The bands, and what they feel like
200–220gsm is a substantial retail tee. 230–260gsm reads as premium and holds a boxy silhouette. 280–300gsm is streetwear territory. Above 320gsm the shirt is closer to a light sweatshirt and starts to feel wrong in summer.
Buyers describe these as "thick" and "heavy", which is imprecise. A 300gsm single jersey and a 300gsm loopback are not comparable garments even though the number matches.
- 220gsm: premium retail tee, still drapey.
- 230–260gsm: the streetwear sweet spot, holds shape.
- 280–350gsm: statement pieces, winter drops, less forgiving in heat.
What heavy does to print
A heavier fabric absorbs ink differently: less strike-through, so a print sits on top rather than sinking in. That reads as more saturated colour, and it also means the print feels thicker.
The bigger issue is cure. Heavy cotton holds moisture longer out of the dryer, so under-cured prints on 300gsm are more common than on 180gsm. Ask your printer to slow the belt rather than raise the temperature.
Shrinkage and the first wash
Heavier knits typically shrink more than light ones, because there is more yarn to relax. A 4–6% length shrink on the first wash is normal; 8% is a quality problem.
For buyers this matters at the sample stage: wash the sample before you approve the size chart, not after the bulk run.
What we hold
We hold 16 styles at 220gsm and above, from $3.20, spanning 220 to 350gsm — including garment-dyed, washed and gradient finishes.