Best Fabric For Custom T Shirts – tshirtprintlondon.co.uk

Rolls of t-shirt fabric in different colors

Cotton, cotton-poly blend, or performance polyester — the fabric you choose affects comfort, print quality, and how long your design lasts.

1. 100% Cotton

Soft, breathable, and the most popular choice for everyday custom tees. Cotton takes screen print and embroidery beautifully, though it can shrink slightly on first wash if not pre-shrunk.

2. Cotton-Poly Blend

A 50/50 or 65/35 cotton-poly blend resists shrinking and wrinkling, making it a durable choice for workwear, uniforms, and everyday office apparel that goes through frequent washing.

3. Performance Polyester

Moisture-wicking and lightweight, performance polyester is built for sports jerseys and activewear. It's also the fabric of choice for sublimation printing, which bonds ink directly into the polyester fibers.

4. How to Choose

Think about how the garment will be worn and washed. Everyday casual wear suits cotton; workwear and uniforms suit blends; sportswear suits performance polyester. Your printing method also plays a role — sublimation only works well on polyester.

💡 Pro Tip

If you're unsure, request fabric swatches before committing to a bulk order — feeling the material makes the decision much easier.

Fabric	Best For	Feel
100% Cotton	Everyday tees, screen printing	Soft, breathable
Cotton-Poly Blend	Uniforms, workwear	Durable, low-shrink
Performance Polyester	Sports, sublimation	Lightweight, moisture-wicking

Key Takeaways

Cotton is the standard for soft, breathable everyday tees.
Cotton-poly blends resist shrinking — ideal for uniforms.
Performance polyester is essential for sublimation and sportswear.
Your printing method can dictate the best fabric choice.
Request swatches before a large bulk order if you're unsure.

Pre-shrunk cotton minimizes shrinkage; always follow the recommended wash care.

Yes, with plastisol inks designed for synthetic fabrics.

A heavier cotton-poly fleece blend offers warmth and durability.

Yes, we offer organic cotton options on request.

Ringspun combed cotton has the softest, most premium hand-feel.

Yes, cotton-poly blends embroider just as well as pure cotton.

High-quality sublimation inks resist fading better than standard prints.

160–180 GSM suits everyday tees; 220+ GSM suits premium heavyweight tees.

Yes, though pricing may vary slightly between fabric types.

Tell us the use case and printing method — we'll recommend the best fit.

Daniel Hayes

Production Manager at TShirtPrintLondon, overseeing fabric sourcing and quality control.

Choosing the Best Fabric for Custom T-Shirts

In This Article

1. 100% Cotton

2. Cotton-Poly Blend

3. Performance Polyester