How to Identify Quality Fabrics When Buying T-Shirts

The quality of fabric affects its durability, comfort, and lifespan. Poor quality fabrics wear and tear easily. They increase the future expense of buying new T-shirts. There are multiple parameters to check the quality of fabrics. It includes the type of fabric, GSM, woven technique, and craftsmanship. Learn about these factors before going shopping. Choose the one that meets the body type, height, and style. Read the brand chart sizes carefully to avoid buying the small T-shirts. Quality fabric needs attention to detail, including seams, softness, and texture.

What are the Common Fabrics Used in T-Shirts

Here are the ten common fabrics used in T-shirts:

1. Cotton: Cotton fabric is made up of the soft material inside the round pods of the cotton plant. It is a soft and breathable fabric. Many people prefer it due to its hypoallergenic nature. Check the quality of cotton from the texture and fiber strands. Three high-quality types of cotton fabric include combed cotton, ring-spun cotton, Pima cotton (extra-long fibers), and organic cotton.
2. Polyester: Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is used to prepare sportswear. It is famous due to its moisture-wicking and shrink-resistant nature. Look for the highly engineered fabric for better quality. Poor quality polyester is not breathable and increases sweating in summer.
3. Cotton-Poly Blends: Cotton-poly fabric contains a mix of cotton and polyester fibers. A half ratio of cotton and half polyester works best. Avoid fabrics with high polyester and less cotton, as they reduce breathability.
4. Spandex/Elastane: Spandex is a stretchable fabric that bounces back to its original position after being stretched. Elastane blends with other fabrics to improve the quality and fit. 
5. Linen: Linen is a soft and breathable fabric for summer. It keeps the body cool for a long time. High-quality linen feels smooth to the touch. It is prone to wrinkles after air drying. Dry these linen t-shirts on a flat surface to minimize the risk of wrinkles.
6. Bamboo or Modal: Bamboo and modal are semi-synthetic fibers. They are extremely soft and breathable. Prefer the modal T-shirts over bamboo as they minimize pilling. A few types of bamboo T-shirt fabric contain harmful chemicals, so go for bamboo lyocell.
7. Tri-Blends (Cotton, Polyester, Rayon): Tri-blend fabric is a mix of cotton, polyester, and rayon. They are blended in a ratio of 50% polyester, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon. These different types of fabric increase the strength and durability of T-shirts. 
8. Rayon: Rayon is made up of wood pulp, which is then passed through chemicals and spun to form yarn. Rayon is a soft and flexible fabric. Avoid the viscose rayon as it loses strength and shrinks easily.
9. Merino Wool: Merino wool is a natural fabric and is expensive compared to other fabrics. Look for the fabric that contains 40% Merino wool. Check the logos like ZQ Merino or RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) for quality checks. 
10. Hemp: Hemp is also a natural fiber, and it becomes softer with every wash. Hemp has properties similar to linen. It is expensive than cotton with a long lifespan.

How to Judge Fabric Quality Before Buying

Here are the five tips to quickly check the fabric quality before buying T-shirts:

1. Fabric Weight (GSM): Fabric is weighed in grams per square meter. Lightweight fabric has 100–150 GSM, and it is less durable than midweight fabric. Mid-weight fabric has 150–200 GSM and it's soft with high strength. Heavyweight fabric with 200+ GSM is thick and strong to withstand the heat. Choose the one that fits the seasonal requirements.
2. Thread Count & Density: The higher the thread count, the better the quality. High-density fabrics contain tightly packed fibers. They are strong and are not prone to fraying. Choose the tightly packed and highly dense fabric T-shirts unless the loose ones are required.
3. Stretch Test: The  Stretch test is best to see the density and shrinking abilities of a fabric. Stretch the T-shirt a bit and see how it reacts. Choose the one that bounces back without losing its dimension.
4. Transparency Check: Keep a piece of T-shirt up in the air to allow the light to pass through it or keep a hand beneath the fabric to see its transparency. Highly transparent T-shirts are prone to damage than low-transparent ones.
5. Touch & Feel: Touch the fabric to feel the texture. Look for the soft fabric over the rough ones. 

What are the Fabric Finishes and Treatments to Look For?

Here are the four fabric finishes and treatments to look for when shopping for T-shirts:

1. Pre-shrunk Cotton: Look for the pre-shrunk cotton as it reduces the need for shrinking. Pre-shrunk fabric eliminates the doubt and makes it easy to choose the right fit size. 
2. Moisture-Wicking Finish: Choose the T-shirts with moisture-wicking properties. They evaporate the sweat and reduce the risk of skin allergies.
3. Anti-Pill Finish: Pillings are one of the most common issues with sweaters and wool clothes. Anti-pill finish with a claim increases the lifespan of T-shirts and maintains the quality.
4. Eco-Friendly Dyes: Eco-friendly dyes minimize the risk of allergy and skin irritation. They have longer lifespans than the synthetic ones, as they do not come off easily.

What are the Indicators of Poor-Quality Fabrics

Here are the four indicators of poor-quality fabrics:

1. Unwanted Sheerness: Unwanted sheerness means poor-quality fabric with low transparency. This fabric has low-quality components and is prone to damage after a few washes. 
2. Early Pilling: Pilling refers to the little round balls that feel rough after touching the t-shirts. Poor quality fabrics develop pilling after the first two washes, with broken fibers. 
3. Weak Stitching: Large and weak stitches remove easily when they tangle with other clothes in the machine. Avoid buying the T-shirts with poor-quality stitches.
4. Stiff/Synthetic Feel: Choose the fabric with a soft and natural touch. Avoid the one that seems rough to the touch and produces wrinkles easily.

What are the Tips for Online Fabric Quality Assessment

Here are the four tips for online fabric quality assessment:

1. Check Fabric Composition: Check the composition of the fabric after inquiring with the seller. Look if it contains Tri-blends or Cotton-poly blend. 
2. Look for GSM & Type: Look at the grams per square meter of the T-shirt to check the quality. Do all the transparency and touch tests before buying.
3. Read Customer Reviews: Read the customer reviews when buying online. Look at the picture they have uploaded with the review to see what it looks like in real life. 
4. Check Brand Reputation: Check how long the brand has been around, selling these specific T-shirts. What their online presence says. Reliable brands care about their customer and reputations. They don’t compromise on quality and provide the best the customer asks for.