The fabric used to make the cotton blend fabric in shirts for men is composed of partly cotton and partly synthetic fibres. The ratio of the two types of fibres vary greatly from 100% cotton to 100% synthetic fibre. Usually, shirts on the cheaper side have a greater composition of synthetic fibre. Pure cotton shirts are usually associated with luxury, comfort and quality.
That doesn’t mean that cotton blend shirts should be avoided. In fact, there are a few reasons why cotton blend shirts or any other type of non-pure cotton clothes are manufactured.
Lycra
The synthetic fibres used most often in the production of cotton blend shirts are polyester and lycra. Thus a polycotton shirt simply means that the shirt contains a large percentage of polyester. Lycra is also known under the familiar term spandex, renown for its ability to stretch and regain its original size. Lycra is especially useful in slim fit shirts so that they can truly espouse the contours of the body and increase its comfort.
Improving cotton
Cotton is a highly absorbing fibre and can hold a lot of water. All cotton shirts shrink the first time they are washed and although pure cotton shirts can resist many many cycles in the washing machine, it has a tendency to shrink at high temperature. Thus polyester is blended in with cotton fibres to improve the resistance of polycotton shirts to shrinkage and to keep their shape.
Polyester and non-iron
Resistance to shrinkage means that the shirt’s measurements will stay true, not only after the first wash but after many cycles. The ability of polyester to keep its shape has led to the invention of non-iron or easycare shirts where the polycotton fabric is resistant to creasing. The presence of polyester reduces the relative amount of cotton present and leads to the shirt drying faster as less water is being held by the fabric.
Although pure cotton shirts are associated with quality, luxury and comfort, cotton blend shirts offer a mix of qualities that 100% cotton shirts are not able to match.
