Before entering the clothing industry, I could not imagine it at all The cost difference between two T-shirts that look similar can be as big as ten times.
Fabric is the most important factor affecting cost. Even if the ingredients are the same, the price of good fabrics is often several times that of poor fabrics. How should we judge the quality of fabrics?
In public perception, natural fabrics are high-quality fabrics, and chemical fibers, recycled fibers, and plain fibers are not considered good fabrics. , scientific and technological progress has enabled various fibers to be spun with a skin feel that is no less than that of natural fibers, but natural fibers still have the advantages of green environmental protection, mature and safe technology, and a wide variety of processes.
Cotton is undoubtedly the most suitable fabric for making close-fitting T-shirts. It is soft, moisture-absorbent and breathable.
However, cotton is widely cultivated around the world and has a spinning history of thousands of years. Therefore, cotton cloth is also a mixed bag, good cotton and poor cotton. It also has a completely different skin feel.
The origin of cotton often represents the quality of cotton. Areas with sufficient sunlight often produce cotton with more slender fibers. Cotton with slender fibers is often called It is long-staple cotton, which is softer, more breathable and has a smooth touch similar to silk. Excellent origins have become natural golden signs, such as Xinjiang long-staple cotton and Giza cotton that we are familiar with; Suwen cotton used in five-star hotels; Memphis cotton that denim lovers can’t put down, etc.
Recent# Xinjiang long-staple cotton#has also become a hot topic in society. In fact, Xinjiang long-staple cotton varieties come from South America, and later introduced to Aksu, Kashgar and other regions in Xinjiang, the quality has improved from generation to generation due to Xinjiang’s unique long-term lighting conditions, large temperature difference between day and night, etc., and has been carefully cultivated by Xinjiang cotton farmers. Now it is the world’s leading brand of excellent cotton. One of the synonyms of cotton, it has become the representative of high-quality cotton in our country, and it is also an excellent raw material that has always been used.
Long-staple cotton is often associated with high count. Count is a concept derived from the wool industry, originally from Yorkshire, England. Wool quality grade evaluation standard refers to how many bobbins can be wrapped with wool spun from one pound of wool. It is later used in the fabric parameters of various pure natural fibers. The higher the count, the finer the yarn count and the softer the fabric. Skin-friendly, of course, the higher the requirements for the fineness, length, and breakage resistance of raw cotton fibers.
In addition, the textile process will also have a certain impact on the feel of the fabric. Cotton treated with fine processes is often of better quality. Cotton fiber has a variety of processing methods in the textile process. Common ones include washing process, combing process, wool etching process, sanding process, mercerizing process, etc.
In fact, these processes cannot be distinguished from each other, because the feeling varies from person to person: each process brings different changes in feel. Similarly, some people like the cotton texture with a surface covered in fine velvet, while others like the smooth, shiny cotton texture.
In addition to fabric, pattern is equally important. Excellent patterns often need to be adjusted in centimeters or even millimeters. Different pattern structures are also important. It will suit different body shapes and styles. For example, the V-neck and raglan styles come with slimming filters, but they are not suitable for sneaking.� Body shape; the dropped shoulder version has a strong casual feel and is more youthful and street-friendly; the waisted version highlights the figure, but is not suitable for plump figures, etc.
Details cannot be ignored either. Take the distance between the necklines as an example. Generally, ribbed necklines will have reinforced stitching, while the front neckline is pressed and the back neckline is embedded with protective strips. It is a very important anti-deformation process, which we commonly call “pin” and “inlay”. Observing how many pressure lines there are on the neckline and whether the pressure lines are smooth and smooth is one of the basis for judging the level of sewing technology. Similar to this, there are the number and smoothness of sewing lines such as cuffs and hems, and whether important details such as shoulders are smooth.
In addition to fabrics, pattern craftsmanship, etc., a simple plain T-shirt also has many doorways. After understanding It is not difficult to understand why the cost of a T-shirt can vary dozens of times. When I have time in the future, I will continue to tell you some of my understanding and views on this aspect in the professional field.
As I gradually learn about these methods, I have a strong feeling: it is okay to pay attention to the quality of clothing, seek high-quality fabrics, and pay close attention to the details of the craftsmanship itself. It exists as a brand concept, and for picky consumers like me, this is a brand concept that is highly recognized.
