Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1425980
S T A R T H E R E 2 0 2 1 T-Shirt Washes & Textures 50/50: Also known as poly/cotton, a T-shirt that contains a blend of 50% polyester and 50% cotton. These Ts typically have a heather look to them. Burnout: A burnout garment is usually one of 50/50 cotton/ poly or poly/cotton/rayon that receives a sodium bisulfate treat- ment, which burns the cotton away and only leaves the synthetic fabric content. Burnout Ts usually fall in the weight range of 3.5–4.1-oz. Fun Fact: "No two burnouts are ever alike, and the amount of burnout depends on how long the solution stays on the fabric," says Milissa Clark, Lane Seven Apparel. Consideration: "It's best to advise a client that you will get a distressed or vintage print with this kind of garment. If your cus- tomer wants a bulletproof solid print, this is not the right fabric for the job," says Jason Peters, S&S Activewear. Carded cotton: A type of cotton fabric made up of yarn that has been cleaned and formed into a parallel strand to remove impurities in the fibers. Carded cotton does not go through addi- tional spinning, like combed or ring-spun cotton, which explains its coarser texture. Combed cotton: Cotton that has a softer feel than carded cotton due to additional spinning. It does not have any impurities or short protruding threads, which are prone to breakage. After combing, the straightened fibers tightly join, minimizing fraying. CVC: 'Chief Value Cotton' refers to bi-blends with more than 51% cotton content. "Within our industry, it's typically known as a standard heather shirt that is not a tri-blend," says Clark. "Brands vary on the content from 50/50 and 60/40 to 52/48." Enzyme-washed: This wash treatment, either mechanical or chemical, uses a solution to remove the fine fibers from the surface of the fabric. This treatment results in a clean surface, as well as a soft hand. The color is slightly worn but does not look washed out. Consideration: "The enzyme finish makes garments ideal for DTG printing, which has become a fast-growing type of decora- tion in the industry," says Scott-Samuel. French Terry: Knitted terry fabric that features loops and soft piles of yarn, typically on the interior of the garment, leaving the other side flat. It comes in either 100% cotton or a blend. Garment-dyed: A fully constructed untreated garment that is dyed all at once. Fun Fact: "The garment comes out of the dye bath with that great already washed appearance and hand-feel that will eventually make for someone's favorite T," says Ostrom. Garment-washed: A process that takes a finished garment and applies a special wash. There are several different washes, including a pigment wash or a burnout wash, used to soften, preshrink, and/ or change the look of the garment. Heather: Depending on who you talk to, a heather T-shirt can take many forms. Most often, it is a cotton/poly or cotton/rayon Most often, heather T-shirts come in a cotton/poly or cotton/ rayon blend. (Image courtesy Delta Apparel) Typically, shoulder seams lineup with the wearer's actual shoulder line. However, the drop shoulder is back in style. (Image courtesy SanMar) " No two burnouts are ever alike, and the amount of burnout depends on how long the solution stays on the fabric." — Milissa Clark, Lane Seven Apparel 10 graphics-pro.com