Fashion used to run in 20-year cycles. However, today it has become more and more about what people love wearing and how their fashion sense expresses their individual personalities.
T-shirts, jeans, and other garments are a few of the many worn-out, weathered-looking styles that people like wearing to express their various styles. They are also extremely comfortable.
Even if a customer is not shopping the racks at vintage stores for “lived-in” looking styles, many people are searching elsewhere for these looks to enjoy for years to come. You may be wondering, how exactly is that worn-in look achieved? How do you determine true quality pre-made worn clothing from those cheaply made?
Here we will share what you need to know about the craft behind pre-made worn and weathered-looking fashions.
Quality Craftsmanship in Weathered Clothing
While pre-made worn garments are new clothes made to look worn, they should not feel as if they’re in their final days when coming off the rack. They should still have the same quality as garments that are traditionally made to look brand new.
Outlined below are a few tips to consider when shopping for weathered clothing.
Premium Materials
Be sure you are buying clothing that is not only built to last, but are made of premium materials. Other important thoughts to consider are the sustainability and environmental impact of the garments in your wardrobe.
When shopping for weathered styles, think about the kinds of materials used to make the garment, and how the fabric feels. Clothing that looks worn and weathered should still feel soft.
If a weathered-style t-shirt is made of C.O.E. (carded open end) cotton, that is a strong indicator that the fabric will be scratchy, stiff, and uncomfortable. Combed cotton, on the other hand — or even better, the Bella + Canvas signature Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton — will be much softer, more comfortable, and is eco-friendly produced. It will also wear better over time.
Quality Techniques
You also want to search for clothing that has been carefully created. Look for side seams on t-shirts. This indicates that the garment was cut and sewn to fit a human, not a machine, as is done in tubular production, where there are no side seams.
Examine the garment for stray threads, uneven hems, and other similar signs that indicate the item was poorly made without a focus on quality. Another tell of true quality in weathered clothing is to seek companies that are transparent about their production practices. Those who cut corners won’t be open about theirs. Those that go the extra mile will want to make that known.
Choosing weathered clothes made with premium materials by brands that focus on quality will mean your clothes will stand the test of time — despite having a worn or lived-in look.
Price
It may be tempting to choose the cheapest option available when shopping for weathered clothing. However, you still want to get clothes that are both comfortable and made to last.
Price — along with the materials and the techniques used to make the garment — is a strong indicator of its quality. Oftentimes, cheaper styles are typically not made to last beyond a few wears. Go for brands that focus on quality, and choose to invest in pieces that will wear well over time.
At Bella + Canvas, we use premium materials and quality techniques to make all our clothes. Plus, you can order custom t-shirts with no minimum. This means you can choose the exact sizes, styles, and quantities of each garment that you need. .
Weathered Clothing Styles
When searching for weathered and worn-looking clothes, there are many different styles from which to choose. From raw seam hoodies to vintage-style printed t-shirts, there is something to suit just about everyone.
Raw Seam Sweatshirts
Raw seam sweatshirts are a great choice for that vintage, worn look while also getting quality garments.
This look is achieved by using a fabric’s raw edges as a garment design detail, where some of the hems — like the shoulder and the front of the garment — are sewn on the outside, with some slight fraying on the ends. The fraying does not cause the garment to separate, as there is a seam right where it appears. It does, however, give the sweatshirt a worn-in, laid-back look.
At Bella + Canvas, we have both raw seam hoodies and raw seam crewnecks, so you can choose your preferred style. They are made with our signature sponge fleece, assuring comfort and coziness.
Heathered Garments
Heathered garments are another way to get that weathered clothing look.
Heathered styles are made with a blend of cotton and polyester, giving them the benefits of both fabrics — soft, breathable, and shape retention. This heathered blend also gives the fabric a two-tone, weathered look.
The result is a t-shirt that is soft and durable, yet has that slightly worn look that so many want. Heathered shirts are perfect for wearing as-is, or can be customized with printing or embroidery to get even more expressive personal styling.
Garment Dyeing
Garment dyeing is a tried-and-true way that brands often achieve a weathered look in clothing. In this case, the fabric of the garments is dyed after the clothing item is cut and sewn. With traditional dyeing, the material used to make the garments is dyed before it is cut and sewn into the clothes.
Garment dyeing creates a more worn, vintage look that many people – including celebrities – adore. However, there are some downsides to this method.
The dyeing can be uneven across the garment, and it can inconsistently fade over time. If it is not treated correctly after dyeing, the dye may release onto other clothes when washed together.
While some brands use this method to achieve that worn-in effect, use caution when shopping for garment-dyed options. You may even consider garments that have been eco-friendly dyed.
Printing for a Vintage Effect
Direct-to-garment (DTG) and screen printing on t-shirts, hoodies, and other garments are all great ways to achieve that weathered clothing look.
Traditionally, 100% cotton is the best fabric for most printing methods. We usually recommend using a white underbase with DTG printing, however that’s not needed when going for a worn and weathered look.
Using a blended fabric with printing can be a great way to achieve a weathered garment appearance. Especially with DTG printing, consider not using a white underbase, and instead print your design directly on the hoodie or t-shirt. This gives it more of that faded, worn-in look that you’re seeking.
At Bella + Canvas, we also suggest that you adjust the saturation levels, experiment with different ink shades and varying fabric colors, as well. This can help to ensure that you get the desired result when printing.
Printing this way will give you a vintage t-shirt look — with whatever design you can imagine.
