What is the most durable fabric for t-shirts?
Heavyweight (200+ GSM) ring-spun or Supima cotton - fiber length and yarn construction matter more than blends.
Tee death comes in three forms: collar sag, thinning, and pilling. Ring-spun cotton resists all three because the spinning process aligns long fibers tightly; Supima and Pima add staple length on top. Weight helps: 200-220 GSM shrugs off the friction that kills 150 GSM tees. Polyester blends add abrasion resistance but trade away breathability and gain odor retention - acceptable for gym tees, not daily ones. The construction tells matter too: a ribbed collar with a bit of elastane, side seams (tubular tees twist), and shoulder tape. A $40 heavyweight Supima tee typically outlasts four $10 fast-fashion tees and looks better the whole time.