You’re in your favorite store and spot the T-shirt of your dreams… only… it’s $50. What exactly makes a T-shirt cost so much? Are you really paying for a quality shirt, or just the logo on the front? To make sure you’re getting the most for your money, it’s important to know what to look out for when T-shirt shopping.
There are several factors to be taken into account. The first one to look for is the fabric quality. For example, 100 percent cotton is standard and cheap, whereas if the T-shirt is made with bamboo or modal blends, the price of the shirt will go up. Then comes the cut and sew. If the company is making the T-shirt pattern themselves, this will cause the price to rise since it’s a custom design and not mass-produced. Where it’s made is also very important, as we all know that, for example, making garments in the USA is more expensive than making them overseas. The quantity is equally important, as depending on how many units a company orders, the production value will impact the final result of the retail price. The lower the units, the more expensive the shirt will be to produce. The colors in design also impact the final price as one color will be cheaper than let’s say, three.
But there are other qualities to look out for. Even though they’re pricier, look for tri-blend shirts: Tees that are spun using three different fabrics such as polyester/cotton/rayon. They last longer, wash well and hold prints better. Look for shirts that are already pre-shrunk. If there’s a graphic on the front, make sure it’s of high quality too — you don’t want it to crack after one wash! A good rule is that if you can feel the print on the shirt as you run your fingers over it and it’s a bit raised, it’s usually not as durable as ink that’s embedded more into the fabric.