8 Best T-Shirt Materials & Fabric Blends

We've all been there before. Late at night, you are scrolling through the internet looking for the perfect shirt to buy online. You finally find one that you love and click "buy," but then it dawns on you: what are the different types of T-shirts? What do they mean? How does this affect me? The world is full of so many choices! Don't panic, though; I'm here to help!

How to Choose the Best T-Shirt Material & Fabric Blend

What are t-shirts made of? T-shirts are an essential staple in every person's wardrobe. They can be worn just about everywhere, from the gym to a night out on the town. T-shirts are available in all sorts of fits, colors, and materials. No matter what your t-shirt needs are, here's a list of the eight best t-shirt materials and fabrics.

1. 100% Cotton

Cotton t-shirts are the most popular t-shirt materials available on the market today. They're soft, comfortable, and affordable t-shirts that absorb sweat and moisture well. Cotton is a popular t-shirt material type among consumers for its absorbent, and comfortable against the skin. This makes them perfect t-shirts for wearing in warm weather conditions.

However, cotton wrinkles easily and isn't highly durable. Cotton t-shirts can also shrink if they are dried on high heat. This t-shirt material is less durable than t-shirts made from t-shirt material blends. Some people ask; is cotton stretchy? The answer is no. The elasticity of cotton is relatively low.

2. Polyester T Shirts

Polyester t-shirts are resistant to wrinkles, shrinking, abrasion, and chemicals. It has excellent color retention properties, making it highly versatile for t-shirts worn in many different settings.

Wondered what polyester feels like? Polyester t-shirts are the most durable t-shirt materials available on the market today. Wrinkle resistance and color retention make them a wise choice for t-shirts that will be worn often, as they will maintain their look for a long time to come.

The only downside to polyester t-shirts is that they do not absorb sweat or moisture well, making them less breathable than cotton shirt fabric. Also, it's expensive compared to other t-shirt materials.

3. Cotton Polyester Blend Fabric

Cotton Polyester Blend Fabric — also known as Poly Cotton, Polycotton or poly-cotton — is a blend of natural cotton and (synthetic) polyester. Blends Polyester cotton shirts are one of the most popular t-shirt materials on the market. They offer almost all of cotton's natural benefits, with polyester's durability and wrinkle resistance. This type of fabric is also more customisable and dries faster than 100% cotton, though 100% cotton will always be more breathable than polycotton could.

 

4. Cotton Elastane Blend Fabric

Cotton Elastane Blend or Cotton stretch – means the type of fabric where cotton and elastane are combined. Cotton and Elastane (or Lycra) Elastane fibres are man-made, and never used alone, they are blended in with other materials (such as polyester and cotton) to create fabric.

Cotton Elastane Blend T-shirts are thinner than cotton t-shirt material blends.Due to its lightweight property, when it is blended with lightweight breathable materials, it makes perfect fabrics for outdoor activities. This type of fabric blends, therefore, is more comfortable during athletic activities and sport plays. Ideal material composition should be roughly 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane blend.

5. Organic Cotton

Organic Cotton t-shirts are made from cotton from a farm that doesn't use pesticides or herbicides. As a result, it's a natural t-shirt material that has the best environmental impact of all t-shirts available on the market today. It is also soft and breathable, making it ideal for t-shirts worn in warm weather. However, organic cotton t-shirts are expensive to produce, and like regular 100% cotton, it can easily shrink if dried on high heat.

6. Silk T-shirts

Silk t-shirts are comfortable against the skin but do not absorb sweat or moisture. This t-shirt material is best for t-shirts that will be worn indoors in warm weather. Silk t-shirts are also a popular choice for tuxedo t-shirts or t-shirts worn with formal attire.

This t-shirt material is the most luxurious fabric available on the market today. It's incredibly soft and comfortable to wear. However, t-shirts made from silk t-shirt material are expensive and can stretch out quickly.

7. Hemp T-shirts

Hemp t-shirts are popular t-shirt materials for organic, sustainable living. They can be worn in warm or cool weather because they are highly breathable t-shirts that dry quickly, unlike cotton t-shirts. However, hemp t-shirts are not as durable as t-shirts made from cotton t-shirt material blends, which means they're less likely to last a long time.

8. Recycled T-shirts

Recycled t-shirts are made from t-shirts that have been thrown away and recycled by clothing manufacturers. This t-shirt material is the most sustainable t-shirt option available on the market today. However, recycled t-shirts tend to fade and change color over time, which makes them an unwise choice for t-shirts that need to be crisp and clean in appearance.

What to Look Out For When Buying T-Shirt Material

When shopping for t-shirts, it's essential to know the differences between cotton t-shirt materials and t-shirt material blends. The t-shirt material blend you select depends on how you will wear the t-shirt and what t-shirt features you need it to have.

 

Comfortability

Most people have a preference for what type of t-shirt material they like. Some prefer a polyester blend, while others would rather wear cotton or other natural fibers because it feels better and more comfortable.

Affordability

For example, t-shirts made from t-shirt material blends such as cotton t-shirt materials, polyester t-shirt materials, and rayon t-shirt materials are more affordable than t-shirts made from silk t-shirt material or other luxury t-shirt materials.

The best t-shirts should be affordable and available in a range of shapes, sizes, and types that fit your needs or preferences. Whether you are looking for crew neck t-shirts or tight tunic t-shirts that take the tightest to squeeze on, there is a t-shirt made for you. People of all ages and sizes usually wear t-shirts.

Durability

Also, t-shirts made from t-shirt material blends such as cotton t-shirt materials, organic cotton t-shirt materials, and recycled t-shirt materials are more sustainable than t-shirts made from polyester t-shirt material or other highly processed t-shirt materials.

The best t-shirts should be comfortable to wear for long periods, breathable to keep you cool in temperatures that can rise to 90°F (32°C), and tough to resist terms like towel drying them or wearing them to bed.

Final Picks

• The safest bet when choosing nice t-shirts is to go with cotton or cotton blended shirts because these materials are comfortable and durable. The downside is that they don't feel as soft against your skin as other t-shirt fabric like silk or rayon might. This can make them less desirable in warm weather climates where people want light clothes.
• If you want the best quality t-shirts that will last longer, then choose 100% cotton as your go-to option.
• For those who desire comfort over durability, feel free to buy any variety of blended fabrics such as 50/50 or 65/35 blends. These are great choices if you intend on wearing the shirt only once before rewashing it because these varieties won't shrink after each wash cycle as 100% cotton shirts do!

So, now that you know how to choose the best t-shirt material and fabric blend for your business or company's needs, what are you waiting for? If you need help picking out a new shirt order, make sure to reach out and try designing your own shirt here.