Cotton is great, most commonly used natural material in the fashion industry.
Nonetheless, sometimes people believe that if a piece of clothing is manufactured entirely from a certain material, it should always feel and look the same, especially for specific clothing items such as T-shirts. In reality, though, this issue depends on many factors. Moreover, fabric feel is a highly subjective topic, so it might also differ from person to person.
5 Main Factors That Can Influence 100% Cotton T-Shirt Feel
Most individuals, when considering the textures of cotton products, consider the fabric’s softness to be its most desirable quality. The majority of relevant factors can also influence the softness or roughness of the cotton T-shirt, and they also apply to cotton clothes in general:
- fabric construction
- fiber and yarn quality
- thickness
- finishing
- for how long do you use certain cotton item
Fabric Construction
Cotton can be weaved or knitted in many different ways. Nonwoven cotton is not that common for clothing. Weaving is the production of cotton fabric by interlacing two sets of yarns so that they cross each other, and knitting is the construction of the elastic, wrinkle-resistant porous cotton fabric, by interlocking yarns. Woven cotton fabrics are stronger, but not as stretchy as knitted cotton fabrics. It can be difficult to tell if a cotton fabric is knitted or woven, especially if the fabric is very fine or has a printed design.
Cotton T-shirts, sweaters, underwear, sleepwear, socks, and underwear are usually made from knitted fabrics. On the other hand, button-up shirts, or denim are usually made from woven fabrics.
The type of fabric knit can also significantly affect its properties. If you are comparing two T-shirts, be sure that they are made from the same knit type. Cotton T-shirts are commonly made from jersey or interlock knit, so when comparing, items should be both made from the same knit type.
Cotton Fiber and Yarn Quality
Fiber properties and fiber lengths can vary among different cotton species. There are many species of cotton, but four spices are commonly commercially grown. The stage of fiber development also can be relevant, or growing conditions. Growing quality cotton fibers is a complicated process.
Fiber quality is determined by its length, strength, fineness, uniformity, resistance to pilling, absorbency, and color. Quality affects the value of cotton fiber. Fiber length is probably a key parameter for achieving strong, durable but soft textiles. Staple length is the average length of a bundle of fibers. Cotton fibers are usually classified as long or short staple cotton. Short staple cotton is fuzzier and not as soft as long staple cotton. Therefore, staple refers to the length of the individual fibers used to produce cotton yarn.
High-quality cotton fibers are usually pure white or off-white, with no yellowing or discoloration. Any discoloration or staining may indicate lower-quality cotton.
High-quality cotton should be free of any foreign matter, such as dirt, leaves, or seeds. Impurities can negatively affect the quality of the finished fabric.
The process of making yarn from the fiber is called spinning. There are also different types and qualities of cotton yarn, and it can be also made from both long staple and short staple cotton. In addition, there are different yarn spinning methods. Ring spinning produces higher-quality yarns than rotor spinning. Then, for example, ring carded yarns are rougher than ring combed yarns.
It can be difficult to identify the quality of cotton fibers used in cotton items. Bear in mind that the textile or fashion industry is usually focused on getting relatively acceptable results with low costs.
You can get some general idea by checking the fabric feel, especially fabric softness or smoothness as an indication of good quality cotton, although these traits can be also improved through the finishing process.
Labels usually indicate just fabric composition.
Organic cotton indication is also common, or Sandard 100 by Oeko-Tex®, which ensures that the textile is free from harmful substances. These labels are not related to fiber quality.
Less commonly, they have the label “combed cotton”, which is directly related to fiber quality since it implies that short cotton fibers are removed.
Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense) is one of a few kinds of cotton that are considered to be an extra-long staple. If there is some sort of Pima cotton label (or Supima- Pima cotton grown in the U.S.), this definitely refers to good-quality fibers. Generally speaking, combed or Pima cotton is softer than ordinary cotton.
Egyptian cotton is thought to be of high quality, yet Egyptian cotton label is more focused on geographical origin than individual cotton species.
Fabric Thickness
When comparing different cotton items, fabric thickness can be a factor. Fabric thickness depends on the thickness of the cotton yarn, fabric weight, weave type, type of cotton fiber, fabric construction, and sometimes even the finish applied to the fabric. Thinner fabrics will feel lighter and more delicate, while thicker fabrics will feel heavier and more substantial.
Fabric weight seems most relevant and it depends on the amount of yarn used per square meter of the yard. However, if different waves or fibers are used, for example, cotton fabrics with the same weight might not have the same thickness.
Dyeing, Finishing, and Printing
The dye can also make cotton fabric feel different, depending on the type of used dye or dyeing process. For example, it can slightly decrease air permeability.
The finishing processes used on the fabric can also affect its feel. The finishing process can involve various treatments of cotton fabric in order to improve fabric texture and softness, to make it wrinkle resistant, antibacterial, flame-retardant, water and stain repellent, or even to add fragrance.
Therefore, cotton items can have a variety of treatments, which may also contribute to their different textures. Chemical finishing agents can also increase cotton item weight, by increasing its density or creating a thin film on the fiber surface.
In addition, frequent washing and wearing can diminish finishing agent effects.
The print is one of the reasons cotton can feel differently. You presumably already know that heavier printing can cause the fabric to feel more rigid.
Cotton Product Usage
Cotton’s characteristics are known to change over time, and cotton items have a limited lifespan. Cotton clothing normally softens with frequent wear and washing.
The most obvious similarity is the change in how a pair of jeans feels after a multitude of wears and washes vs. when they were initially purchased. Cotton T-shirts are no exception. Also, too much detergent can cause it to feel rigid.
Fabric finishes can also wear off with time, making them feel different than when they were first purchased.
Conclusion
Cotton clothing texture is mostly determined by the fabric’s construction, fiber or yarn quality, thickness, finishing, and length of usage. Unless you buy two identical goods, it is more likely that a 100% T-shirts will feel different. However, in this case, also, they may feel different if you use one more than the other.