Articles

Read My Shirt

Throughout history people have always found ways to express their ideas to others. Flyers and handbills have covered city walls since the advent of the printing press. Graffiti has been around since Roman times.

In the 20^th century, a new form of self expression emerged: the t-shirt. Originally introduced by the Navy in 1913, widespread use by soldiers in World War II introduced the crew neck t-shirt to the public. The 1950’s were also important in the history of the t-shirt, being worn as outerwear by such stars as Marlin Brando and James Dean. In the 1960’s the t-shirt began to be used as a palette for expression. The first corporate advertising on a t-shirt was a can of Budwiser beer. There’s even a phrase for the ubiquitous nature of t-shirts as expression: “Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt”

T-shirts can be used to express political views or show musical tastes, or lack thereof. Someone wearing a John Deere t-shirt is sending a very different message from the person in the t-shirt with a Japanese animation character. And what business doesn’t have their logo available on a shirt? People use shirts to tell others about which sports teams they like, a favorite movie or book, who their favorite NASCAR driver is, or to stop looking at their breasts. T-shirts are seen that commemorate any possible event; birthdays, weddings, (and divorces), vacations, summer camps, family reunions, the possibilities are endless.

The technology for custom t-shirt expression has never been easier to use. Online designers for custom screen printed work are easily accessible and affordably priced. Whatever you want to say, there are multitudes of ways to say it on a t-shirt for everyone to see.

T-Shirts: 100% Cotton or 50/50?

Your two main choices of shirt in screen printing are 50/50 cotton/polyester blend and 100% cotton. Which type you would choose depends on your own aesthetic preference and the particular needs for the job.

100% cotton t-shirts, such as Hanes Beefy T and Fruit of the Loom Lofteez, are a denser fabric and have a heavier feel. Ringspun 100% cotton t-shirts have a soft, almost fuzzy, feel. However that same texture can show through on an image, giving it a worn look. After washing, the fibers can break through the ink film, causing the image to look dull.

An area where 100% cotton shirts, non-ringspun, work well is 4-color process printing. A higher weight shirt (6 oz. or higher) provides a denser, tighter surface to hold the small, fine dots and continuous ink layer of a detailed 4-color process image.

50/50 cotton/poly blend shirts, such as Jerzees Heavyweight 50/50 and Fruit of the Loom Best, have the advantage in pricing and durability. They also have less shrinkage than 100% cotton, although new processes have made shrinkage much less of a problem for 100% cotton than it used to be. T-shirts that are going to worn and washed often will last longer when printed on 50/50 textiles. 50/50 shirts also have a lighter feel that some people prefer.

In the final analysis, the main consideration in choosing between 50/50 and 100% cotton, other than some technical considerations regarding printing, will be your own personal preference in the weight and feel of the material. For a lighter feel and a more durable shirt, choose 50/50 blend. For a heavier, more luxurious feel go with 100% cotton.