Tips for Checking the Quality of Printed Shirts - Our Guide

Shirts are a staple clothing item in everyone’s closet. Our favourites are worn, re-worn, washed, and worn again—it’s no wonder why they wear out so much faster than anything else!

The shirts you wear may not last as long as a sturdy pair of denim jeans, but there’s no reason for them not to serve you for years. The same is true for custom t-shirts. You just have to know how to recognize quality!

There are a number of things you should be looking for in a good shirt. Whether you’re adding a piece or two to your closet or buying custom t-shirts in bulk, keep these three tips in mind:

1. Check the Shirt’s Construction

The stitches of a t-shirt keep everything together. To get a relatively good idea of how high quality a shirt is, check the seams. Good shirts have tighter stitches and threads of good quality. The pieces will hold together much longer and ensure the shirt serves its wearer for years to come.serigraphy

2. Check the Fabric's Quality

One of the easiest ways to gauge a shirt’s quality is by touching it. A high-quality t-shirt will never feel like it’s made from a plastic material and won’t last more than a few wears.

Check the thickness of the fabric. If there’s a print on the shirt, hold it against a light source to see whether it becomes transparent. If you can see through the shirt, the material probably won’t last you very long.

Crumple any part of the printed shirt in your hand and release it. If wrinkles are left behind, it’s an easy indicator of a poor quality print. If it has absolutely no wrinkles, though, it is likely made of synthetic material. A few light wrinkles are usually fine.

Softness is another trademark that's often associated with great quality custom t-shirts. That said, don’t take a shirt’s texture at face value. Some shirts are mechanically or chemically softened. Since they’re essentially partially worn out when you purchase them, they’ll show signs of wear and tear relatively quickly. High-quality shirts are soft because they are made with a higher thread count.

3. Check the Printing Technique

Our third tip for checking the quality of a printed shirt is inspecting the printing technique used. If you stretch the print, do you see the ink breaking? If so, the shirt won’t last you very long. Quality print shirts have ink that extends along with the threads which will last much longer.t shirt printing

Good quality prints don’t fade and discolour very quickly. If you touch the print and see the ink stain your fingers, walk away—that shirt won’t last very long.

Why is it important to check the quality of printed shirts?

Quality printed shirts can last you years if they’re cared for properly. That is, of course, if you purchase good shirts in the first place. Use our three tips to identify the type of custom t-shirts you should be adding to your closet and avoid the ones that will break down in a few washes.

Clever Print is a local printing company in Canada. We supply our clients with custom t-shirts, screen printing, embroidery, and more. Keep us on the top of your list when you’re looking for high-quality products!