POPULAR MATERIALS FOR YOUR PERFECT T-SHIRT
T-shirts have always been a crucial part of everyone's wardrobe.It fits almost every occasion.But do you know that choosing the right material for your T-shirt is as important as choosing the size and design? With this three major factors should give you a perfect T-shirt.
Back in the past, most T-shirts were crafted from cotton, which is understandable as it provides comfort and softness.However, life becomes more and more modern, so people need more than just a cotton T-shirt.
Continue reading for more information about accessible materials for a T-shirt.
Top 6 Excellent Materials for Your T-Shirt
COTTON
perfect T-shirt
Cotton is the most common material used in making T-shirts, from the very beginning until now.Specifically, people use cotton fabric dated back to prehistoric time, and cotton fabric fragments dated back to the fifth millennium BC, according to Wikipedia.
Have you ever wondered why is cotton that widely used form regular outfits to a perfect T-shirt, and how can it survive in the T-shirt world that continually changes? The reason is simple that cotton offers plenty of advantages.It is both affordable , sturdy, and soft.
Another question is, is there just one type of cotton to make a T-shirt? The answer is no.The market have various kinds of cotton, including combed cotton, organic cotton, Pima / Supima cotton, and slub cotton.We will demonstrate the characteristics of each one and how they differentiate from one another in part below.
Combed cotton
The combed cotton fiber is treated most carefully before it is spun into yarn.The manufacturers use fine brushes to wipe out any dirt, seeds, or other impurities and remove the short strands.Up to the present, the fibers have been strong.
That's why combed cotton is known for its extreme softness, smoothness, and durability.Combed cotton is a perfect choice of material for a T-shirt for those who want a gentle-to-the-skin one.
Because of being manufactured, combed cotton is slightly more expensive than the standard type of cotton used to make T-shirts.
Organic cotton
Growing organic cotton means not using toxic pesticides or fertilizers, which causes no harm to the environment.It also maintains soil fertility, thus preserving spreserve agricultural diversity.
When wearing T-shirts made by other materials with a touch of chemicals, people with sensitive skin can suffer from specific health problems, including a weakened immune system.On the other hand, an organic cotton T-shirt makes sure that you are not directly in touch with the harmful chemicals, thus protecting your health.
Due to its strictly growing conditions, organic cotton T-shirts are also a bit more expensive than conventional ones.But we would love to make our own perfect T-shirt from organic cotton than any others.
Slub cotton
Slub cotton is famous for its unique fabric.The cotton is twisted in the manufacturing process so that there will be random thick and thin areas within the yarn.It, therefore, creates an enjoyable visual experience.
Further, this type of cotton is very light and has an airy feel, which provides absolute comfort for users.As it is intentionally made to have lumps in the fabric, slub cotton does not require ironing.
A slub cotton T-shirt is an ideal choice for those who want a little difference in their T-shirt wardrobe.You will love its distinct texture.
Pima / Supima cotton
With super long and durable fibers, Pima fibers are longer than that of standard ones by up to 50%, which is a fantastic upgrade.Thanks to its superior length, Pima cotton is exceptionally soft and fluffy to the touch.
Supima cotton is short for superior Pima cotton.Think of Pima cotton but with a more outstanding quality of fibers, and you will get an image of Supima.Due to its strict regulation (only manufactured in the USA), Supima cotton is in the high -end segment of materials used to make T-shirts, if not the most luxurious one.
Both Pima and Supima cotton T-shirts last much longer than any other materials, so if you often throw away clothes, they are a perfect choice.
Also, unlike other materials, the color will not fade away, and your T-shirt will not experience any stretching after several washes. Best material so far!
Besides those benefits, Pima and Supima cotton, of course, have their downside. Their most significant, and maybe only, the drawback is the price. Not everyone will be satisfied when they see the price; we have to say. These materials are rare and so well-manufactured, so the sky-high price tag is understandable.
Asides from cotton, various other materials are used for making T-shirts. Wonder what are they? Keep reading! We will provide you with everything you need to know about those materials so that you can easily choose one.
LINEN
Besides cotton, linen is among the most well-known materials to make T-shirts. Made from flax plants with long fibers, linen is, therefore, longer than cotton by up to three times. As linen has natural heat, it also dries far faster than other textiles.
Linen can be used to dye almost all existing colors on it. You can always find linen T-shirts dyed with various colors to complement your styles.
Lightweight, breathable, anti-bacterial, and moisture-wicking are some words to describe linen. Linen fabric will only get better and softer after each laundry, trust us!
However, it does have some drawbacks. Linen wrinkles a lot. So if you are not into ironing often, do not go for linen T-shirts.
Note: Make sure that you wear a linen T-shirt in its dehydrated condition unless you want the wrinkles to get even worse. Also, don’t worry about the washing process; linen allows you to wash it in the washing machine with no problem. Remember to wash them in cold or warm water.
Despite those disadvantages above, Linen still qualified enough to make a perfect T-shirt.
FLANNEL
perfect T-shirt
This material is a thick and heavyweight fabric, commonly used to make shirts and T-shirts for the cool months of the year. Initially, people use carded wool to make flannel. Now, it can be made from cotton or a blend of cotton and wool.
Flannel fabric is super soft if fine brushes brush it. Thus, people wearing this kind of material will experience a comfortable yet so cozy feeling.
There are mainly five types of flannel, which are Ceylon flannel (a mix of wool and cotton fibres), cotton flannel (flannel made by cotton fabric), diaper flannel (stout cotton fabric), baby flannel (used to make childrenswear), and vegetable flannel (scots pine fibres used to make flannel).
Flannel material will be your number one choice if you want a warm T-shirt for your upcoming winter. Don’t forget to wash it carefully before wearing to avoid the itchy feeling that may bother you. A wonderful choice for the perfect T-shirt.
RAYON
perfect T-shirt
Rayon is a material initially extracted from wood or agricultural product and then made from cellulose fiber. Although it comes from the natural environment, some specific chemicals have required in the manufacturing process, so rayon is a not entirely synthetic fabric.
The most popular must talk to the viscose rayon that is somehow similar to cotton. The other two types are modal rayon (made from beech trees) and lyocell rayon.
As mentioning rayon, we think of its similarity to silk, linen, and cotton in terms of the texture and softness. Besides, this fabric is easily dyed and highly absorbent, which is excellent for hot or humid weather.
So versatile a fiber, but is rayon that perfect, or does it have any downside? Unfortunately, yes. The elasticity of rayon fabric, or in other words, its durability, is a little bit low, especially when it is all wet. Careful care and laundry are required for this material.
The standard washing machine can cause rayon to shrink and stretch. Therefore, we recommend hand washing and dry cleaning. But always make sure to take a look at the instruction that comes along with your rayon T-shirt.
LYCRA
perfect T-shirt
Lycra, or more known as Spandex, is a synthetic fabric. Famous for its extraordinary elasticity, lycra can stretch to 5 times its size. More impressively, after you stretched it out, lycra can instantly return to its original length. It also dries more quickly than other textiles.
Lycra is often added to T-shirts along with other fabrics such as cotton or polyester to enhance the T-shirt’s overall elasticity. This material is heat-resistant, so it is most suitable for athletes competing in those sports requiring energy.
The manufacturing process of Lycra is confirmed to be environmentally-friendly. However, when it comes to consumers using lycra T-shirts or any clothes made from lycra, things turn bad.
Lycra is non-biodegradable, so with every washing, thousands of little fibres (known as microfibres) go into the water. This may contaminate the water supply in particular and the environment in general. Sadly, our next generation will be the ones who suffer from this.
One more disadvantage of lycra fabric besides the detrimental impact on the environment is that lycra cannot be recycled. If you decide to get rid of your lycra T-shirt, it may end up being a useless waste. Not so ideal material for a perfect T-shirt as we see.
POLYESTER
perfect T-shirt
The use of polyester as material for a T-shirt has been widespread since the 70s. Polyester’s extreme strength and durability are the two main reasons for its popularity. Most remarkably, polyester is chemical-resistant, and it does not stretch, shrink or wrinkle at all. This fabric also dries quickly and will not mold.
Another excellent characteristic is that polyester does not have any special requirements for washing or laundry. It will return to its original shape after washing, if you are tired of doing laudry then this is the excellent choice for you.
Note: Your polyester T-shirt can be washed in the washing machine with a fabric softener. Drying is another right choice. We recommend to cool-dry polyester, and if you want to iron, do it in A high-average temperature.
Polyester clothing, although silky and soft, is somehow also heat-sensitive and non-breathable. Most people would love to wear breathable fabrics. Polyester is not, unfortunately. Some find it itchy, sweaty, and uncomfortable when they are wearing this material. It is mainly because of the poor ability to absorb the water of polyester fabric.
The good news is that manufacturers are working on it. They are planning for a more breathable kind of polyester. So prepare yourself to experience a rise in price when the upgraded version of the perfect polyester T-shirt is introduced!
About the effect on the environment, as polyester is a human-made material, it is not wholly environmentally-friendly. Plastic bottles are recycled to make polyester, which is excellent, but like lycra, they are non-biodegradable, so the polyester fabric will contribute to environmental pollution in the end.
IN SHORT
Each material has its pros and cons. In case you cannot decide what type of material for a T-shirt, think of your purpose: what you want in terms of texture, durability, resistant ability, laundry requirements, and more.
We are sure that with all the information we provide above, you will find the one that meets all (or almost all) your demand. Don’t worry too much, and you will have the best choice.
So, have you made up your mind yet? Which material will you choose for your lovely T-shirt? Do you have any experience with those reliable materials? What do you think about this set of information? Is it useful for you? Don’t hesitate to tell us all through the comment section below. We would appreciate your contribution.
Thank you for reading this long article. See you in the next ones!
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