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When it comes to selling T-shirts online, selecting the right fabric is a key factor to your business success. Fabric that feels itchy or rough on the skin may not be a customer’s top pick and can lead to negative reviews for your shop. On the other hand, a soft, comfortable T-shirt can increase customer satisfaction and sales. But what are the fabrics that make the softest t-shirts?
This comprehensive guide will bring you a detailed view of the best t-shirt fabrics for your print on demand business and some practical care tips that you can include in your product description.
Let’s read on to find out!
Comparison between fabrics to make softest t-shirt
We understand that selecting the right fabric to make soft t-shirts can seem challenging, so we’ve consolidated a table overviewing different fabrics to help you navigate through the sea of options.
| Fabric | Description | Pros | Cons |
| Cotton | A soft, breathable, and comfortable fabric that is also durable and affordable. | Cost-effective, absorbent, durable, comfortable | Wrinkles easily, shrinks after washing, fades over time |
| Pima cotton | A higher-quality cotton with a longer fiber, resulting in a smoother, softer, and more durable fabric. | Smooth, soft, durable, tear-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, fade-resistant | More expensive than other cotton types |
| Supima cotton | A premium variety of Pima cotton with even longer fibers, making it even softer and silkier. | Exceptionally soft, silky, durable, tear-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, fade-resistant | Most expensive cotton type |
| Egyptian cotton | A premium cotton known for its silky smooth texture and delicate touch. | Soft, comfortable, drapes well | More expensive than other cotton types |
| Ring-spun cotton | A type of cotton that is spun into thinner, finer, and stronger yarns, resulting in a softer and more durable fabric. | Softer, more durable, often used in premium t-shirts | More expensive than regular cotton |
| Combed cotton | Ring-spun cotton that has been combed to remove impurities and shorten fibers, resulting in a smoother and less likely to fall apart fabric. | Smoother, less likely to fall apart | More expensive than ring-spun cotton |
| CVC | A blended fabric of cotton and polyester that combines comfort and performance. | Soft, wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking | Less breathable, more prone to static cling |
| Bamboo | A super smooth, breathable fabric that is even softer than Egyptian cotton. | Soft, breathable, moisture-absorbing, antibacterial, UV-resistant | More expensive than cotton |
| Modal | An artificial fiber made from the inner bark of beech trees that is incredibly soft and has a smooth surface. | Incredibly soft, smooth surface, lightweight, flexible | More expensive than cotton |
| Tri-blend | A blend of cotton, polyester, and rayon that is comfortable, lightweight, and has a retro style. | Comfortable, lightweight, retro style | Less breathable |
Cotton
Cotton is a go-top option for T-shirt fabrics because it is cost effective, absorbent, durable, and comfortable. However, there are many types of cotton fabrics available, causing potential confusion for print on demand sellers to choose from. In this section, we’ll break down the most common types of cotton you may encounter, so that you can decide which is most suitable for your business.
Pima cotton
This is the highest-quality, and also among the most expensive types of cotton. Pima cotton has a longer fiber than other types of cotton that allows a higher thread count, making it smooth, soft, and durable. One more great thing about pima cotton is its tearing, wrinkling, and fading resistance.
Supima cotton
Supima cotton is a more premium variety of Pima cotton that has longer fibers, making it even more soft and silky. On top of that, this type of cotton is grown only in the United States and must meet strict quality standards to earn the Supima designation. This ensures that Supima cotton consistently delivers exceptional softness, strength, and durability. As a result, Supima cotton tends to be the most expensive one in the list.
Egyptian cotton
Egyptian cotton is a premium version of cotton that is known for its silky smooth texture and delicate touch. Egyptian cotton t-shirts are very soft and comfortable, and they also drape well over the body.
Ring-spun cotton
Ring-spun cotton is a type of cotton that is spun into thinner, finer, stronger yarns. This results in a softer, more durable fabric than regular cotton, and of course, more expensive. Ring-spun cotton is often used in premium t-shirts.
Combed cotton
The process of making combed cotton requires a combing process to ring-spun cotton. By removing impurities and shortening the fibers, the fabric becomes smoother and less likely to fall apart. As a result, this additional processing increases the cost, making combed cotton more expensive than ring-spun cotton.
CVC – cotton and poly blends
Though 100% cotton shirts are available, they have certain drawbacks such as their tendency to wrinkle easily, shrink after washing, and fade over time. On the other hand, polyester is also a popular fabric to make T-shirts, but it can be less breathable and more prone to static cling than natural fibers.
The solution to this problem is CVC, a blended fabric of cotton and polyester that combines comfort and performance. The common ratio is 60% cotton and 40% polyester, or 50% cotton and 50% polyester, providing the benefits of both textiles while having none of the drawbacks. CVC shirts are as soft as cotton, yet have poly’s toughness, wrinkle resistance, and moisture-wicking abilities.
Bamboo
Bamboo fabric, crafted by meticulously crushing and soaking bamboo fibers before spinning them into yarn, is super smooth, breathable, and even compared with Egyptian cotton for its softness.
Beyond its suitability for producing the softest t-shirts, bamboo fabric is also used to make athletic apparel due to its exceptional moisture-absorbing, antibacterial, and UV-resistant ability.
Modal
If you haven’t heard of Modal, you are not alone. Though being a relative newcomer to the apparel industry, it’s already the talk of the town. Modal is an artificial fiber that is made from the inner bark of beech trees and is even more expensive than cotton due to its sophisticated production process, using less chemicals and energy than other fabric options.
It may sound strange that a fabric made from wood is famous for its softness, but it is. This fabric is incredibly soft and has a smooth surface that is perfect for screen printing. Modal is also used in underwear and sleepwear for its lightweight and flexible character.
Tri-blend
Debuting in the early 2000s, tri-blend has taken the garment business by storm for its comfortability, lightweight and retro style. Tri-blend is a type of blend fabric that combines cotton, polyester, and rayon. The composition is usually 50% cotton – 25% polyester – 25% rayon. Sometimes rayon is replaced with modal for extra softness.
Not also famous for its comfortability, tri-blends are a go-to option for screen printing, direct-to-garment printing, and discharge printing shirts. You can learn more about the pros and cons, and frequently asked questions about tri-blends here.
Care instructions to keep t-shirts soft
Now that you have known the fabrics to make softest t-shirts and may have decided which one to sell, you can consider including these helpful tips for your customers to keep their favorite t-shirts longer:
Washing instructions
- Wash in cold water. Hot water can shrink and damage the fibers of t-shirts, making them feel rougher and less soft.
- Use a mild detergent. Harsh detergents can strip away the natural oils that keep t-shirts soft. Opt for a mild detergent specifically designed for delicate fabrics.
- Wash inside out. This will help protect the design and color of t-shirts, and it will also reduce friction that can cause pilling.
- Avoid overloading the washing machine. Overcrowding can cause t-shirts to rub against each other, which can lead to pilling and loss of softness.
- Remove stains promptly. Stains can set in and become harder to remove, and they can also damage the fibers of t-shirts.
Drying instructions
- Reshape your t-shirts while they are still wet to prevent wrinkles and set the shape of your t-shirts.
- Lay your t-shirts flat to dry if possible. Hanging your t-shirts can cause them to stretch out of shape.
- Avoid drying under direct sunlight as the sunlight can make the color faded and the fabric feel less soft.
- Air-dry whenever possible. The heat from a dryer can damage the fibers of t-shirts, making them feel stiff and scratchy. If you prefer to use a dryer, set the lowest heat possible.
Storage instructions
- Fold your t-shirts neatly to prevent wrinkles and keep your t-shirts looking their best.
- Store your t-shirts in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing them in damp or humid areas, as this can cause mildew.
- Don’t overcrowd your closet or drawer. It can cause your t-shirts to wrinkle and lose their shape.
- Use a cedar hanger or drawer liner. Cedar is a natural moth repellent, and it can also help to keep your t-shirts smelling fresh.
Besides, don’t forget to take a look at our guide on writing effective product descriptions to persuade potential customers to buy them.
Conclusion
The world of fabrics is vast, full of options, and ever changing. As technology advances, so do t-shirt fabrics. It can be hard to keep up at first, but we hope that this comprehensive guide has brought you some helpful information to stay on top of the game.
Whether you search for fabrics for screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation, or vinyl heat transfer, Merchize got you covered! We have all the blanks you need to create the most high quality, durable and softest t-shirts that make your customers smile and your sales skyrocket.
Sign up for Merchize today to take your shirt business to new heights!
