Of the 100 billion garments sold worldwide each year, it is t-shirts that take the top spot on the podium. Produced in hundreds of millions of units every year, this wardrobe staple is quite simply the number one item in the textile industry. Beyond its social and environmental impact, this frenzied production creates another issue: the difficulty of identifying a quality t-shirt among the masses. In this article, we will give you a few pointers to recognise a good t-shirt and help you invest with full knowledge of the facts.
Choose trusted brands.
Behind the price of a t-shirt lies a number of associated costs: purchasing raw materials, paying partners, brand and workshop margins, overheads, transport costs, etc. As a result, a (very) low price can only be achieved by cutting corners on the elements mentioned above, most often at the expense of human and environmental rights. Unsurprisingly, we therefore advise against buying from fast-fashion retailers and invite you to favour responsible brands worthy of trust. To give you an idea, a new t-shirt costing less than €25-30 is highly unlikely to have been designed and produced ethically.
Why is fabric weight crucial to the quality of a t-shirt?
Fabric weight, expressed in grams per square metre (g/m²), is one of the best indicators for assessing the quality of a shirt. The heavier the fabric, the denser it is, and often the more durable and resistant it will be to repeated wear. A good fabric weight also helps the garment retain its shape, prevents twisting after washing and provides comfort suited to the season.
How do you choose the fabric weight suited to your needs?
On a t-shirt, fabric weight refers to the weight of the material per square metre. Generally speaking, the heavier and denser a t-shirt is, the stronger and more durable it will be. However, spinning technique, raw material and knitting also come into play. For a four-season t-shirt with a worthwhile lifespan, we recommend avoiding weights below 140 g/m2, which are decidedly too light and prone to twisting. Likewise, knits exceeding 250 g/m2 will be of little use between May and September because of their thickness. Ultimately, models with a fabric weight between these two values seem the most interesting to us. At Hast, this is precisely the range we have chosen, with t-shirts in organic cotton at 160 g/m2 and t-shirts in cotton-linen at 235 g/m2. The ideal balance of durability, versatility and longevity.
The impact of fabric weight on t-shirt comfort and durability.
A well-chosen fabric weight affects:
- Durability: a denser fabric withstands frequent washing better.
- Comfort: the thickness of the fabric affects breathability and suppleness.
- Shape retention: a good fabric weight helps the shirt retain its original size and shape.
At Hast, our organic cotton t-shirts weigh 160 g/m² for everyday wear, while our cotton-linen styles range from 155 to 235 g/m², offering fabrics suited to different seasons and activities.
Favour natural materials.
In direct contact with the skin, nothing compares to a natural fibre. As t-shirts are worn next to the skin, we suggest choosing an eco-friendly, hypoallergenic fibre such as cotton, wool, linen, hemp or ramie. For your information, some of these are covered by labels incorporating social and environmental requirements that guarantee responsible production conditions. For example, our organic cotton t-shirts are certified GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards), ensuring responsible growing, harvesting and processing conditions.
It is also possible to combine several natural fibres to adjust a fabric’s properties. At Hast, this is precisely why we have blended cotton and linen, combining the softness and suppleness of the former with the breathability of the latter. With 70% cotton and 30% linen, our summer t-shirts bring together the best of both fibres for a unique feel and performance.
Choose colours you will not tire of.
Another important consideration for a t-shirt is its colour. While everyone has in mind the iconic white model worn by Marlon Brando, James Dean and Steve McQueen, advances in dyeing have clearly opened up a world of possibilities in terms of colour. Browse the rails in our collections and you will see for yourself, with particularly effective muted shades to discover.
The t-shirts in our new spring-summer 2025 collection have been made and coloured using the Garment Dye technique. This technique consists of dyeing the garment once it has been made, unlike the traditional method of making a garment from already dyed fabric. The advantage of this technique? A wider choice of colours throughout the season. In addition, the resulting colours have a slightly faded, more authentic look. This technique has also been used for our chinos, work jackets and shorts, allowing the colours to work together perfectly.
- Tucked into ecru double pleat trousers, consider our timeless green cotton and linen T-shirt.
- Paired with ecru linen shorts, a striped cotton and linen T-shirt would be perfect for a light, refined summer outfit.
- Paired with white trousers, nautical blue or navy blue would offer a most harmonious contrast.
In all these situations (and many others), you could also place your trust in two new arrivals of which we are rather proud: the “no-dye” t-shirt which has undergone no dyeing treatment, and our subtly embroidered statement pieces.
Take a look at our care advice.
Before and/or after purchase, it is essential to consult the care instructions shown on the label to look after your (future) t-shirt properly. This is all the more important as this garment is one of those that needs washing most frequently. Between us, they are very often the same: machine wash at 30°C, moderate spin at a maximum of 600 revolutions per minute, air dry away from direct sunlight, and you are all set. As these recommendations may vary slightly depending on the composition of the piece, we still suggest taking care: remember that the lifespan of your garment largely depends on it.
Over to you.
Billions of t-shirts are produced every year, and finding the right one in this ocean of clothing can feel like a treasure hunt. By taking an interest in the criteria we have just listed (brand, fabric, weight, colour and care advice), there is no doubt that you will find your way to the holy grail. A way to shop with confidence and awareness, and to buy a t-shirt that suits you in every sense of the word.
