Glossary
Don't know your pima from your polyester? Check this for all the fabric and style lingos.
100% Cotton
Fabric material is made entirely of cotton fibers.
50/50
Cotton and polyester are blended evenly to produce this comfortable, breathable fabric.
60/40
An extremely soft blend of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent polyester materials.
Air Spun
Treatment done to create a lightweight yet fluffy material, which often makes the fabric feel thicker than it is.
Blend
A fabric that is made from more than one type of fiber. Blended fabrics generally shrink less than 100% cotton fabric.
Cotton
A soft natural fiber harvested from cotton plants that is commonly used to create fabric for the garment industry.
Combed (Cotton)
A method of preparing raw cotton for production by ‘combing’ it to remove coarse short fibers and straighten smooth long fibers, leading to better-than-average softness and strength.
Open End (Cotton)
A manufacturing process that involves spinning coarse cotton fibers into a yarn with a rotor. Inexpensive to produce, many budget-friendly 100% cotton shirts are made from open end cotton.
Pima (Cotton)
One of the highest quality grades of cotton. Pima is made from especially long cotton fibers that create an extremely soft and durable fabric.
Ringspun (Cotton)
A process of spinning cotton fibers into a tight yarn around a spindle. This adds extra strength and softness to the cotton fibers, resulting in a high quality durable material.
Cover stitching
A stitching method in which thread is sewn in straight lines on top, but loopy and interlocking underneath. Widely used for attaching trims and hems, this allows seams to stretch with comfort and ease.
Crewneck
The round, semicircular neck opening commonly featured on t-shirts.
Double-needle stitching
A sewing technique that uses multiple needles at once to create two parallel rows of stitching. This adds a clean finish to the garment and gives it durability.
Generous Fit
roomy, ‘loose’ fit for select unisex styles. These allow for a liberal amount of room in a person’s standard size.
Heather
a blend of pre-dyed fabrics which produce a multi-colored material with flecks of differing colors.
Henley
A classic shirt style identified by its polo-like placket and buttons directly below the neck.
Jersey (fabric)
A fabric knit commonly used for T-shirt production. Jersey knitted fabric can be made of cotton, polyester, or blended materials.
Juniors
These tight-fitting, trendy styles are cut smaller and tighter than Ladies. Ordering at least one size larger than usual is recommended.
Ladies
Styles tailored to contour to a feminine silhouette, with a tapered torso and shorter sleeves for a flattering look.
Organic
This confirms that cotton materials used for production were grown in sustainable, eco-friendly conditions and do not contain synthetic dyes or chemicals.
Ounce weight
Lists the weight of a square yard of the fabric used to make a garment. This indicates the density of the fabric, not the weight of the garment itself.
Performance Wear
Products made from synthetic materials that wick moisture away to keep your skin cool and dry during physical activities.
Pigment (dye)
A substance that adds color to fabric. Unlike direct dyes, which fully penetrate fabric, pigment dyes only reach the fabric outer surfaces, providing a worn-in, vintage look.
Pique
A fabric weave commonly identified by its dimpled appearance. Cotton pique knits are commonly used on polo shirt styles.
Polyester
A synthetic (man-made) material often used in making shirt fabric. Typically more durable and flexible than cotton.
Pre-shrinking
A process in which fabric is run through rollers that press grooves into the material, condensing it before it is cut and sewn into a garment. The grooves gradually loosen after repeated washes, allowing residual shrinkage to occur unnoticed.
Princess seaming
Long, rounded seams added to ladies garments, providing a slimming, tapered look that flatters the female form.
Raglan
Raglans feature sleeve fabric that extends from the collar all the way down the arm, providing comfort and ease of motion. The sleeve is a different color than the body of the shirt for a “baseball jersey” look.
Rayon
A synthetic (man-made) fiber originally created as an alternative to silk, Rayon is often blended with other natural fabrics for an extra soft feel.
Ribbing
The stretchy, ribbed fabric material that provides elasticity and comfort to collars, cuffs, and edges.
Ringer
A shirt style in which the fabric ribbing around the neck collar and sleeve bands is a color that contrasts the color of the body of the shirt.
Runs small
A slim cut, ‘modern’ fit that typically speaks to a younger audience. Sleeves are sewn closer to the armpit, lending to a tighter fit across the chest and arms.
Safety
Also known as ‘neon’, safety colored fabric is dyed with bright pigments for a vibrant, luminous color.
Scoop neck
A curved neck opening that extends wider and deeper into the chest than a standard crewneck.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage refers to the reduction in size that occurs in fabric after standard washing and drying.
Single-needle stitch
A sewing technique that attaches two pieces of fabric resulting in a single row of visible stitching.
Snag resistant
Indicates fabric is durable enough to resist minor snags and tears.
Stain resistant
Fabric was designed not to retain substances which cause stains.
Tagless
Shirts marked as ‘tagless’ don’t include the manufacturer tags commonly stitched to the inside collar of the shirt.
Taped seams
When seams are cleanly covered over by a piece of fabric. This is primarily to help fabric distortion, but can also be done for practical or aesthetic purposes.
Tri-blend
Cotton, polyester, and rayon are blended together to create a luxurious silky smooth fabric.
True to Size
A regular, ‘standard’ cut that generally fits true to industry size measurements.
Unisex
A standard and ‘authentic’ cut that can comfortably fit a broad group of customers.
V-Neck
A V-shaped neck opening which is often cut deeper than a crewneck, exposing more of the upper chest.
Water-Resistant
Fabric has been treated with chemicals to resist water penetration, allowing droplets to easily run off the surface of the fabric.
Don't know your pima from your polyester? Check this for all the fabric and style lingos.
Weight Ranges (fabric)
T-shirts, performance shirts, and polos can be categorized by the weight of the product’s fabric material.
Lightweight
Fabric weighs under 5.0 oz.
Midweight
Fabric weighs between 5.0 and 5.9 oz.
Heavyweight
Fabric weighs over 6.0 oz.
Wrinkle-free
Finished, cut fabric is dipped in a chemical resin bath to bond fabric fibers together, making durable material that’s very difficult to crease.
Wrinkle-resistant
Unfinished fabric is treated with chemicals to stay crisp and neat for longer.
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