While cotton is a firm favorite for many people when it comes to custom printing Singapore, there are other options, so here is a look at each of them!
Polyester t-shirt printing
Out of any synthetic or man-made materials, polyester is the most popular. It is petroleum-based and makes a versatile fabric for clothing as well as other things. It is easy to look after, does not wrinkle, is lightweight, moisture-wicking and very durable. You can work all day in it or work out hard and it can handle lots of stretching and creasing without losing shape. It is very affordable and being moisture-wicking, works well, especially with custom shirt printing on athletic clothing. Owners enjoy that it dries quickly and no special care has to be taken to clean it. It also holds the ink well with designs. The few things that are something to keep in mind are that it can feel more coarse, it is non-biodegradable and chemical waste is produced from its manufacture.
T-shirts made from Linen
Linen is a natural option better for formal clothing or shirts or summer. It is created from flax plant fibers. It is absorbent, it is breathable, very durable and dries fast. It also gets softer after each wash. The breathability and lightweight nature of linen make it preferred for summer clothing. Other advantages include being resistant to bad odors and feeling good against the skin. Due to it wrinkling easily, it is less commonly used for t-shirts though you can use it for custom printing Singapore for other garments. It does shrink and is more expensive so you need to take care of it.
Checking out t-shirt blends
When the term poly-blend was first used it was talking about combining two or three different fabrics and polyester. Now it is also used to refer to the use of semi-synthetic fibers. It has its advantages because it can achieve properties more desired combining the strengths of more than one fabric to create something special. Examples of t-shirt blends for custom shirt printing that are popular are Cotton / Polyester or Spandex Blend, Cotton / Spandex Blend, Polyester / Viscose Blend and Rayon / Polyester Blend. Different manufacturers have different ratios of one fabric and another.
Common ratios with fabric blends;
- 90% Cotton / 10% Polyester. Popular in t-shirts and soft and breathable but does shrink.
- 75% Polyester / 25% Cotton.
- 80% Polyester / 20% Cotton. Commonly used in athletic wear.
- 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton.
- 52% Cotton / 48% Polyester. Used mostly for casual t-shirts as it comfortable and lightweight and less prone to shrinking.
- 65% Cotton / 35% Polyester
Tri-blend tends to be a combination of rayon, cotton and polyester. It creates a very soft t-shirt and drapes across the body. It is a light fabric and has some great advantages such as comfort, durability, breathability and affordability.
Summary
When choosing between different fabrics there is a lot to think about. Cost, durability, heaviness and more are all something to keep in mind. In order to give people the best possible t-shirt you need to think about what they will most commonly be using it for and try to ensure it has the properties people want in that kind of shirt.
