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Which Fabric Is Best For A Summer T-shirt?

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s the best time to review our wardrobes and stock up on a few staple pieces. The most popular summer garment is, without a doubt, a t-shirt! 

Men's Closet

They’re comfortable, versatile, come in various styles and necklines are just so simple! 

You can wear a tee with shorts, jeans, and linen pants every day and under a summer suit for a garden wedding. 

But what fabric makes the best summer t-shirt that keeps you comfortable, dry and protected from the scorching sun? Let’s take a look!

Summer tee qualities 

First, let’s talk about what we want in our summer t-shirts. 

It has to be lightweight because that’s all we can bear in the high temperatures.

Breathability is essential to keep you cool and the air circulating. We also want the t-shirt to be absorbent to keep you dry (sweating, yuck!).

Lastly, softness is an added value as well as odourlessness as we all know that on some days, even a good deodorant isn’t enough!

Cotton 

Cotton is the ultimate summer fabric as it’s soft, lightweight, absorbent, breathable and perfect for keeping you dry. 

Your best bet is high-quality cotton. Otherwise, you may end up with seethrough and itchy tees you won’t be able to wear on a hot day.

Pima cotton and organic cotton are your best choices. This fabric is breathable and soft, looks good, and works well for coloring, meaning your tees are less likely to bleed color in the was.

Stock up on a few cotton t-shirts for various occasions!

Cotton and Lyocell blend

One of the most popular summer fabric combinations is a cotton and lyocell blend. Lyocell is also known as modal, and it’s made from wood pulp (cellulose). You can find some examples of modal t-shirts here: freshcleantees.com/collections/modal-t-shirts

Lyocell is considered one of the more sustainable versions when it comes to the environment as it uses fewer resources and is biodegradable.

When blended with cotton, Lyocell makes an almost ideal fabric because it’s lightweight, breathable, keeps you cool and dry, and doesn’t wrinkle as much as pure cotton. 

Besides that, the blend is also very soft, luxurious and durable, so you will be able to wear these tees longer and also contribute to reducing waste. 

Polyester and cotton blend 

Another common blend for tees is polyester and cotton. These tees are less prone to creasing, stretchier, heat-resistant and water-resistant, making them an excellent alternative for 100% cotton t-shirts! 

Of course, you want to look for high-quality blends to enjoy a soft and comfortable t-shirt for the summer. Choose trusted brands that have now almost cult-classic t-shirt options.

Linen

Besides these three most common fabric options, you should consider the ultimate summer fabric and fresh new looks. 

We’re talking about linen. It’s a natural and very breathable fabric. It’s loose-fitting and protects the skin from the sun while keeping you cool and dry. Linen is beloved for various summer clothes, from pants to classic shirts, so make sure you try out tees too. 

You can pair your linen tee with your linen pants or experiment with mixing and matching different materials.

Remember that linen wrinkles easily, so get your iron ready or make your peace with imperfections!

Materials to avoid 

Now that you know which fabrics to look for let’s briefly talk about materials to avoid. 

Overall, the big chunk of these consists of synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon that are not breathable, toxic, and non-biodegradable.

This makes them bad for you and bad for the environment. You will be hot, sweaty and itchy, and the earth will get another addition to the neverending landfill pile!

What do you think?

Written by Mark Greene

Mark Greene is writer and life coach dedicated to helping men to perform at peak level. He shares dating advice, style tips and strategies for building wealth and success.