Everyone should be familiar with three primary fabric types: cotton and polyester.
In this blog post, we’ll be taking a closer look at each of them to help you decide which fabrics are the best for you.
Cotton
Cotton is the most widely produced natural fiber on the planet. As a fabric, it’s known for its comfort and durability, which makes it one of the most popular fabrics used in apparel.
Feel and wear
Cotton is a versatile fiber that can be woven or knitted into many different fabrics like denim, flannel, jersey, and more. Each of which, of course, has a slightly different feel and wear.
All cotton fabrics are soft and breathable, which makes them perfect for warm climates and hot weather, and for people with sensitive skin.
Printing suitability
Cotton makes a great surface for printing. So if you want your design to be opaque and crisp, pick a garment made from 100% cotton. .
100% cotton products available on Printagon is "Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex T-Shirt"
Durability and care
High-quality cotton is super durable, which makes it less prone to accidental rips or tears. However, cotton isn’t as durable as polyester or cotton/polyester blends.
Just like most natural materials, it can shrink when subjected to high temperatures. So when washing a cotton shirt, use cold water and avoid adding too much detergent as doing so can affect the wear and tear of the material. Choose delicate cycle setting on your washing machine to prevent color fading.
Keep in mind that, because of different manufacturing techniques, products can feel different on your skin, even if they are all 100% cotton.
Polyester
Polyester is a man-made fiber that is synthesized from petroleum-based products. Polyester cloth was invented in 1941, so comparing to cotton, this fabric is a fairly new player in the game.
But despite that, polyester is becoming an increasingly popular option in the apparel industry. Polyester is especially valued by those who are looking for a fabric that withstands a lot of wearing and washing.
Feel and wear
Polyester is lightweight and has a slightly silkier feel to it than cotton does. It’s also perfect for sports. Apparel made from polyester traps the sweat against the skin. This means that polyester shirts may feel slightly clammy in warm weather, but warm in cooler weather.
Polyester shirts are usually light and thin and they may cling to skin a little. For those with extremely sensitive skin, polyester may cause a small irritation, but it isn’t as common when polyester is blended with other fabrics.
Is polyester stretchy?
Yes, polyester stretches naturally to ensure comfort for the wearer. Polyester doesn’t naturally shrink and 100% polyester won’t lose its shape even after a good deal of wear and tear and snap back into shape pretty quickly.
Printing suitability
For some time, printing on polyester was quite a challenge. But thanks to special dyes and advanced printing technologies, achieving high-quality prints on polyester fabrics is no longer a worry. Printed colors are vibrant and unlikely to fade with time.
However, since printing on polyester garments is more difficult than on cotton or fabric blends, polyester products are usually more expensive