There are many ways to differentiate one t-shirt from another. Two seemingly identical tees can be very different type of t-shirts when you look into details from construction all the way down to the thread level. We learn from our 28 years old vendor that how a t-shirt is made has everything to do with the feel, fit, durability and printability. We list down the different elements of a t-shirt you’ll want to pay attention to so you can ensure your money is well spending.
Carded Open End vs. Ringspun
Ring spun cotton is smoother and longer than open end yarn. The term “ring spun” means that the yarn goes through an innovative spinning process that’s designed to thoroughly soften and straighten each fiber. The result? Softer, more refined fibers (aka pieces you want to wear). Want something even softer? Combed and ring-spun cotton, the kind that our vendor uses on all their t-shirts means that cotton fibers are spun then combed through to remove impurities while ensuring it stays soft to the touch. Fewer impurities mean a smoother surface to print on.
Carded open-end is a cheaper way of turning cotton into yarn. In this method, fibers are bound by a wrapped fiber that runs perpendicular to the bundle, whereas In ring-spun cotton, all of the fibers are aligned in the same direction. Up close you can see that carded open end fiber is bulky, fuzzy and creates an uneven knit.
The industry standard used to be a carded open-end t-shirt, but our vendor do things differently. They promised never to sacrifice quality for price and only use cotton that is 100% combed and ring-spun. As people become more educated in in fabric and feel the difference in quality they see customers moving out of that carded open end t-shirt and into our vendor's t-shirts. These are the biggest reason why we chose to work with them.
Side-Seamed vs. Tubular
Side Seams create the tailored structure a t-shirt needs to fit correctly. Although pricier to make, these are the only type of t-shirt you’ll find in a retail store. They also happen to be the only type of t-shirt you’ll find from our vendor.
Tubular Tees are cheaper to manufacture because they require less sewing. They are made by cutting “tubes” of fabric, so they’re exactly the same in the front and the back, aside from the neck drop. Because of this, and the fact that our bodies are not tubes, these types of t-shirts tend not to fit right.
Singles and Weight
Single is a term that refers to the diameter of a yarn, determined by number of times you twist the fiber. The higher the single, the finer the yarn and the softer resulting garment. Think of it like you do sheets—a higher thread count means softer the sheets! Most cheap shirts are made from 18 or 20 singles. All of our t-shirts are 30 singles or higher!
Weight, as you can probably guess, is the weight of per square yard or meter. Lighter fabrics tend to be made from combed and ring-spun cotton and are typically much softer than the heavy weight, open-end alternatives.
Now you can navigate the market like a pro! What’s the number one factor you look for in a tee?
