What makes the best Summer T-shirts: A Guide to Fabric Blends
aungcrown
Aung Crown
2021-06-16 12:36:13
Summer’s here, it’s time for the classic T-shirt to reappear after many months in second place to sweatshirts and shirts. But, while the T-shirt is the obvious garment to select from the wardrobe on sunny days, not all Tees are equally suited to summer comfort. Put on a heavyweight tee in a non-breathable fabric and you’re going to suffer!
First, here’s an overview of wahat you should look for when choosing the best summer fabric for a T-shirt:
Natural: biodegradable and non-irritating on the skin (hypoallergenic)
Lightweight: easy and graceful to move around in
Breathable: circulating air to keep the body cool
Soft: comfortable to wear in the heat, and gentle on the skin
Absorbent: taking sweat and moisture away
Odourless: the best summer fabrics don’t encourage smells and sweatiness!
It’s already hard enough choosing a t-shirt design, and now that you’ve finally landed on one, you still have to decide on a fabric. Instead of just picking the cheapest option, which may also be the roughest option, we’ll get you up to speed on everything you need to know about choosing the right fabric for your custom t-shirt.
Let’s get straight to it. We’re going to break down the options and tell you everything you need to know before you make a decision on your t-shirt fabric.
100% cotton
Cotton t-shirts have a lot going for them. They’re usually the most economic option and on top of that they show colors off really, really well. Your colors aren’t going to pop on any other fabric the way they will on an 100% cotton t-shirt.
Cotton t-shirts, however, are the least soft of the options, but still there’s no need for your 100% cotton shirt to be uncomfortable. At Real Thread, we don’t sell shirts that we don’t think you’ll like. But that being said, there’s always going to be a difference in comfort between 100% cotton and a tri-blend t-shirt.
First, here’s an overview of wahat you should look for when choosing the best summer fabric for a T-shirt:
Natural: biodegradable and non-irritating on the skin (hypoallergenic)
Lightweight: easy and graceful to move around in
Breathable: circulating air to keep the body cool
Soft: comfortable to wear in the heat, and gentle on the skin
Absorbent: taking sweat and moisture away
Odourless: the best summer fabrics don’t encourage smells and sweatiness!
It’s already hard enough choosing a t-shirt design, and now that you’ve finally landed on one, you still have to decide on a fabric. Instead of just picking the cheapest option, which may also be the roughest option, we’ll get you up to speed on everything you need to know about choosing the right fabric for your custom t-shirt.
Let’s get straight to it. We’re going to break down the options and tell you everything you need to know before you make a decision on your t-shirt fabric.
100% cotton
Cotton t-shirts have a lot going for them. They’re usually the most economic option and on top of that they show colors off really, really well. Your colors aren’t going to pop on any other fabric the way they will on an 100% cotton t-shirt.
Cotton t-shirts, however, are the least soft of the options, but still there’s no need for your 100% cotton shirt to be uncomfortable. At Real Thread, we don’t sell shirts that we don’t think you’ll like. But that being said, there’s always going to be a difference in comfort between 100% cotton and a tri-blend t-shirt.
Also, not all cotton shirts are the same. There really is a noticeable difference between one t-shirt company and the next. This shirt from Next Level has it all (just read the reviews), and if you’re looking for an economic option, it’s hard to compete with.
A water-based print on 100% cotton
100% cotton t-shirts have been around for as long as there have been t-shirts, so I’m guessing that you know how it feels already. You probably already own a few, so let’s move on to polyester-cotton blends.
Polyester and cotton blends
Coming in just a little softer than 100% cotton t-shirts are poly cotton blends. Polyester is produced through a chemical process, so you won’t find much polyester growing outside — at least not the type that will be woven into your t-shirt. Polyester is often more heat-resistant, water-resistant, and wrinkle- and tear-resistant than 100% cotton t-shirts. They also give the t-shirt a little more stretch, which feels pretty nice.
A water-based on a cotton/polyester blend
Polyesters are used in a wide range of everyday items like bottles, film, and tarpaulin. They’re also a major component of many wood finishes, especially for those found on guitars, pianos, and boats. Though plastic doesn’t sound like the most comfortable material, it’s a highly versatile material that’s used in a bunch of places you may not have thought to look.
If you haven’t tried on a t-shirt with polyester (it’s surprising how many t-shirts have some polyester in them), then it might be time to see how durable and comfortable they are. If you’re looking for a recommendation, American Apparel offers one of our most popular sellers for cotton-polyester blends, as does Next Level with the 6210. They are going to cost slightly more than a cotton t-shirt, but if softness is what you’re going for, then it will be worth it.
Tri-blend fabric
Hence the name, tri-blends are a blend of three materials: cotton, polyester, and rayon. Rayon is the real magic here. It’s a manufactured material, but it’s not considered synthetic because it’s made with an organic material, wood pulp. Through different manufacturing techniques, rayon can feel like silk, wool, linen, or cotton. It’s pretty amazing that you can do so much with some wood!
A water-based print on a tri-blend
If you don’t currently have a tri-blend t-shirt, we’d highly recommend you discover how comfortable one of these shirts can be. This Next Level t-shirt really takes things to the next level. It’s hard to find a product anywhere that gets 4.9 stars. Just a heads up, tri-blends are usually the most expensive of the three options. But if you haven’t tried a tri-blend t-shirt and you want the comfiest t-shirt in the world, then it’s well worth the price.
A water-based print on 100% cotton
100% cotton t-shirts have been around for as long as there have been t-shirts, so I’m guessing that you know how it feels already. You probably already own a few, so let’s move on to polyester-cotton blends.
Polyester and cotton blends
Coming in just a little softer than 100% cotton t-shirts are poly cotton blends. Polyester is produced through a chemical process, so you won’t find much polyester growing outside — at least not the type that will be woven into your t-shirt. Polyester is often more heat-resistant, water-resistant, and wrinkle- and tear-resistant than 100% cotton t-shirts. They also give the t-shirt a little more stretch, which feels pretty nice.
A water-based on a cotton/polyester blend
Polyesters are used in a wide range of everyday items like bottles, film, and tarpaulin. They’re also a major component of many wood finishes, especially for those found on guitars, pianos, and boats. Though plastic doesn’t sound like the most comfortable material, it’s a highly versatile material that’s used in a bunch of places you may not have thought to look.
If you haven’t tried on a t-shirt with polyester (it’s surprising how many t-shirts have some polyester in them), then it might be time to see how durable and comfortable they are. If you’re looking for a recommendation, American Apparel offers one of our most popular sellers for cotton-polyester blends, as does Next Level with the 6210. They are going to cost slightly more than a cotton t-shirt, but if softness is what you’re going for, then it will be worth it.
Tri-blend fabric
Hence the name, tri-blends are a blend of three materials: cotton, polyester, and rayon. Rayon is the real magic here. It’s a manufactured material, but it’s not considered synthetic because it’s made with an organic material, wood pulp. Through different manufacturing techniques, rayon can feel like silk, wool, linen, or cotton. It’s pretty amazing that you can do so much with some wood!
A water-based print on a tri-blend
If you don’t currently have a tri-blend t-shirt, we’d highly recommend you discover how comfortable one of these shirts can be. This Next Level t-shirt really takes things to the next level. It’s hard to find a product anywhere that gets 4.9 stars. Just a heads up, tri-blends are usually the most expensive of the three options. But if you haven’t tried a tri-blend t-shirt and you want the comfiest t-shirt in the world, then it’s well worth the price.
More fabrics that suit summer
Another great choice for hotter weather is Linen. Like cotton, Linen is a natural fabric that’s made from the Linum plant. The qualities of Linen shine in the summer. The loose, flowing fit and exceptional breathability are kind on the skin. Linen also feels cool to the touch, due to the way it conducts heat away.
Because of these qualities, Linen is a summer-holiday staple. But, there are a few disadvantages too: the main ones being the easy wrinkling, tendency to stain, and lack of flexibility.
Chambray is another fabric that works well. It is lightweight, breathable and absorbent. Chambray is a good alternative to heavier denim, which it resembles, although this is also a disadvantage as the ‘chambray look’ isn’t so versatile.
For the best summer fabric for clothing and Tees, it’s hard to beat high-quality cotton as the best all-rounder. But, as we said earlier, remember that cotton is a fabric that runs a range of high and low-qualities depending on the variety of cotton used.
So, make sure you choose a garment made from high-quality cotton, that avoids synthetic blends. That way, you’ll be in superb shape for summer!
Another great choice for hotter weather is Linen. Like cotton, Linen is a natural fabric that’s made from the Linum plant. The qualities of Linen shine in the summer. The loose, flowing fit and exceptional breathability are kind on the skin. Linen also feels cool to the touch, due to the way it conducts heat away.
Because of these qualities, Linen is a summer-holiday staple. But, there are a few disadvantages too: the main ones being the easy wrinkling, tendency to stain, and lack of flexibility.
Chambray is another fabric that works well. It is lightweight, breathable and absorbent. Chambray is a good alternative to heavier denim, which it resembles, although this is also a disadvantage as the ‘chambray look’ isn’t so versatile.
For the best summer fabric for clothing and Tees, it’s hard to beat high-quality cotton as the best all-rounder. But, as we said earlier, remember that cotton is a fabric that runs a range of high and low-qualities depending on the variety of cotton used.
So, make sure you choose a garment made from high-quality cotton, that avoids synthetic blends. That way, you’ll be in superb shape for summer!