Half sleeve T-shirts can often be found in a men's wardrobe because they are comfortable and versatile clothes which can be worn with almost anything. Like their cousins, the short-sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts, half sleeve T-shirts are very popular as casual wear with people of all ages. Half sleeve T-shirts come in many designs, fabrics, colours, and sizes to fit just about anyone.
Men's half sleeve T-shirts come in a wide range of designs such as those with brand prints, witty phrases,
images, and even
plain ones. A design often associated with half sleeve T-shirts is the two-toned with the torso of the T-shirt being in one colour and the sleeves in a contrasting colour.
These T-shirts are a great addition to anyone's wardrobe as they can be matched with various styles of trousers, jeans, and even shorts to diversify one's look. In this guide, buyers can learn what are the different materials used to make men's half sleeve T-shirts, how to choose the perfect T-shirt, and how to buy it from online retailers such as eBay.
Half Sleeve T-Shirts Fabrics
When worn as undergarments in the 19th century, the only T-shirts available were plain white and made of cotton. They were light, comfortable, and served their purpose well. Over the years, they evolved into different styles including the half sleeve T-shirt. Though not as popular as the short sleeve T-shirt, the half sleeve design has a big fan base. Half sleeve T-shirts match well with the skater, rocker, and b-boy styles; however, they also look great on almost anybody else, regardless of their style.
The only available material for T-shirts used to be cotton. Since the invention of synthetic fabrics, however, T-shirts have become available in many types of fabrics, both synthetic and blends of synthetic and natural fibres. To help the buyer choose the most suitable fabric for his T-shirt, the most used fabrics and their features are presented in the next section.
Cotton
Cotton is the traditional material for half sleeve T-shirts. Most T-shirts are still made of 100 per cent cotton.
Cotton half sleeve T-shirts are very comfortable because they are light, absorbent, and aerated. These qualities make them perfect for everyday use and also for sports.
However, 100 per cent cotton T-shirts can be less durable than those made from other fabrics because cotton may shrink after many washes. This is especially the case if the T-shirt is lightweight and thin. To prevent shrinkage, fabric finish is often applied to cotton T-shirts. To increase cotton's durability, more robust fibres, such as polyester, are mixed with cotton to create
cotton blends that are more resistant while still maintaining cotton's qualities.
Polyester
Polyester is a widely used synthetic fibre for making T-shirts in general and half sleeve T-shirts in particular. The main characteristics of
polyester are resistance to shrinkage and wrinkles, and good strength, which enables it to maintain its shape. It is also very easily washed and dried. All these characteristics make polyester a good fabric for outdoor wear because it allows freedom of movement while eliminating moisture from the skin. However, polyester is not breathable and can be uncomfortable to wear in hot weather. This fabric is often used in blends with natural fibres such as cotton to create a fabric with extra strength and durability.
Rayon
Rayon is a semi-synthetic fibre because although it is manmade, it is derived from plant cellulose, which is natural. This fabric is comfortable, soft, absorbent, and breathable just like cotton. It is also easily dyed, so it is easy for manufacturers to produce rayon T-shirts of various colours. However, rayon T-shirts wrinkle quite easily and do not retain their shape. Rayon is often used in blends with other fabrics.
Jersey
This is a knit fabric which was originally made of wool. Now,
jersey is made of various fabrics including wool, cotton, and synthetic fibres. There are different degrees of jersey knitting such as the single and double knitting. Single-knitted jersey fabric is lightweight and very stretchable, while double-knitted jersey is thicker, heavier, and less elastic. The flexibility of jersey comes from the knitting while other properties come from the other fabrics blended with jersey during the knitting process.
How to Choose a Half Sleeve T-Shirt
Half sleeve T-shirts look great with almost any type of trousers, and are generally used to create comfortable casual outfits. To choose the perfect half sleeve T-shirt, a buyer must consider a few factors such as the fabric, design, size, and maintenance requirement of the T-shirt.
