| When it comes to picking a t-shirt fabric, cotton and | | | | will never shrink. A polyester t-shirt will stay the same |
| polyester aren't your only two choices, but they are | | | | size forever, unless it is physically altered in some |
| the two dominate fabrics of their field. They are the | | | | way. Polyester t-shirts wont fade as quick, in fact |
| Coke and Pepsi of the t-shirt world. Much like the | | | | they will last a lot longer. They become much more |
| constant debate over soda, many wonder and argue | | | | washable because of the number of wash cycles |
| what the superior fabric is. When buying a new t-shirt | | | | they can last before they start to show their age. |
| is it more beneficial to have a cotton or polyester | | | | One of the biggest benefits of polyester is that it |
| t-shirt? Like everything else in this world, it all | | | | doesn't wrinkle. Wear a 100% polyester t-shirt and |
| depends on the taste of the person who is buying it. | | | | there is absolutely no need to iron it because it will |
| The Cotton Craze | | | | already be wrinkle fee straight out of the dryer. |
| Cotton has been around for centuries, it is the | | | | Polyester does have its draw backs. It isn't as |
| granddaddy of all t-shirt fabric. Cotton was first used | | | | comfortable to wear as cotton. It doesn't breath like |
| for clothing way back in 2500 B.C. Throughout the | | | | cotton, which means that sweat and body heat |
| years it has been the most popular fabric for making | | | | doesn't escape from it as easy, making it a hotter |
| clothing. Production of cotton became much more | | | | t-shirt to wear. |
| efficient once Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin, | | | | 50/50, a Compromise |
| which mechanically separated cotton from seeds, in | | | | When there are two sides to a debate there is |
| the late 18th century. | | | | almost always a compromise. The same is true with |
| Today, cotton t-shirts are considered among the | | | | cotton and polyester, a 50/50 blend of the two was |
| highest quality of t-shirt. They are comfortable, easy | | | | soon invented to appease both sides of the debate. |
| to wear and breathe easier than other fabrics. | | | | These 50/50 blends have a lot of advantages and |
| Cotton has these advantages because the fabric is | | | | very few disadvantages. They bring the best of both |
| softer. They do have some disadvantages. Cotton | | | | worlds to one t-shirt. They have the comfort and |
| t-shirts have a shelf life. They are known to shrink | | | | breathability of cotton with the durability of polyester. |
| when initially washed, meaning that one could be | | | | They aren't going to shrink as much and they aren't |
| stuck with a smaller t-shirt if they didn't consider in | | | | going to wrinkle as much. Of course, a 50/50 blend |
| the shrink factor when originally purchasing the shirt. | | | | isn't going to be as comfortable as a 100% cotton |
| Cotton fades easier than other fabric, so after | | | | shirt but it also isn't going to be as hot as a 100% |
| multiple washes the t-shirt could start to look old and | | | | polyester shirt. That's why its called a compromise. |
| worn. Many find that these disadvantages are worth | | | | What's the Choice? |
| the comfort of a 100% cotton t-shirt. | | | | 50/50 blends are becoming incredibly popular, it is |
| Polyester's Pros | | | | quite common to find 50/50 blend t-shirts in stores. |
| We are a society of artificial advancement. It is no | | | | Unless one has a specific preference for how they |
| surprise that in the early 20th century scientists | | | | like their t-shirts, 50/50 is probably the choice. It is |
| figured out a way to make a synthetic fabric called | | | | the t-shirt for a new generation. A synthetically |
| polyester. Ever since this historic accomplishment | | | | organic t-shirt. Yup, the 50/50 blend may j what is |
| polyester has become the chief competitor to | | | | needed. |
| cotton. All of cotton's weakness are its strength, but | | | | Of course the type of t-shirt for you depends on, |
| polyester isn't totally devoid of faults. | | | | well, you. You have three main choices, it is going to |
| Polyester won't shrink when initially washed, in fact it | | | | be hard to go wrong. |