Choosing the Right Tee
Whether you are running a clothing company, making promotional products, or selecting a t-shirt for your personal wardrobe, there are a lot of things to consider in choosing the correct one. For certain uses it may not matter, but with so many great options out there, it is good to have an idea about desired qualities for your perfect t-shirt.
One of the first things to consider in t-shirt shopping is the material. Cotton, polyester, rayon, and spandex are common in t-shirts. Cotton and polyester fabrics are the most common, with rayon and spandex most often as additives in blends. Cotton is known for its softness and breathability. Cotton t-shirts such as the Gildan G500 are perfect for most situations. Polyester is synthetic and known for durability. Polyester t-shirts also have a wide span of uses, one of the most common is 100% polyester performance t-shirts as active wear. Polyester is good with moisture-wicking and anti-microbial additives to fight perspiration and fight odor, respectively. The Harriton M320 and the Alo M1004 are both performance shirts with these special qualities. T-shirts with a cotton and polyester blend such as the Gildan G800 and the Hanes 5170 are also very common as they mix the best attributes of both.
The weight and overall feel of a t-shirt can make or break the decision to purchase. Believe it or not, there is a noticeable difference between a lightweight and a heavyweight t-shirt, so it is important to consider where and when the shirt will be worn. In warmer environments, a heavyweight shirt may be too much depending upon the material. Lightweight t-shirts like the 3.7 oz Alternative AA4805 and the 4.5 oz Anvil 980 are popular as warm weather options. Standard weight t-shirts like the 5.2 oz Hanes 5280 and the 5.6 oz Fruit of the Loom 5930 are great for just about everything. Heavyweight t-shirts like the 6.1 oz Hanes 5180 Beefy-T and the 6.1 oz Fruit of the Loom 20230 have a heavier feel and are a preferred item for a number of situations.
The fit of t-shirts is also very important in deciding which styles to purchase. For promotional products for a company that mostly sells to women, it might be a good idea to get t-shirts with a female fit as opposed to the standard unisex fit. The Anvil 978 is the female companion to the popular men’s Anvil 979 style. If t-shirts are being distributed at a children’s event, the Anvil 905B is tailored for youths. For a new printing company, it is a good idea to think of the potential consumer market and figure what they would like the most. For example, brands like Alternative, Canvas, and Bella appeal to a younger audience than the standard type t-shirts.
Upon deciding the desired material, weight, and fit of a shirt, color options are very important. For promotional products, it is smart at this point to make sure the company colors or aim for the marketing campaign are available in the desired characteristics. For a printing company, it is a good idea to choose products with a lot of color varieties. This way, one product can meet the needs of many customers, while easing production. The Gildan 2000 is available in sixty-six colors. This 100% preshrunk cotton t-shirt has many wonderful qualities and the variety of colors only adds to its greatness. Other attributes to look for in t-shirt colors for the business may be heather shades. These colors provide a vintage feel. Heathers in any style are a blend with at least 10% polyester. The men’s Canvas 3001HC and the Bella B6000H both have heather-only color palettes for a more interesting look than a standard t-shirt.
Some other t-shirt favorites have special qualities to set them aside from standard t-shirts. These extras include ringer, raglan, and pocket styles. Ringer t-shirts have bands on the neck and sleeves. These bands are often a contrasting color. Ringer t-shirts like the Gildan G2600 and the Bella 1007 are favorites for printing logos and other designs to match the contrasting bands. This varied style adds some flair to standard promotional shirts and expand the product lines for printing shops. Raglan sleeves are also another fun deviation from the standard t-shirt sleeve style. Most sleeves are the straight, set-in, style with the stitching from the armpit up to the shoulder. Raglan sleeves have the stitching from the armpit to the neck, technically allowing for more arm movement. Whether or not ease of motion is the purpose for the shirt, it is a little something different. This shirt is also known as the baseball t-shirt, which often has contrasting sleeve colors. The raglan t-shirt such as the Champion T1397 and the Bella B2000 are also fashionable choices for printing logos and designs to match the sleeve color. Another popular addition to t-shirts is a pocket. The Anvil 911P and Hanes H5590 are popular choices in printing on the pocket or on the back of the t-shirt.
Eco-friendly apparel is another good option to invest in. Printing companies can widen their customer base if they offer eco-friendly apparel. Eco-friendly t-shirts make great promotional products, especially for companies with an eco-friendly program. The Anvil 450 and the ladies’ Anvil 458A are 50/50 blends of combed ringspun organic cotton in conversion/recycled polyester. Organic cotton in conversion is grown on a farm that operates under all standards for an organic farm, but has yet to reach the required number of years operating as such. Eco-friendly products are increasing in availability, and it is important to consider making such choices.
Another crucial point in picking the right t-shirts is price. It is important to find good prices to suit the needs of customers as well as the company’s own best interest. The same goes for promotional products, as they are often purchased in bulk. Always check with a retailer to see about their offers for bulk discounts. Retailers often have discounts at certain order subtotals or quantities. A lot of retailers also have social media pages where promotional offers are advertised regularly. Another good part of the process to save on is shipping. Retailers often have shipping discounts for certain order subtotals, so check them out before placing an order!
Follow these tips in choosing the right apparel for your printing business, your promotional products, or your closet, and you can be certain you have made the right t-shirt choice!
