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Blank t-shirts
The top 5 steps for selecting wholesale blank t-shirts for screen printing
Nov
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1. Select a wholesale blank t-shirt made from quality cotton
2. Get a blank t-shirt that is ethically made
3. Ensure quality double stitching is used
4. Test the t-shirt to ensure it maintains its shape and colour
5. Check that the blank t-shirt can handle a range of decorative techniques
Finding high-quality wholesale blank t-shirts for screen printing or embroidery can be a time consuming and experimental exercise. With different types of blank t-shirts on the market it can be challenging to determine a quality blank t-shirt from a poorly manufactured one. This article will help give guidance on what to look for in a quality t-shirt.
1. Select a wholesale blank t-shirt made from quality cotton
Not all cotton is the same – especially when it comes to its use in t-shirts. Cotton in its basic form is a natural organic product. A quality blank t-shirt should use ethically sourced, organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without the use of harmful chemicals giving a natural cotton fiber that is not harmful to the environment or to the consumer.
There a different types of cotton that you may have heard such as ring spun, combed and blended. It can be confusing to understand the difference between the varying types and which one is best. Generally speaking we recommend 100% organic cotton for comfort and durability.
Different types of cotton explained:
Combed cotton
Combed cotton goes through extra processes before the yarn is made. The cotton is physically combed to position the fibers parallel to each while removing shorter fibers. With only long fibers remaining the end result is cotton fabric is soft with a high sheen. If the cotton is organic, such as GOTS certified, then the fibers will be longer (due to cotton being picked by hand rather than machine) and this again leads to an increase in the quality and life span of the clothing.
Ring spun
Ring-spun cotton is made by twisting and thinning cotton strands to make fine, soft ropes of cotton fibers. Ring-spun cotton is more durable and lasts longer. It is a versatile type of cotton that is found in homewares due to its excellent absorption properties and clean finish.
Blended
Blended cotton is a mix of cotton, polyester, linen or rayon (a synthetic fiber) that is usually less expensive than 100% cotton. The benefit of blended cotton is that it is less likely to wrinkle and easier to wash. However certain colour design applications may not adhere as well as 100% cotton. Generally the blended fabric is a bit coarser and does not breathe as well as cotton.
Get wholesale blank t-shirts that are ethically made
Countries such as China, India and Bangladesh are world renowned for their high turnover production of cotton apparel at varying levels of quality. Regardless of where a t-shirt is made you should ensure that it is made by a factory that meets human rights standards for its workers and how it sources cotton from primary producers. A complaint manufacturer should be able to demonstrate compliance against international industry standards such as GOTS, Sedex, Oektex, amfori by supplying audit reports and compliance certificates.
A manufacturer who is compliant with international standards regarding ethical sourcing and production is good indication that their processes and production capability is at a modern standard which in turn would have the ability to produce a high-quality t-shirt.
3. Ensure quality double stitching is used
Stitching in t-shirt manufacturing is an important process to ensure it is made true to size and can handle heavy use. Check to ensure double stitching is used, which most modern brands should have. Vintage style t-shirts have been known to only have single stitching. However high-quality brand t-shirts will ensure the cotton used in the stitching is durable and will assist to keep the t-shirt true to size and shape. Specially check the stitching around the collar. One of the first signs of poor stitching is the collar going out of shape.
4. Test the blank t-shirt to ensure it maintains its shape and colour
One of the first signs of a high-quality blank t-shirt is one that will maintain its shape after a machine wash. Cheaper, poor quality t-shirts will become misshaped after the first couple washes. This also goes for colour retention. While 5% colour loss is the industry accepted standard after the first few washes, anything more will indicate the t-shirt has been manufactured using poor cotton colour processes.
A quality t-shirt will maintain straight side seam hems and should not twist or warp after the first 5 machine washes.
5. Check that the blank t-shirt can handle a range of decorative techniques
A good quality, well made blank t-shirt should be able to handle a range of decorative printing methods such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) and Cricut machine printing. While printing on a cheap t-shirt is possible the final print design will not be good to a quality t-shirt. This is because cheap cotton fibers do not create a smooth surface for printing or embroidery.
Ensure the GSM is appropriate (we like 200 GSM for its durability and comfortable feel) and that the blank t-shirt’s surface area is soft and smooth for excellent ink coverage and finish.
