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T-shirt manufacturers use numerous terms to describe their products. The terms are not always consistent and it helps to have a reference guide. The following is the official Green Man T-Shirts Guide to understanding t-shirt terms: 20s, 20/1, 20s single: Unit of measurement that defines the fineness of cotton thread. A frequent spool of single-ply cotton thread is comprised of 840 yards of cotton thread. If it takes 20 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 20s cotton, or 20/1. If 30 spools weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 30s cotton thread, or 30/1. If it takes 40 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 40s cotton, or 40/1. The higher number means a finer thread, and therefore a finer, softer fabric is created. T-shirts made of 30s and 40s are softer, finer, and have better drape than t-shirts made of 20s. The terms are applied galore ways, but it’s the number that counts; “20s,” “20/1,” and “20 singles” are the same. Threads may be twisted together into thicker strands. If two 20/1 cotton threads were twisted together, it would be referred to as 20/2. Bamboo Fabric: Rayon made from bamboo cellulose. Although rayon is a man-made synthetic material, most experts agree it is readily biodegradable. Bamboo fabric is exceedingly soft and has magnificent drape. Bamboo: Fast growing plant, classified as a grass, which may be readily processed into rayon to make bamboo rayon clothing. Bleach Wash: A routine that uses bleach to soften and distress the look of the fabric being washed. Boat Neck: A very wide neckline that runs throughout the collarbone area to the shoulder points. Derives from early sailors’ shirts, where the wide neck enabled quick remotion if the sailor fell overboard. Boy Beater: Women’s fashion answer to the wife beater. A women’s tank top, even though it may be any color. Brushed Cotton: A method to remove excess lint and fibers from cotton fabric. Brushed cotton commonly has a very soft, smooth finish. Burn-Out: A routine that uses sulfuric acid or other strong acid to “burn-out” constituents of a fabric knit, commonly a polyester/cotton blend. The procedure gives a see-through, very sheer effect. Cap Sleeves: Usually refers to shorter sleeves on women’s garments. Carbon Dioxide: CO2. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom. Known as a “greenhouse” gas because of it is kinship with international warming. A few t-shirt manufacturers are now measuring and recording the CO2 emissions involved in constructing their shirts. Carbon Trust: Independent institution founded in 2001 in Great Britain that monitors carbon emissions. The Carbon Trust works with companies to support reduce their carbon footprint, and now certifies companies and productions as having a “low carbon” or “no carbon” footprint. A few t-shirt companies now formulate “low carbon footprint” t-shirts. Carding: A fiber cleaning procedure that does away with short fibers and removes dirt and alien matter. Carding may be done by hand or by huge machines using drum rollers. Carded-only cotton is not as desirable as combed cotton. Cellulase Wash: Another name for enzyme wash. This gives fabric a soft feel and a vintage look, depending on how the wash is done. Cellulose: Derived from the cell walls of sure plants. Useful in making sure types of fabrics, including acetate, triacetate, and rayon. Bamboo fabric is in truth rayon made from bamboo cellulose. Cheap Cotton T-Shirt: T-shirts made with carded cotton, using 18/1 thread, normally knitted on 20 gauge machines. These t-shirts are coarse, rough, and have poor drapability. Used often times as cheap promotional give-aways. Climate Neutral: A term used to describe a company, process, or product that has zero affect on the Earth’s climate. A few t-shirt makers promote their company as climate neutral. CO2: Carbon dioxide. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen corpuscles and one carbon atom. Known as a “greenhouse” gas because of it is kinship with international warming. Colorfastness: The capacity of a garment to withstand multiple washings without losing it is color. Combed Cotton: A method to remove short fibers and to arrange longer fibers parallel to develop a smooth, fine cotton yarn. Combed cotton has high strength, splendid uniformity, and better hand. Combed cotton costs more and is employed in finer t-shirts. Compacting: A procedure that compacts the space amongst cotton fiber pockets. Helps to reduce shrinking. Contrasting Stitching: Stitching with a dissimilar color than the garment. Gives a nice design detail in t-shirts. Control Union: An international establishment that offers corroboration services for a potpourri of programs–including a good deal of organic certification programs. Certifies USDA Organic, as well as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very more or less stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Average weight per yard is when it comes to 5.5 to 6 ounces. Basic t-shirts are made of cotton jersey. Fine cotton jersey is commonly smoother and has a lighter weight per yard. Cotton: A natural fiber that is the most popular in the world for fabrics. Cotton fibers are ordinarily ½ to 2 inches long. Longer fibers formulate finer cotton fabric. Varieties such as Pima and Egyptian, which feature fibers exceeding 1.5 inches, are more highly valued than usual varieties. Crew Neck: A round close-fitting neckline. Most mutual neck on t-shirts. Crop Top: A shirt with a short body to it; made to expose the midriff area. Double-Needle Stitched: Used largely on sleeve/bottom hems and refers to a parallel row of stitching. This type of stitching gives durability and a cleaner, more finished look. Drape, Drapability: Refers to how a fabric hangs. A fabric like bamboo rayon has splendid drape, while a coarse fabric like burlap has very little. T-shirts that have good drape calibers feel nicer to wear. Drop Tail: A garment that features a longer back than front. Eco-Friendly: Extremely loose term that refers to a product’s “greenness.” Almost useless in realistically assessing a product. Favorite term applied by green washers. Egyptian Cotton: Cotton invented in Egypt and valued for it is long length of fiber. Apparel made with true Egyptian cotton is prized for it is softness and fineness. Environmental Justice Foundation: A registered charity established in 2000 to aid persons who suffer most from environmental abuses such as pesticide poisoning, water depletion, and soil destruction. Especially active in curbing abuses in cotton farming. Enzyme Washed: A wash routine using particular enzymes to manufacture a soft finish and smooth look to a fabric. Ages dyes to invent a special look to dyed fabrics. Enzyme washing is physically less harsh on the fabric equated to stone washing. European Cut: A style of t-shirt that is narrower than what one ordinarily finds. For example, a full cut men’s t-shirt, size large, normally runs 22 inches throughout the chest (measured one inch beneath the sleeve). A men’s big European cut will run in regards to half an inch to 1 inch narrower, on occasion more. Fabric Dyed: Fabric dyed before being cut and sewn into a finished piece of clothing. Fair Labor Association: A nonprofit institution consecrated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide. Works to invent Code of Labor Practices, particularly necessary in the apparel business where working conditions have with respect to history been so poor. Fair Wear Foundation: An global group consecrated to heightening garment workers’ lives all over the world. Works with companies that fabricate costume and other sewn productions and that take obligation for their supply chain. Fine Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very more or less stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Fine cotton jersey is normally smoother and has a lighter weight per yard than regular cotton jersey. T-shirts made with fine cotton jersey have a better drape and feel than regular t-shirts. Usually made with 30s and higher cotton thread, and weighs in regards to 4.3 ounces per square yard. Fitted Cut: Definitions vary, but in general a fitted cut refers to a cut that flatters the body. Used oftentimes in women’s t-shirts, the middle division of the shirt will be tighter than the top or bottom. Overall, the shirts run narrower than a basic full cut. Full Cut: A generous, roomy cut. In t-shirts, tubular styles are in general considered full-cut, but there are exceptions. Full Cut is different from the slimmer European Cuts, Slim Cuts, and Fitted Cuts. Garment Dyed: Clothing dyed after it has been cut and sewn into a finished article of clothing. Garment Washed: A procedure where finished articles of costume are washed, commonly with added softeners to improve the feel and look of the fabric. GMO Free: GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. First applied in the 1990s when buyers became worried in regards to genetically altered food. Many companies now implement the GMO free label on everything from feed to natural fabrics, like cotton. GOTS: Stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. A project of the International Working Group. They have produced standards to make sure organic status of textiles, from the harvesting, manufacturing, and labeling, in order to provide a creditable assurance to the end consumer. An organic t-shirt that meets the standards may be GOTS certified. Green: Generic term applied by selling gurus to publicize products. Another bestloved term of “green-washers,” who are hopping on the environmental bandwagon without any real commitment. Green-Washing: Take off on the term “white-washing,” but in an environmental context. Companies that green-wash are paying lip-service to environmental worries to attract more business, but haven’t taken any real steps to be environmentally responsible. Hand: The way a fabric feels to the touch. A fabric that feels soft and smooth is considered to have a good hand. Hemp Fabric: Hemp, or Cannabis sativa, has been employed for fabric for thousands of years, largely as an industrial fabric. Newer processing methods have made it suitable for finer clothing, and now it is applied in some costume articles, including t-shirts. Hemp is valued for it is strength and durability. Henley T-Shirt: Similar to a collarless polo shirt, a Henley is a pullover t-shirt featuring 2 or 3 buttons (sometimes up to 5 buttons are used, but that’s uncommon). A Henley may be either short or long sleeved. Ice Wash: A method of stone washing where the stones are basi soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. This method formulates a frosted aspect to fabric. Interlock Knit: A type of knit that is very soft and has a good drape. Interlock knit stitches are tighter, more stretchy than Jersey knit, but less stretchy than rib knit. Used in very fine garments. Jersey Knit: Commonly found in t-shirts and is the most lasting of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. The Jersey knit was named after the British Island in the English Channel. Fine cotton Jersey refers to Jersey Knit made with fine cotton threads such as 30s and 40s. Knit: Defines how the interlocking loops of yarn that make up fabric were made. There are a lot of types of knits. Jersey Knit is normally found in t-shirts and is the most lasting of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. On the other hand, rib knits have heavy ribs running down the fabric, while interlock knits are applied in very fine fabrics. T-shirt collars are commonly rib knit. Muscle Shirt: Sleeveless style t-shirt, but not incisively a tank top. Basic t-shirt, just without the sleeves. The shoulder strap share is much wider than an usual tank top. Neck Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running throughout the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch. Often referred to as “shoulder to shoulder taped.” OekoTek 100: Certification from the International Oeko-Tex® Association, which assures buyers that the apparel they buy is chemical free and poses no danger to their health. Under the Oeko-Tex standard, costume will have to be free of formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals. Organic Apparel: A term very loosely applied in the garment industry. It may mean anything from 100% organic to as little as 6% organic. Often combined with terms like Eco-Friendly, Green, and so on. Consumers ought to check the labels and verify the materials employed to see if something is veritably organic or not. Organic Cotton: Cotton grown without the use of pesticides. Certified organic cotton has been inspected to insure it veritably is organic. Organic Soil Association: Founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists concerned with regards to the kinship amid farming exercises and plant, animal, human, and environmental health. The Organic Soil Association initiated the initial organic standards in 1967, and certifies farms and businesses that meet those standards. Overdyed: A routine where antecedently dyed garments or fabrics are dyed with an further and added color to develop a distinguishable look. Performance T: Name for t-shirts fabricated for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Performance Ts are characterized by their breathability, moisture wicking, fast drying, and odor control capabilities. Many performance Ts are polyester/cotton blends, or may also be 100% polyester. Bamboo t-shirts, due to their absorbency and wicking properties, have become known as performance t-shirts, even though they do not arid as fast as performance t-shirts made of 100% polyester. PFD: Stands for Prepared For Dyeing. Sold this way to t-shirt customizers who want to invent their own look with dyes. Pigment Dyed: A type of dye that brings about a washed out, distressed look. Pima Cotton: A cotton invented in the U.S. in the early 1900s to compete with Egyptian cotton. It features longer fibers and is applied many times in fine men’s and women’s shirts. The name Pima comes from the Pima Indians, who helped with the firstborn crops of the new cotton as it was firstborn grown in the U.S. Pique: A method of knitting that produces a waffle-type, fine textured surface. Used oftentimes in polo shirts. Polyester: Man-made fiber fictitious from synthetic polymers. Used widely in apparel, specially combined with cotton in 50/50 blends. Pre-Shrunk: Refers to the routine of pre-shrinking fabric before it is cut and sewn. Occasionally it refers to an actual finished garment that has been preshrunk. Clothing that has been preshrunk shrinks less once the buyer washes it. Preshrunk cotton t-shirts will still shrink a bit, however, peculiarly if dried using a clothes dryer. Raglan T-Shirt: Style of t-shirt featuring sleeves that run directly to the collar. Usually the sleeves are a contrasting color from the body. Raglan sleeves are wider under the arms, and are preferent by wearers who want greatest or most complete or best possible freedom of movement. Baseball t-shirts commonly feature a raglan sleeve style. Rayon: Man-made fiber that uses plant cellulose as it is main ingredient. Rayon is very soft, has splendid drape, and is very absorbent. Originally invented as a silk substitute. Rib Knit: Characterized by heavy vertical ribs running down the fabric. Rib knits are commonly classified as 1×1, 2×1 or 2×2. This lets you know the width of the rib equated to the space between. For example, a 1×1 rib knit or a 2×2 rib knit means the space amidst each rib is the same width as the ribs. But a 2×1 rib knit means the ribs are twice as wide as the spaces in between. Rib knit is very stretchy and is oftentimes applied for t-shirt collars, cuffs, and tank tops. Ring Spun: Refers to yarn made by twisting and thinning a rope of cotton fibers. The ceaseless spinning results in a softer feel and more inviolable yarn. Ring-spun t-shirts are noticeably softer to the touch. Ringer T: A t-shirt with colored sleeve bands and matching crew neck. Most ringers are white, with the armband sleeves and crew necks in respective colors. Sand Wash: Refers to using sand while washing a garment or fabric to soften and distress it. Satin Washed: Another term for silicone washed, which develops a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and likewise gives the fabric good draping properties. Scoop Neck: Wide, gently curved neckline that varies in depth. Favored in women’s shirts. Sheer Jersey: Very light weight jersey knit, weighing when it comes to 3.9 ounces per yard. A little stretchier than fine jersey. Shoulder to Shoulder Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running throughout the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch. Shrinkage: Usually refers to cotton apparel and the amount it may be expected to shrink. Most cotton t-shirts are pre-shrunk, but 4-5% shrinkage may still be expected. Side Seamed: Refers to shirts with a seam running down at each side beneath the arm sleeves to the bottom hem. Side seamed t-shirts are more pricey to manufacture. Silicone Washed: Refers to using inert silicone in a washing process. Produces a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and also gives the fabric good draping properties. Singlet: another term for a men’s tank top. Slim Cut: A style of t-shirt that is narrower than what one commonly finds. For example, a full cut men’s t-shirt, size large, ordinarily runs 22 inches throughout the chest (measured one inch under the sleeve). A slim cut will run when it comes to half an inch to 1 inch narrower, from time to time more. Stonewashed: A washing routine that uses lava rocks or on occasion silicon and rubber balls. This method makes fabric softer and gives it an aged or distressed look. Sometimes bleach is used in this process. Tank Top: T-Shirt characterized by thin shoulder straps and no sleeves. The name came from the early term for swimming pools: swimming tanks. Taped Seam: Not actual “tape,” but a thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running all over the shoulders and neck area of t-shirts. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch. Tubular Style:A style that has no side seams; the body of the t-shirt is round and straight. Tubular t-shirts are less highpriced to manufacture, and make up the bulk of the for less t-shirts. Unisex T-Shirt: No ordinary definition exists for a unisex t-shirt, but in general speaking a unisex t-shirt is made of lighter weight, fine cotton jersey, side seamed, and not cut as full as a regular men’s t-shirt. The sleeves are not extra short, like cap sleeves, but are not full elbow lengths either. The body length is commonly medium/long. However, there are wide variations in unisex t-shirts, depending on the manufacturer. Uzbekistan: Former U.S.S.R. satellite that became independent in 1991 and is illfamed for it is cotton production methods, which include forced child labor and environmentally damaging practices. Ethical apparel companies boycott Uzbekistan cotton; however, galore companies don’t care and have refused to join in the boycott because Uzbekistan cotton is cheap. V -Neck: Inverted triangle style of neckline. Can be deep or shallow, depending on the style. Usually bestloved by women, but a shoal style v-neck is usual amid men. Viscose: Typically another name for rayon, as in viscose rayon. Weight: Usually conveyed ounces per square yard. A 5.5 ounce weight cotton fabric means that one square yard will weigh 5.5 ounces. Fine jersey cotton fabrics ordinarily have lighter weights, while coarser cotton fabrics have heavier weights. Wife Beater: Derogatory term for a men’s tank top t-shirt. Usually refers to a basic white tank top. Yarn Dyed: Yarn that is dyed before it is woven into a fabric. |
