Buying a t-shirt? Read this exhaustive guide on how and what to look for the quality of t-shirts

A T-shirt is a staple clothing item for people of all genders, ages, and professions. Being one of the classic wardrobe pieces, you don’t want to end up with a t-shirt of substandard quality or one that would lose its sharpness and/or shape over time. And a high-quality t-shirt demands high-quality t-shirt printing. 

Are you also someone who often finds themselves struggling with how to get their hands on a quality piece? Do you often find yourself baffled by the levy of options to choose from and look out for? If yes, then this guide is going to be a blessing in disguise for you. Over the entire length of this extensive guide, we’ll share tips on:

1. Best materials for t-shirts and various t-shirt printing methods
2. Checklist of quality parameters to consider when buying a t-shirt

That’s it!

Yes, you just need to know these two things to invest time and money in a t-shirt.

Let’s get started with a bang!

The three most important variables that affect the quality and durability of a customized t-shirt are:

1. The fabric used
2. Specific printing and customization method applied, and
3. Lastly, which garment and production fit best to your printing needs

• Fabric being used

Natural fibers tend to age better than synthetic fibers, so businesses adopting 100% cotton for their t-shirt manufacturing will experience better quality and long-term durability. But not all kinds of cotton are created the same way. Real cotton fabric will be soft and firm, instead of being heavy and thick. 

High-standard quality has nothing to do with weight and thickness, instead, it’s determined by the softness and density. Synthetic or poly-blend fabrics are also not that bad. But over time, crappy quality synthetic or poly-blend fabrics lose their shape, sharpness, and quality.

• Printing and customization techniques used

1. Screen printing: This is rather one of the most simple and easy-to-implement printing techniques for bulk orders. A mesh screen made of nylon holds a pencil above a cloth for the dye to be absorbed by a cloth beneath.

2. Direct to Garments (DTG): DTG is similar to an office or home-based printer. But is for clothes and is best suited for complex designs, with multiple colors, which is difficult with screen printing.

3. Vinyl cutting: A special soft clothing is being cut into shapes/ designs, which is transferred to a shirt using heat gives it an edge for printing sportswear, slogans, or small graphics.

4. Embroidery: Embroidery is all about the art of working with needles and the pace of needling. A good embroidered piece won’t have any holes or “fuzzies.”

How to check for a high-quality t-shirt printing and material?

Fabric: Fabric is the most basic yet crucial component that drives the apt quality of a t-shirt, especially its weaving. Weaving determines if the fabric will last long or not.

Loose and fragile fibers have a high tendency of wearing out rather quickly than those with tight weaves. Consider the below pointers when checking the quality of the fabric of a t-shirt:

1.  Check the label

Many manufacturers either indicate the material used or put up a label to indicate threads used to make the fabric. Vouch on that to expose the quality of the fabric.

2. Touch the fabric

A high-quality printed t-shirt will feel firm and soft as opposed to a low-quality one. Whether a lighter or a darker garment, evenly distributed ink will not only look good but will also feel thicker, though not too much. And by general rule, screen printed colors always look great.

3. Hold it up and stretch

If holding it up and extending under light makes the t-shirt look more transparent, then the quality is pretty questionable.

4. Ultimate wrinkle test

A substandard quality t-shirt will produce more wrinkles when squeezed, while a good quality one will have pretty few crimples. Account for the same when touching the fabric.

Tailoring: Stitching, threads, and the entire tailoring process determine if the t-shirt will hold its shape or not. Check for the below pointers when analyzing tailoring quality.

1. Stitches

Don’t be overboard by the outside of the t-shirt only. Instead, turn the t-shirt inside out and check for a flat seam that is straight and neatly done. If the threads are tight and on pulling the seams from each side, the threads hold themselves firmly, then it is a high-quality t-shirt printing example. Also, the stitches must be of the same color unless intended for the design.

2. Hems

If the t-shirt doesn’t have a hem at all, then it’s a poor quality one. Even if the hem is not straight and well-stitched, or is wavy and crooked, it’s not up to the mark. Else the hems on the sleeves and at the bottom of the t-shirt will be of good quality.

Print and color saturation: Prints and colors give the t-shirt a look and appeal one expects. For determining if the quality of both is standardized, keep a tab of below points;

1. Check for uniformity of color across the main body and sleeves. If there’s no shift between tones, unless expected, then it’s a thumbs up!
2. Stretch the cloth where the print is and see for any cracks, peelings, etc. If nothing of this sort happens, then the print and the color will last longer.

1. Look for any loosened threads inside and outside.
2. Check for protective fabric over the artwork on the inside.

For breathability and washing/caring: Examine the fabric for thickness, softness, and density in cotton garments. While also looking for quick-drying capability and moisture-wicking property in the synthetic garments. Besides this, check that the print doesn't block the breathability of the fabric in itself.

So you see, there’s a lot that goes behind quality check and assessment when choosing a t-shirt. Logoup has got a collection of customized printed t-shirts for you to choose from. Head over here for a variety of options to choose from!