2010 T-Shirts Overview : Fabrics Round-Up
Over the past year, the t-shirt market as a whole saw the culmination of recent developments in “ultralight”, “superlight” and “superfine” cotton t-shirts at the forefront in the market.
Fabric weights around 120-135gsm were previously thought of far too thin for t-shirt manufacturing - the cheapest t-shirts on the market, good for single promotional use only before being used to chamois the car. But advances with textile technology delivered 100% cotton knits in superfine weights that could cling, drape, take a print job and withstand the household wash like never before. Brands like Diesel and Industrie printed their ultralight slim fit t-shirts with incredible effect, so it’s not just about the “distressed” graphic, or the applique, but the overall feel of softness and “vintage”.
Gossamer T-Shirt Material: Much Ado About Nothing Much?
Excellent offerings of these almost-not-there t-shirts for men and women came from Australia, “like having nothing on” said leading blank clothing distributors in their advertising for popular new lines Breeze and Ibiza, men’s and women’s models having been designed in France and destined to become the next-big-thing as designer blank t-shirts. We’re talking your everyday, rock-and-roll, modern tees made from pure cotton jersey so light and fine as to bear wash-care instructions like you’d expect to see on “designer” hosiery. Decorated and re-branded, these turned up all over the retail sector for 2010 - as designer-style tees with a luxury price tag, no less. With this gossamer-thin achievement accepted by the market, it seemed like t-shirts could not get any lighter, without disappearing completely.
T-Shirts “American-Style”: Those New Sensations Explained
On the more grounded side of t-shirt fashion’s “cutting edge” have been recent blank t-shirt releases like Luke and Lisa – still very light but with a little more substance than gossamer-thin. Luke and Lisa felt a little more substantial and silenced the doubters by proving that they could hang together in the wash time after time. Also called “American style t-shirts”, the finer feel of Luke and Lisa results from an enzyme wash treatment in the manufacturing process - another new development that has enhanced the silkiness and comfort of t-shirts men and women want to be seen in for the moment at least.
Organic Cotton: Acceptance But What About Demand?
Eco-friendly organic cotton t-shirts have been making marketing news increasingly in recent times . “Organically-grown” is earth-loving principal that’s appealing to everyone and evangelised in all quarters, but we are still a great distance from inspiring strong consumer demand. It’s not very far into the consumer awareness campaign, but despite the worthiness and conceptual appeal of organic cotton manufacturing, most buyers are still failing to agree on parting with that little bit extra needed to support environmentally-friendly cotton farming. With cotton being one of the most demanding plants to grow on the planet when it comes to the need for water and pesticides, organically-grown cotton is an idea whose time has come for the planet - if not for the entire t-shirt market just yet. Far from being a fad, organic t-shirts are bound to become the norm. It’s an environmental imperative.
Woolen T-Shirts: A Curly Story
Once more, Australia is turning about by designing and manufacturing t-shirts on-shore for a change with 100% pure merino wool , knitted superfine and ultralight into t-shirts that many people (from agoraphobics to adventurers) want to feel good and be seen in. Once thought of as strictly fit for adventure-wear, t-shirts made exclusively from merino wool are now being seen on weekdays and weekends as wear-alone fashion for all seasons. It’s a very new idea, woolen t-shirts as modern underwear or outerwear. More lightweight and ”airy” than cotton, superfine merino fabric doesn’t “itch”, goes through the washing machine like a dream, and resists dirt and odour build-up.
