Follow these tips to find high quality T-shirts in 2024

As T-shirts become more and more versatile in terms of when and where you can wear them, finding high quality T-shirts is more important than ever. The fear of overdressing is real, but at the same time you don’t want to be too casual. A high quality T-shirt can be the difference between no effort and effortless elegance. And that’s far from the only benefit high quality T-shirts have to offer. 

Investing in the right high quality T-shirts can be better for the Planet, your skin, and even your wallet. Use this guide whenever you’re shopping for high quality T-shirts to make the informed decisions.

What is a High Quality T-shirt?

Some say the fabric, others say the thread count, others focus on the experience wearing it. There are many ways to measure quality in a T-shirt, and we like to focus on all of them. If you gave us a T-shirt to evaluate, we would ask the following questions:

What is your T-shirt made of? How is your T-shirt made? Who made it? Who is it made for? How much does it cost to buy? How much will it cost per wear? How long will it last you? How is your experience buying it? Can you return to the brand? How does the brand represent itself? 

That’s we can narrow it down to three broader questions: 

1. How does the T-shirt benefit the wearer?
2. How does the T-shirt benefit the environment?
3. Does the brand operate in alignment with your values? 

We would say a high quality T-shirt is more than just what it’s physically made of. The what, the how, and the who all support the why.

Simply put, we want to make the world better by creating better T-shirts. But when you think about all the benefits a high quality T-shirt has to offer, you really start to ask yourself why wouldn’t you invest in a high quality T-shirt?

Related: 15 Reasons Why a Classic T-Shirt Will Be Your New Favorite Shirt

RAISE YOUR STANDARDS FOR PREMIUM T-SHIRTS

Premium T-shirts should be more than just something that looks good and feels soft. Premium is something that is, beyond its appearance, authentically valuable.

PAY ATTENTION TO WHO PRODUCES PREMIUM T-SHIRTS

If you wear a “premium T-shirt” that was produced by the fast fashion industry, there are a number of issues you might run into.

Sometimes labels are misleading. To know if the brand that produces your T-shirt or any of your clothes is legitimate, look for a certification label such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). That way you’ll know whether premium really means premium, or if someone is trying to sell you a cheap T-shirt in a premium disguise.

Oftentimes buyers realize the problems with false premium T-shirts too late. For the first few wears, the T-shirt feels fine. But eventually, the pristine look and feel starts to fade, and before you know it, you have to buy another one.

What’s so premium about something that has to be replaced over and over again? When you shop with the Classic T-shirt Company, you buy your T-shirt once, and you only replace it if you need a different size or you’re not satisfied with your order. Our customers come back to us so they can add more variety of high-quality T-shirts to their sustainable wardrobe.

PREMIUM FASHION SHOULD BE MORE THAN A PURCHASE

Premium should mean a worthwhile investment. How often do we buy a “premium” outfit for a special occasion or a single event, only to never wear it again? But we hold on to it because we spent so much on it, we keep telling ourselves it will be worn again… but when?

Classic T-shirts can be worn week after week, wash after wash. With proper care, you can expect the same feel and luster to last for years.

PREMIUM CLOTHING MAKES YOU PROUD

When you look at customer reviews, people talk about how they like good products. Premium products are something people will go out of their way to wear and share with pride. When you research premium products, pay attention to how people talk about how they feel after their purchase. If they’re proud to support the business, the brand, or themselves for giving it a try–those are all good signs you could feel the same way.

Look at customer reviews to find best quality T-shirt brands

Some brands operate in alignment with their values. Some brands talk a big game and don’t deliver. But customers are almost always honest, so starting with customer reviews is always a great first step to determine the quality of a T-shirt and the brand behind it. We treasure our customer reviews because the feedback helps us improve, and we like to share the feedback publicly so that new customers can get a sense of what it’s like to interact with us. 

While you’re scrolling through the comments, keep an eye out for the things that matter most to you. If you’re looking for a great T-shirt for workouts, what are the active customers saying about their experience? If style is more your concern, what are other fashion-conscious buyers saying in their reviews? 

Another thing to look for is your buying experience--does the brand handle returns well, have people been able to get in touch with customer service, what is it like to physically receive your Classic T-shirt in the mail?

Check out our favorite customer reviews.

Does High Cost Mean High Quality in T-shirts?

No, high cost does not always mean high quality in T-shirts or any type of clothing.

In the long run, high quality T-shirts should actually cost less, not more, than regular T-shirts. And that doesn’t just mean reducing the cost to the environment--high quality T-shirts will save you money over time by reducing your cost per wear. 

How much something costs is not so important as why it costs so much. The cost of Classic T-shirts accounts for purchasing organic cotton, paying fair wages, providing a plastic-free packaging and much more. 

What does the cost of a different luxury fashion item account for? We’re not here to make any assumptions, but if the brand won’t explain how they came up with their prices or how their T-shirts are made, that’s not a good sign. Shop with those who have nothing to hide.

Does High Thread Count Mean High Quality?

Not necessarily. 

Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch in a fabric. Sometimes this is how T-shirts are measured in quality, and while thread count is a good indicator of quality, there is more to it than that. 

A high thread count means the threads are more tightly woven together, making the fabric more durable and also softer. Our Classic T-shirts are made with 40 single, 137 GSM 100% organic cotton.

You could have a high thread count T-shirt made from inorganic cotton, and that T-shirt would not be as high quality as an organic cotton T-shirt. 

One reason is usually that inorganic cotton is not as naturally soft as organic cotton, and many companies will use chemicals to soften the T-shirt, and those chemicals will wash off whereas organic cotton is naturally soft. 

The other reasons have to do with the ethics of cotton production. We believe unethical production diminishes quality… after all, your favorite T-shirt will feel lighter when you can wear it without guilt.

Read more about why cotton is so comfortable here.

Look For the Right Cut in High Quality Women’s T-shirts

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to finding your favorite women’s T-shirt. Will you wear it at home, while running errands, dress it up for evenings out? Going for a look that’s more sophisticated, playful, both?

Many women’s T-shirts are cut more tightly to the body than Men’s T-shirts, which often limits how you can wear them. 

A high quality women’s T-shirt shouldn’t make you feel limited in how you can wear it. It should be comfortable but flattering and versatile, That’s why we designed our women’s T-shirts with the “boyfriend fit” so that the shirts have a looser fit than other women’s T-shirts but can still be chic and stylish. 

Our Women’s Crew neck T-shirts create a more laid-back look, while V-necks offer a solid base for an outfit that aims to incorporate relaxed style. Both can be layered, and both are available in long and short sleeve options.

The lightweight cotton feels luxurious and the fit that’s not too loose or too snug, and four different styles of the same tee allow you to choose the high quality ladies T-shirt that’s right for you.

Think High Quality Instead of High Quantity For Men’s T-shirts

Many men make plain T-shirts part of their standard outfit, and some guys try to save a buck by getting a multi-pack of cheap T-shirts. 

Do yourself a favor, don’t be that guy. 

First of all, it’s not saving you money to buy those cheap T-shirts which will only last so long before they get faded, starchy, and unflattering. When you go back to the store to buy your next multi-pack, you’re also spending money on gas to get to the store, you’re spending time getting there, shopping around, waiting in line… and the cycle continues.

Secondly, quality matters. You can wear cheap T-shirts around the house, to the gym, or while doing chores, but there are better T-shirts you can wear to work or a night out without looking like… that guy. 

But don’t feel like you should sacrifice comfort for style. The perfect T-shirt makes you look and feel great for any occasion. 

Even if you’re just mowing the lawn, you’ll be more comfortable in organic cotton, which is not only super soft, but helps your body maintain a comfortable temperature all year round.

High quality doesn’t always mean fragile. In fact, our high quality plain T-shirts are designed to last longer and not to shrink in the wash. You can wash and wear, wash and wear, wash and wear without losing quality. They’re also designed with drape in mind, meaning they’ll fit you snugly in all the right places while giving you room to breathe and move where you need it.

We find that semi-fitted shirts offer the best possible fit for men. We’ve got  crewnecks  and V-necks, long and short sleeves for the best guy you can be!

Related: Are expensive luxury T-shirts really worth it?

What are High Quality T-shirts Made Of?

High quality T-shirts start with 100% high quality, pre-shrunk cotton. That means no itchy synthetic fibers, and no shrinking or shape-changing after your T-shirt has gone through the wash.

What difference does organic make? A lot. 

In short, organic cotton is a healthier plant which yields a better quality fabric. Inorganic cotton is often softened with chemicals and treated with pesticides that find their way into the clothing and onto your skin. 

If you’re looking for the best T-shirts, be sure that your shirt is GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard) certified. That means the material in them is safe from harmful and unnatural dyes and chemicals, which is good for you and good for the environment.

To pick a shirt that’s good for the world, opt for fair trade. Here’s why that choice matters.

Who Makes High Quality T-shirts?

It’s no secret that the fashion industry relies heavily on human labor, and it should go without saying that the people who make our clothes deserve a fair wage and safe working conditions. 

Unfortunately, not every brand guarantees that their clothes were made following ethical guidelines. It’s easy to see how paying someone as little as possible enables producers to sell T-shirts for less, but underpaid labor can also produce T-shirts with high thread counts. 

But we wouldn’t consider that a high quality T-shirt. There’s nothing valuable about exploitation. 

We believe in transparency, and we make sure every link in the supply chain is held accountable to ethical standards. 

• We only source GOTS certified cotton. That means all steps in the process, from processing to trading are held to high ecological and social standards, and verified by independent parties.
• Our T-shirts are made in the United States, where workers are guaranteed fair wages and safe working conditions by the US department of labor--and by the Classic T-shirt Company of course!
• You’ll receive your GOTS certified Classic T-shirt in plastic-free packaging. 
• We ask that you use environmentally safe products to wash Classic T-shirts, both for the health of the planet and the health of your organic cotton T-shirt! 

Organic cotton is usually grown by local communities who aren’t just growing cotton, but using the land to grow seasonal crops. These farmers use tactics that partner with nature rather than chemical companies, and as a result their communities are protected from pollutants and they can use the same land to grow other crops rather than slashing and burning to make more room for farmland.

How Does the Brand Present Itself?

You can tell a lot about a company from how they present themselves. A seller of high quality T-shirts will want to reflect that with a high quality website, a presence on social media, and clear communication. 

It’s Easy To Navigate Their Website

High quality brands value your shopping experience. You should be able to easily find what you need, whether it’s a collection of best selling T-shirts, a women’s T-shirt style guide, or more information about the brand history.

Are there original high quality photos of their product?

Everyone uses some stock photos, but a high quality T-shirt brand will also feature plenty of original content specifically made to represent their products. The models you see on our website are all wearing Classic T-shirts. 

Is the blog written for a search engine or for you? 

Many companies invest in blogs in hopes of “ranking” on search engines like Google. What they’re doing is writing blogs around keywords, which are terms customers are likely to search for on Google. The blogs don’t have to offer valuable information or make sense, Google just sees the keywords and presents those blogs. 

But then if you’re reading something that doesn’t make sense, how are you supposed to make informed buying decisions? 

On the other hand, there might be brands who have very well written blogs, but it’s hard to find them because they don’t use keywords in their content. 

There’s nothing wrong with using keywords, but some brands focus on nothing else when it comes to their blogs, website, and social media. They don’t have anything to say about who they are and why they’re in business? 

We have a lot to say. But it’s not all about us. We publish these blogs both to help you find the Classic T-shirt Company, and to provide you with information that will help you make informed buying decisions. 

If you’ve been reading our blogs, we’d love to hear how you’ve been enjoying them and what other topics you’d like to see us cover. 

Ready to find your new favorite high quality T-shirt?

Browse The Classic T-Shirt Company’s collection of MEN'S tees and WOMEN'S tees.