Most people spend a good amount of time selecting the perfect shirt for their sports team, promotional, or personal events. Finding a shirt that matches your design exactly right is important, but you'll also want to consider the best material for your needs. Many clubs and groups find they will prefer a cotton polyester blend of fabric for their uniforms rather than alternatives exclusive to one material.
When it comes to fabric, people often gravitate toward 100% cotton — a sturdy, breathable, lightweight crafting resource that is especially suited for warmer climates. While 100% cotton is oftentimes the better choice, it’s worth considering all of the benefits of a 50% cotton 50% polyester blend before making your decision.
A 50/50 blend offers many of the same advantages of 100% cotton, but also avoids some of the pitfalls of the pure blend.
Advantages of a 50/50 Blend Over 100% Cotton
There are many instances when you'll want to use a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend over 100% cotton. While it is typically a slightly more expensive fabric than 100% cotton, it makes up for the cost by offering you a more durable, versatile, and comfortable material. Here are some of the reasons this blended fabric may be a better choice for your event.
- A Cotton + Polyester Blend is Versatile
A 100% cotton t-shirt has some limitations as to what it is best used for, but this is not the case with a polyester/cotton blend. It takes the benefits of both fabrics and combines them into one, making the fabric ideal for almost any purpose.
Whether ordering shirts for a sports team or your business or a community event, this material will get the job done. - A Blend of Fabrics Will Not Fade As Quickly
While 100% cotton is a sturdy, beautiful fabric, it is still much more likely to fade than a 50/50 blend. The synthetic fibers in polyester help the material hold its color better over time. In short, it will suit your needs really well if you intend to wash the shirts frequently.
When it comes to children, unless you're dealing with allergies (as mentioned above), the polyester/cotton blend will have a distinct advantage. Children’s clothing often requires multiple washes, and this blend maintains its color much longer as you treat and remove stains again and again. - Fabric Blends are More Durable
If you want a material that’s long lasting, polyester/cotton blends are known for their durability. Just as it won’t fade as quickly, it also won’t lose its shape or come apart as quickly. It’s also less likely to pill over time, meaning it stays looking new longer.
We all want clothes that will last, and a polyester/cotton blend offers just that. If you plan to wear and wash your shirt a lot, the blended fabric will be better suited to your needs. - A 50/50 Cotton Polyester Blend is Less Prone To Wrinkling
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about 100% cotton is that it is extremely prone to wrinkling. Obviously, wrinkles can be taken care of with an iron and a spray bottle, but most people prefer clothes that come out of the dryer ready to wear.
50/50 polyester and cotton is far less likely to wrinkle than 100% cotton, especially if you remove it from the dryer promptly. If you want to avoid the extra step of ironing, this blend is a much better choice. - Cotton Polyester Blends are Easy To Care For
Not only does 50/50 polyester and cotton come out of the wash ready to wear, it’s much easier to wash and care for to begin with. It’s a far less temperamental fabric than 100% cotton, and washes and dries with little fuss.
This fabric responds best to being washed in warm water and dried on low to medium heat. 100% cotton must be washed in cold water, dried on very low heat, and will not respond well to being overheated. Stick with the 50/50 blend if easier maintenance is your goal. - A 50/50 Fabric is Great For Activity
While 100% cotton is definitely breathable, it doesn’t respond as well to regular sweating and activity. And, as we mentioned, it’s harder to care for, meaning stains are a little trickier to deal with than they are in a polyester/cotton blend.
The 50/50 blend is not quite as breathable as 100% cotton, but it makes up for it by holding up well in regular activity, making it an ideal choice for sports and athletics. Polyester has wicking properties, meaning the fabric will dry faster during activities. - Cotton Polyester Blends are Less Likely To Shrink
Shrinking after washing and drying a 100% cotton piece of clothing is a bit of a gamble. However, the synthetic fibers of polyester will keep a blended fabric from shrinking. Although you can purchase pre-shrunk 100% cotton clothing, polyester/cotton blends are a little more reliable when it comes to maintaining size and shape.
If you’re purchasing t-shirts, you don’t want to be concerned with shrinking, and a 50/50 blend will give you peace of mind that the size you purchase is the size you will continue to have. - A 50/50 Fabric Blend Provides a Sporty Look
As mentioned when we talked about 100% cotton, sometimes you want your clothing to have a more professional look, but that’s not always the case. If you’re purchasing shirts for sporty or casual purposes, the polyester/cotton blend will suit your needs well. It’s comfortable and perfect for outdoor and indoor activities of a more casual nature.
Jerseys or event tees are a great example of shirts that would look great in a polyester and cotton blend. - Cotton and Polyester Fabrics Together Will Keep You Warmer
While it’s true that 100% cotton is the more breathable fabric, that’s not always a quality you’re looking for! If you need material that's going to keep you warmer, the polyester and cotton blend provides the comfort of the natural cotton feel with the warmth of the synthetic polyester.
Not all activities take place in the winter, or in warmer climates. This blended fabric will be a better choice for you if you need something that breathes but isn’t going to leave you wet and freezing after your activity.
When and Why to Choose 100% Cotton Over a 50/50 Polyester Blend
A 50/50 blend shares some of the same benefits as 100% cotton, but there are a few factors that set the latter apart — and might make it your preferred fabric.
- Good for Sensitive Skin: Unlike polyester, 100% cotton is hypoallergenic, which makes it an ideal choice for those who experience skin irritation or allergies. If you are purchasing shirts for children, say for a class or for a sports team, you may want to check to see if any of the children have skin allergies before making your decision.
- Breathable: A polyester/cotton blend is also breathable, but if the level of breathability is one of the most important things on your list, then 100% cotton may be a better choice. Because the material is not synthetic, it allows for more airflow, and is an excellent choice for very warm climates. However, as we will get to in a moment, cotton does not have any wicking properties, so it is cooler, but not the better choice if you are concerned about sweating.
- Good for Professional and Business Wear: While 100% cotton takes a little more work when it comes to proper care (ironing is typically necessary), it also tends to look a little more professional and makes for a better choice if you are primarily looking for business attire. A good example would be if you are planning to purchase polo shirts for your employees to wear while at work. For outdoor activities, 100% cotton would not be as ideal, as it is less durable and does not hold up to sweat as well, but for office use, this pure fabric can have a more professional look than the 50/50 blend alternative.
- Holds Screen Printing Better: Screen Printing, the process of imprinting a logo or image onto a shirt, is possible with a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend. However, it must occur carefully to avoid color bleeding and ensure a clear image. 100% cotton, on the other hand, will hold the screen-printed image better, and is less likely to bleed during the printing process. If you are going to have your logo or image printed on a 100% cotton shirt, the Gildan Heavy Cotton T-shirt is a great choice, as it is heavy weight, and likely to hold up well during printing.
Conclusion
In certain cases, 100% cotton is a better choice than a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend, but as you can see, the blend holds many advantages over 100% cotton. When choosing a fabric for your needs, take all of these things into consideration and you may find that the blended fabric is exactly what you were looking for.
Whichever fabric you prefer, you can find great, affordable shirts to meet your needs at Discount Mugs.
