About Screen-Printed T-shirts

Before the 1970s, T-shirts were considered a utilitarian piece of clothing--something to wear while painting the bedroom or working outdoors. They became a fashion statement when the technology of creating color transfers that could be ironed on to shirts became affordable. Soon, people were wearing their hearts, politics and favorite cartoon characters upon their sleeves (and chests). Though they have gone through many permutations, T-shirts remain a utilitarian piece of clothing as well as a way for people to express their unique style.

Types

Screen-printed T-shirts run the gamut from a simple one-color print on a white T-shirt, to full-color prints on a variety of high-fashion T-shirts, complete with special-effects inks. Many companies have switched to digital imaging (rather than screen-printing) for creating full-color T-shirts, especially when the print run is small.
Screen printing and digital imaging each have their strengths for decorating T-shirts. For mass-produced decorations, screen printing remains the leading technology. The staple for the imprinted sportswear industry remains the basic 100 percent cotton T-shirt, but even this utilitarian style comes in a variety of fabric weights and dozens of colors. Most of the top manufacturers (Gildan, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom and Jerzees) offer a medium weight as well as a heavyweight basic cotton T. The main variation on the basic cotton T is the long-sleeve cotton T.
As for fashion, American Apparel of Los Angeles introduced ribbed cotton and women's cut styles that have proven themselves with the young and stylish. They have also introduced fashion forward basic men's styles that many young people prefer, with a more fitted shape.

Benefits

The benefits of screen-printed T-shirts is that they are affordable and adaptable to many types of outfits. They can be dressed down with a pair of shorts or jeans or can be glammed up with sparkle designs and a stellar fit. Beyond the budget options, there are the pricey designer shirts made by designers as diverse as Baby Phat, Juicy Couture, Gucci and American Apparel. They are also a common marketing tool, because screen printing is a relatively cheap form of printing and people wear T-shirts screen-printed with brands and marketing messages.

Features

Screen-printed T-shirts usually feature a design printed on the chest. More ornate shirts may have ornamentation on the sleeves, back, along the hem or around the collar. Black ink on white shirts is the most common style, because it is the cheapest and easiest type of T-shirt to print. Fashion T-shirts often feature multiple colors of ink or ink with special effects such as glitter ink, glow-in-the-dark ink or puffy ink.

Considerations

There are as many ways to wear screen-printed T-shirts as there are types of shirts. A shirt with a jagged hem looks great over tight jeans or leggings. They make ideal sportswear, paired with any athletic apparel. They are ideal for layering, especially the styles that are made of tight knits. Some people layer a few different-colored or differently-cut T-shirts, with a bit of each shirt showing. They work over thermal tops or under V-neck sweaters.

Warning

Many of the more fitted styles of T-shirts look great off the rack and not so great after a first washing. Check the label to see if the shirts was pre-washed, which can help you better predict how the size may change. Avoid washing the tightest or thinnest shirts in hot water, as the fabric or fit will not withstand several washings. Check the composition of the fabric. Cotton shirts can loosen over time, while those with a percentage of spandex or lycra will maintain their shape longer. However, the polyester blends affect breathability, which can be an issue for people who sweat a lot or who live in hot climates.