When you browse the internet looking for good-quality textiles to personalize, you often feel lost.
Clothing suppliers have such a vast range of textile references that you no longer know which t-shirt or sweatshirt to choose for personalization. 👕🤔
Before introducing the 9 references from the biggest brands of textiles to personalize, I would like to give you some pointers that will help you spot good-quality textiles online:
1 - Fabric Weight
Fabric weight is an essential factor to consider when you want to assess the quality of a textile.
Fabric weight corresponds to the thickness of the fabric. 💪
a. T-shirt Fabric Weight
T-shirts generally have a thickness between 130g/m2 and 220g/m2 (grams per square meter).
T-shirts at 130g/m2 are mostly used by textile printers to make promotional t-shirts* (low-end t-shirts worn for a one-off event.)
For a brand that specializes in clothing, I advise you to choose at least a t-shirt at 160g/m2 (even if it is still a little thin, the thickness of a t-shirt is not its only mark of quality.)
If you prefer thick t-shirts, I can only recommend opting for a thickness of 200g/m2.
Skate/Surf/Streetwear brands usually go for this kind of weight for their t-shirts. 🛹🏄
b. Sweatshirt Fabric Weight
A sweatshirt has a thickness between 260g/m2 and 420g/m2 (not counting the fleece lining that gives the sweatshirt a feeling of thickness)
the thickness of a good-quality sweatshirt is between 300g/m2 and 420g/m2. I would advise you not to choose sweatshirts below 280g/m2
just as a simple benchmark, the hoodies from the brand Nike have a weight of roughly 300g/m2 to 330g/m2.
2 - Textile Manufacturing Materials
I am not going to tell you about ALL the different textile materials, because many videos online have already covered them:
Watch the video on textile materials
Instead, I am going to point you toward the textile materials you need for your T-shirts and Sweatshirts to personalize.
a. T-shirt Manufacturing Material
The 100% Polyester T-shirt:
You probably already know this. T-shirts and sweatshirts made of 100% polyester will have that synthetic feel typical of sportswear that clings to the skin 🏃♀️
The 100% Cotton T-shirt:
100% cotton t-shirts are favored by clothing brands; they are breathable t-shirts that do not cling to the skin.
Combed Cotton:
Some textiles are made of 100% combed cotton, which is a higher-quality cotton (more durable, softer, but more expensive.)
T-shirt to Personalize with 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane:
If you want to go for a more elastic cotton t-shirt that clings to the skin, you will need to opt for cotton t-shirts with a bit of viscose or elastane. For example 95% Cotton and 5% elastane.
b. Manufacturing Materials for Sweatshirts to personalize
100% Cotton Sweatshirts and 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester Sweatshirts:
It is important to mention that polyester is cheaper than cotton, so it is not uncommon to see sweatshirts that are 50% Cotton and 50% Polyester, or sweatshirts that are 80% cotton and 20% Polyester.
Sweatshirts with more cotton are generally softer, but these material blends do not make a significant difference.
Sweatshirts with or without Fleece Lining:
Most sweatshirts are fleece-lined on the inside. They therefore have a thin layer of wool that keeps you warm and makes them soft to the touch. If you do not like wool, there are sweatshirts without fleece lining.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton textiles have no fundamental difference in quality compared with regular cotton textiles.
Nevertheless, organic cotton is more environmentally friendly. 🍃
Now that we have seen the main differences between textiles based on their characteristics, here are:
The 9 Must-Have References of T-shirts and Sweatshirts to Personalize:
1 - Gildan T-shirts and Sweatshirts to personalize
Hoodie - Gildan 18500:
The Gildan 18500 is the sweatshirt most used by clothing brands that are just starting out.
Its slightly oversized cut and excellent price make this product very popular.
It also has fleece lining on the inside that keeps it warm.
That said, I cannot only sing the praises of the Gildan 18500. Its thickness is 280g/m2*,* which is light for a sweatshirt.
Hoodie - Gildan 12500:
The Gildan 12500 hoodie or GN925 is identical in every way to the Gildan 18500, however its weight is higher (300g/m2)
With a slightly higher price, it is a Sweatshirt to personalize that I strongly recommend.
T-shirt - Gildan 2000:
The Gildan 2000 is a crew-neck t-shirt to personalize that has a thickness of 200g/m2
Slightly oversized and thick, it is very popular with Streetwear brands.
2 - The JUST HOODS Brand
Hoodie - JH001:
JH001 is an alternative to the Gildan 18500; this sweatshirt is not often used for clothing brands.
But textile personalization businesses love it, because its value for money is excellent.
Weight: 280g/m2
Cut: Straight
3 - New Wave
Organic Cotton T-shirt for women and men
The New Wave organic cotton t-shirt will be an excellent companion for everyday life. At 160g/m2, this t-shirt is neither too light nor too thick.
It will be perfect in every season; its softness and quality are excellent, on top of being a t-shirt made from organic farming! 🤩🍃
4 - FRUIT OF THE LOOM
T-shirt - Fruit Of The Loom Super Premium:
The Super Premium t-shirt from the brand Fruit of the loom is an excellent t-shirt with a straight cut and 100% cotton.
Be careful though, after a few washes the t-shirt becomes dry and less soft.
Weight: 205g/m2
Zip-Neck Sweatshirt - SC276:
I have had the chance to test a large number of zip-necks among the textile suppliers on the market.
Most of them had poor fabric quality.
The SC276 zip-neck is the only one with good thickness and a perfect cut (despite a high price).
Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Fruit of the Loom 62-216-0:
The Fruit of the Loom 62-216-0 is a basic mid-range crew-neck sweatshirt with excellent value for money.
5 - B&C:
Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - B&C CGSET
High-end crew-neck sweatshirt, 20% more expensive than the previous sweatshirt, but its fabric quality and softness are astonishing.
The collar on this sweatshirt to personalize is very wide and snug.
Its thickness at 280g/m2 is its only weak point.
Now that you know the best references for t-shirts and sweatshirts to personalize, all you have left to do is find the right printing technique to bring your finest creations to life!
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