How to Choose the Right Fabric for a Custom T-Shirt
Are you planning to have custom printed shirts created? That’s great, but here’s the thing—there can be thousands to choose from. You have an abundance of options if you’re considering brands, styles, fabric types, and blends.
In this article, let’s focus on one very important component of a t-shirt—the fabric. Here are the essentials to note before deciding on a custom t-shirt fabric.
The Most Popular Types of Fabrics for T-Shirts
While there are almost too many fabrics for t-shirts to choose from, some are more popular than others. Here are the top fabric choices for t-shirts.
1. Cotton
Cotton is a popular fabric known for its softness, versatility, and comfort. It’s a natural fiber grown from a variety of cotton plants.
Most types of tees are made from these fibers. It can be woven tightly or loosely.
2. Polyester
Polyester is a manufactured fiber known for its wrinkle resistance and durability. The original material for t-shirts was cotton, but it was easier to create a wrinkle-free shirt with synthetic fabrics.
These fabrics are also very lightweight, making them perfect for warm weather.
3. Cotton/Poly Blends
A blend is when two or more fibers are used together in the same fabric. For example, cotton/poly blends were created for a specific purpose. As a blend, it has the softness of cotton and the durable feeling of polyester.
The blend also allows for more breathability and flexibility.
The Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fabric
Now that we’re up to speed with the most popular fabrics, let’s talk about the factors you need to consider in choosing the suitable material for customized t-shirts.
1. Print Method
The first factor is the print method. There are four types of print methods, and you’ll need to choose which one is best for your brand.
Printed – With the print method, ink is applied directly to the fabric when it’s being created, making the prints permanent.
Sublimation – With sublimation, designs are printed onto sublimation paper, which is then transferred onto the fabric.
Screen Printing – This method is also done with ink, but it’s sprayed onto screens. The screens are then pressed against the fabric to achieve the desired designs.
Embroidery – There are two types of embroidery, depending on the design. For example, digitized embroidery is when you provide an image for a pattern, which is then sewn onto the shirt.
2. Budget
You’ll also want to consider the budget when choosing a fabric. In general, the higher the quality of the fabric, the higher the price.
3. Purpose
The final factor to keep in mind is purpose. Will you only wear the shirt for an event? Some fabrics are made to last longer than others, so you’ll want to choose a fabric that can be worn more than once.
4. Wearer
Who’s going to be wearing the shirt? Are you creating a shirt for your company? If so, you may want to consider what kind of fabric your clients want to wear.
Final Thoughts
T-shirts are a staple in the fashion industry, but almost all use one of the four types of fabrics that we discussed in this article. If you want to create a custom t-shirt for your brand, you’ll want to take your time and consider these factors so you can choose the best fabric.
For t-shirt printing and fulfillment services, check out Certified Print Co. We offer online t-shirt printing services so that you can make your brand, event, occasion—whatever it is—stand out. Explore our design lab today to get started.