50/50 Blend vs. 100% Cotton Shirts

Wednesday, July 9, 2014


So you have an upcoming event that you would like to order shirts for, but you’re having some trouble picking out what type of shirt to get.  You see some cotton shirts and then some 50/50 blends.  What’s the difference between the two? What would be the best one for me to pick?  Luckily, we have some answers to your questions.

100% Cotton: Pure cotton shirts are made from the natural fibers of the cotton plant.  100% cotton shirts are a breeze for screen-printing and great for retaining screen-print inks.  Cotton shirts are extremely durable and breathable, making it a great choice for hot and humid climates.  Cotton may require ironing at times and are pre-shunk, but there is always a possibility of more shrinkage.  And no one really likes shrinkage. High quality 100% cotton shirts that we think rock are: Gildan® Ultra Cotton and Hanes ® Beefy Tees.


50/50 Blend: This blend is comprised of 50% cotton and 50% polyester.  Combining the natural fibers of cotton with the synthetic polyester fibers gives garments the best of both worlds.  By blending the fibers, garments feel very soft and light-weight. The blend also makes these shirts breathable.  Since polyester is cheap to manufacture, these shirts usually cost less than 100% cotton.  50/50 blends are durable and do not shrink.  50/50 blends are more difficult to screen-print because certain inks tend to bleed during the process.  However, experienced screen-printers have tricks up their sleeves to make it possible.  Just make sure your screen-printer has experience with printing on 50/50 blends, and you should be good to go! Check out these rockin’ 50/50 blends: Jerzees® Heavyweight Blend and Port & Company ®

Overall, it’s a matter of personal preference when choosing between a 50/50 blend or 100% cotton shirt.  Ask for samples to touch and feel when making your decision.  Most people will be happy with either one, and if you’re having trouble deciding, give Shirts For Anything a call, and we can help you out!  

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