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KOTIS PICKS / T-SHIRTS
The best t-shirts for branded merch
T-shirts – it doesn’t get any more quintessential to the branded merch scene than this piece of apparel we all wear daily. It’s a blank canvas that can have infinite decoration, messaging, and color possibilities for your brand. And there can also be infinite number of t-shirts to choose from. To help, we’ve researched and tested hundreds of tees over the years. Here are all the styles we recommend.
KOTIS PICKS / T-SHIRTS
The best t-shirts for branded merch
T-shirts – it doesn’t get any more quintessential to the branded merch scene than this piece of apparel we all wear daily. It’s a blank canvas that can have infinite decoration, messaging, and color possibilities for your brand. And there can also be infinite number of t-shirts to choose from. To help, we’ve researched and tested hundreds of tees over the years. Here are all the styles we recommend.
* Pricing based on 1 location, 1-color imprint
District Perfect Tri Tee
The best tri-blend tee
Our top pick uses soft, smooth tri-blend fabric and has a side seam construction which fits better, washes great and keeps its shape longer than standard tees. One Kotisian said “I’ve had mine for 6ish years and wash it all the time and quality has not changed.”
as low as $10 *
Port & Co Tri-Blend Tee
A great tri-blend at a great price
If you want a tri-blend (cotton, poly, rayon) without breaking your budget, the PC330 is the least expensive one on the market. It’s constructed of tubular knitted fabric which reduces fabric waste and saves cost on material and sewing.
as low as $9 *
Marine Layer Signature Crew
A standout, super soft retail t-shirt
The Marine Layer claim to fame is how soft their shirts are, and this tee does not disappoint. It’s the shirt we use when doing giveaways that need extra brand panache. With a slightly wider neckline, it has a more fashion forward look. It only goes up to 3XL, which may not work for everyone.
as low as $34 *
District Very Important Tee
A slimmer fit + the most colors
This top selling t-shirt has a slimmer, fashion forward fit with combed ringspun cotton for a more premium feel. It also has more colors (55), than any other pick.
as low as $8 *
Port & Co Fan Favorite Tee
A traditional, looser fit
A tee with a looser, relaxed fit… better for Dad bods. It’s 100% cotton (besides the heather colors) with a removable tag, all at a great price.
as low as $8 *
Threadfast Apparel Epic T-Shirt
Inexpensive, yet still soft
This 100% cotton tee is a great combo of value and quality. It’s a relatively new tee, but has gained traction quickly. It’s also made from sustainably sourced USA cotton.
as low as $8 *
Allmade Tri-Blend Tee
The best sustainable tee
Our sustainable pick is a super soft blend that uses up to 50% Repreve polyester yarn, which comes from recycled bottles. All the yarn is spun, knit and dyed in the U.S.A.
as low as $14*
Carhartt Pocket Short Sleeve Tee
A durable workwear tee with a pocket
This is Carhartt’s best-selling work tee for 25 years. It’s a loose fit for easy movement and side seam construction for durability. The pocket is more than style here, it’s functional on the job. The 6.75 ounce is the heaviest of all our picks.
as low as $26 *
Comfort Colors Heavyweight T-Shirt
A popular pigment dyed tee
Comfort Colors tees are pigment dyed which leads to a unique faded look that we love (and gets better over time). It also creates a soft, lived-in feel right away. One of our account managers even said “I LOVE Comfort Colors forever and always.”
as low as $8 *
Port & Co Essential Performance Tee
If you need moisture-wicking
If you’re in need of something more sweat-wicking, Nike’s Dri-FIT tee is a tried and true option. The inside label is a heat transfer for tag-free comfort, and the Swoosh is on the left sleeve for a brand touch without getting in the way of your graphics.
as low as $9 *
Looking for more t-shirts? These are only our top picks, however, we can find whatever you need.
Additional info and FAQs
Tri-Blend
Tri-blend material is a mix of polyester, cotton, and rayon. Cotton adds breathability, poly adds durability, and rayon provides a nice drape. It’s typically more in higher end yarns than most cotton shirts.
Tri-blend fabrics are especially soft and comfy to wear. The rayon adds a smooth texture. Polyester adds strength and longevity, so tri-blend t-shirts can withstand more washes and wear than 100% cotton shirts without losing their shape or appearance. It also adds moisture wicking properties, but looses a bit of breathability compared to 100% cotton. The fabric tends to resist wrinkles better than 100% cotton, making them easier to care for. The blend also gives these shirts a slightly heathered appearance which we like.
CVC
CVC is a blend of cotton and polyester, with cotton being more than 50% (hence the name CVC: Chief Value Cotton). This blend was created to offer the best of both worlds: combining the natural comfort and breathability of cotton with the durability and wrinkle resistance of polyester.
Singles
Singles refers to the thickness of the yarn used to make up the t-shirt, and is expressed in terms of how many units of yarn are in one pound. The term comes from the spinning of the yarn, with “single” denoting a single strand of yarn before it’s twisted with others to create thicker yarns.
- Higher singles: A higher number (30s, 40s) indicates a finer yarn, which generally results in a softer, smoother, and more lightweight fabric. T-shirts made from high singles yarn are considered to be of higher quality because of their soft texture and comfortable wear. They’re particularly favored for premium or fashion-forward apparel.
- Lower singles: A lower number (18s, 20s) signifies a coarser yarn, leading to a heavier and often sturdier fabric. While these fabrics can still be comfortable, they might not have the same soft, luxurious feel as their higher singles counterparts. They are typically used for more durable, work-oriented clothing or budget-friendly apparel options.
Unisex vs Women’s styles
Most of our clients (~90%) only order the unisex style and then women order a size down (like you would with a concert tee). However, there are times when have a specific women’s style is nice to have and more fitting to your user. Almost all of our our picks have women’s equivalents (see the grid below), which was a general criteria for making it on our list.
Pigment-dyed
A pigment-dyed shirt is a garment that’s been colored using pigment dye, a type of dye that adheres to the surface of the fabric rather than fully penetrating the fibers like traditional dyes. This dyeing technique gives the t-shirt a unique, slightly faded or washed-out look that becomes more pronounced with each wash. Pigment-dyed shirts are known for their soft, comfortable feel and vintage, casual aesthetic, making them popular in fashion for their distinctive color and character.
T-shirt construction: side seam vs tubular
- Side seam: This is the most common construction method. It involves sewing panels of fabric together, including seams down the sides. This allows for a more tailored fit that follows the contours of the body.
- Tubular: A simpler method where a large tube of fabric is cut to length and sleeves and neckline are added. Because it uses less fabric and sewing, it’s cheaper to produce. However, the fit tends to be boxy and not as flattering.
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