How To Choose The Right T-Shirt Fabric

Printaura offers many t-shirt brands that feature different fabric options. The variety of fabric is great if you know what you are looking for. However, it can be a little confusing and intimidating if you aren’t sure what the difference is.

We know most people aren't fabric experts, so we put together this handy little fabrics cheat sheet. Hopefully the information below will help you decide which fabric options work best for your t-shirts.

How To Choose The Right T-Shirt Fabric

There are a few things you will want to consider before choosing the fabric for your t-shirts. You should be thinking about what the material is, how it feels, and how the fabric is designed to be used.

Cotton

Description: this fabric is made from the cotton plant. It is one of the most commonly desired fabrics because of its pleasant feel against the skin. Feel: Soft and lightweight Best Uses: Everyday use

Cotton Terminology

Here are some terms you might see used to describe cotton fabrics.

Ring Spun Cotton: This term refers to how the cotton yarn is made. Ring spun cotton is made using a twisting technique. The twisting results in a stronger and softer fabric. Jersey: This term refers to the knit type of the garment. Jersey is light weight and single knit. Jersey can be used to describe other fabrics as well.

Check out Bella / Canvas' Baseball Jersey Tee - made from ring spun cotton with a jersey knit.

Polyester

Description: this fabric is a manufactured material that is strong, quick drying, and wrinkle resistant. It holds its shape very well and holds up well after washing. Modern polyester is a very useful and comfortable fabric. Feel: Polyester can have a slightly synthetic feel to some people. Best Uses: Sports, fitness, outdoor recreation

Check out Augusta's Performance Tee - made from 100% polyester.

Poly-Cotton

Description: This fabric is a blend of polyester and cotton. This material provides the light and cool feel you expect from cotton with the wrinkle resistance and strength you expect from polyester. Feel: Softer than polyester and holds shape better than cotton. Best Uses: Everyday use

Check out American Apparel's Ladies Poly-Cotton T-Shirt - made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester.

Sustainable Fabric

Description: This fabric is partially made of recycled material. How cool is that? The sustainable fabric we offer is composed of 50% preshrunk ring spun organic cotton and 50% post consumer P.E.T. recycled polyester. Feel: Similar to the poly-cotton blend. It is softer than polyester but more sturdy than cotton. Best Uses: Everyday use, Eco-friendly consumers

Check out Anvil's Sustainable Tee - made of 50% ring spun cotton and 50% recycled polyester.

Rayon

Description: This fabric was made to be a cost effective alternative to silk. Rayon is made from natural fibers like trees, cotton, and other plants. Feel: Silky and breathable Best Uses: Everyday use, fitness

Tri-blend

Description: This fabric is a blend of three fabrics - usually cotton, polyester, and rayon. Feel: Medium softness Best Uses: Everyday use, fitness (depending on the blend)

Check out Next Level's Tri-blend 3/4 Raglan - made of 50% polyester, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon.

We hope this guide was useful for you fabric selection. We are always here if you have questions about the fabrics we offer!