Top types of t-shirt fabrics
Cotton is a natural fabric. It comes in several main varieties that vary in softness, comfort, durability, and sustainability. Cotton has the advantage over other t-shirt fabrics in softness, comfort, environmental friendliness, cost, and t-shirt printing options.
Cotton's main weaknesses stem from its tendency to hold moisture. Cotton can take a long time to dry. It tends to wrinkle and shrink and fades in color over time.
Types of cotton
Cotton t-shirts can be made from several types of cotton, including:
Ringspun cotton
Combed and ringspun cotton
Organic cotton
Slub cotton
Pima cotton
Pique cotton
Ringspun cotton: Ringspun cotton goes through a spinning process that straightens, thins, and softens each fiber. This makes it softer, more durable than regular cotton, and more expensive.
Combed and ringspun cotton: Combed and ringspun cotton adds a combing process to ringspun cotton. This removes impurities and makes the material even softer and less likely to fray or unravel. It also creates a smoother surface for printing designs. The additional processing increases the cost, making it more expensive than ringspun cotton.
Organic cotton: Organic cotton uses sustainable production methods, avoiding toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It offers an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton that can be even softer and just as durable. It costs more than standard cotton.
Slub cotton: Slub cotton is produced with knots and twists, giving the fabric an uneven look and feel. This creates an appealing appearance and texture while making t-shirts more breathable and reducing cling. Slub cotton costs slightly more than regular cotton.
Pima cotton: Pima cotton has a longer fiber than other types of cotton. This gives it an ultra-smooth, ultra-soft feel, along with resistance to wrinkling and fading and longer durability. Pima cotton is considered one of the highest quality kinds of cotton, making it more expensive.
Pique cotton: Pique cotton uses a weaving style that gives fabric raised designs in parallel cords or geometric shapes. This creates a textured look and feels along with durability. Pique cotton often serves as fabric for polo t-shirts. It can be woven from Pima cotton. It costs more than some other types of cotton.
Pros
Cotton offers several advantages that help make it one of today's most popular t-shirt fabrics:
Cotton t-shirts feel soft to the touch.
T-shirts made of cotton are comfortable to wear.
Cotton feels gentle against the skin.
Cotton t-shirts breathe and don't cling.
A cotton t-shirt is heavier than a polyester t-shirt, a pro for users who want a heavy shirt.
T-shirts made from cotton are durable.
Cotton is biodegradable, and organic cotton is especially eco-friendly.
Cons
Cotton t-shirts hold moisture, making them slow to dry.
T-shirts made of cotton can be more prone to wrinkle and shrink, although preshrinking can reduce this risk.
Colors on cotton t-shirts tend to fade over time.
Cotton t-shirts are easier to stain and damage.
For wearers who want a lighter shirt, the weight of cotton can be a con.
