that need to maintain their appearance over time.
- Cotton + Spandex
- Description: This blend combines the comfort and breathability of cotton with the stretch and recovery properties of spandex. The addition of spandex allows the fabric to stretch without losing its shape.
- Usage: Perfect for activewear and T-shirts that require a bit of flexibility and movement.
- Cotton + Polyester
- Description: Blending cotton with polyester creates a fabric that retains the softness of cotton while adding durability and wrinkle resistance from the polyester. It also dries faster than 100% cotton.
- Usage: Common in sportswear and everyday T-shirts that need to withstand frequent washing.
- Cotton + Linen
- Description: This blend combines the lightweight and breathable qualities of linen with the softness and comfort of cotton. The result is a fabric that is cool to the touch and ideal for warm weather.
- Usage: Suitable for summer wear or casual shirts that benefit from the texture of linen.
- Cotton + Tencel
- Description: Tencel, also known as Lyocell, is a type of rayon made from wood pulp. When blended with cotton, it adds extra softness and moisture-wicking properties. The fabric feels smooth and has a slight sheen.
- Usage: Good for high-end T-shirts that need to be both comfortable and stylish.
- Cotton + Silk
- Description: Blending cotton with silk creates a luxurious and soft fabric. Silk adds a subtle luster and a silky feel, making the T-shirt feel special and elegant.
- Usage: Best suited for dressier occasions or for those who appreciate a touch of luxury in their everyday wear.
- Double Mercerized Cotton
- Description: Double mercerization is a process where the cotton yarns are treated twice with a caustic soda solution. This results in a fabric that is extremely smooth, lustrous, and has improved color retention compared to standard cotton.
- Usage: Ideal for high-quality, premium T-shirts that have a distinct, glossy finish and a luxurious feel.
Common T-shirt fabrics also include Modal and Spandex. Modal fabric is particularly soft and smooth, cloth colour glossy and bright, soft and comfortable to wear, but it is a chemical fibre processing fabric, a few body allergies may not be suitable, and very easy to deformation. Spandex fabrics are highly elastic, non-static, comfortable feel, with its production of T-shirt crease easy to recover, especially body, but in the sun easy to fade.
When choosing T-shirt fabrics, you need to consider your personal needs and preferences, such as requirements for comfort, breathability, elasticity, appearance, price and ease of care. Different fabrics have their own characteristics and advantages, and suitable choices can be made according to specific circumstances. At the same time, understanding the characteristics of fabrics also helps to wash and maintain them correctly, prolonging the service life of T-shirts.
