Cotton has been used in clothing for thousands of years and remains one of the most popular materials for garments today.

Whether you’re looking for a comfortable t-shirt to customize with direct-to-garment (DTG) printing or you’re on the hunt for bulk white zip-up hoodies, cotton is a versatile, comfortable fabric that makes it perfect for a variety of uses.

What exactly does “100% cotton” mean? Even if fabric says it’s 100% cotton, all cotton is not created equal. So, how can you tell which kind of cotton is the best? Here’s what you need to know about clothing made from 100% cotton.

Benefits of 100% Cotton Clothing

To understand which kind of cotton is the best, it’s important to know why cotton is such a loved and widely used material.

Comfort, Insulation, and Breathability

As a natural fiber, cotton is loved for its feel on the skin. It’s very soft, making it comfortable to wear all day and night.

Cotton is also very insulating, meaning it keeps the wearer warm. This makes it great for using in knits and thicker materials in the cooler months.

While it’s insulating, cotton is also breathable — making it ideal for summer months, too. The movement and breathability of this fabric make it a top choice for t-shirts and many other garments.

Best for Printing

In addition to being desired for its feel and properties, cotton is also loved because it’s easy for printing. The best fabrics for DTG and screenprinting are 100% cotton, as the ink will bind the best to the material compared to synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon.

Certain fabric blends — like Bella + Canvas’ signature fleece — are made with polyester that acts more like cotton than a synthetic fiber. This means it is still a good choice for the previously noted print methods.

If you’re looking to customize t-shirts with custom printing, cotton is a top choice.

Different Kinds of Cotton

There are many different kinds of cotton you may come across when shopping for t-shirts or other garments. How will you know which is the best choice?

Here are the differences between some of the most common kinds of cotton, including C.O.E, ring-spun, and combed.

Carded Open End Cotton (C.O.E Cotton)

Carded open end cotton — also known as C.O.E. — is the cheapest option you’ll find.This is definitely one case where “you get what you pay for” is true.

T-shirts and other garments made from C.O.E. cotton are the kind that you want to immediately take off of your body. 

This kind of cotton is stiff and scratchy and will not have the softness or movement you and your customers want in a t-shirt. While C.O.E. may be the least expensive option, you’ll notice the inferior quality of the garment — and your customers will, too.

Ring-spun Cotton

Ring-spun cotton is a notch up from C.O.E. — but it’s still not the quality that you want.

This kind of 100% cotton goes from being picked to being spun into the yarn — without combing. This means all the impurities are left with the cotton when it’s spun into fibers. You can think of this as “unclean” cotton.

This is slightly more expensive than C.O.E. cotton, but the slight increase in cost does not equate to a noticeable enough difference in quality.

Combed Cotton

Combed cotton is much cleaner. After the cotton is picked, it’s combed, meaning all those impurities are removed. Then, the cotton is spun into fibers.

During this process, much of the original cotton is lost — which is part of why it’s more expensive. However, the difference between combed and strictly ring-spun cotton is clear: combed cotton is softer, more comfortable, and much more enjoyable to wear.

While this cotton is more expensive than C.O.E. and ring-spun cottons, 100% combed cotton is definitely worth the investment compared to the increase in quality.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals. The pesticides and chemicals used in cotton production — like the farming of many other crops — can be harmful to the environment.

This material is gentler on the environment and the wearer’s skin.

Because it takes a more delicate process to grow without pesticides, the cost is greater. Many brands and customers, however, are happy to pay a little more to have the peace of mind that the 100% cotton shirt they’re wearing was grown with consideration of the planet in mind.

Preshrunk Cotton

Nearly nothing is worse than washing a brand new t-shirt that fit perfectly when you got it, only for it to shrink a whole size (or more) after washing it. Garments made from 100% cotton are especially at risk of shrinking in the washer (and dryer), as they’re made from natural fibers. Preshrunk cotton is a premium option that makes your garments even higher in quality.

Preshrunk cotton is dried and shrunk before it’s cut and sewn into shirts. This means you no longer have to worry about the quality of your garments declining simply because they were washed.

Airlume Combed and Ring-spun Cotton

At Bella + Canvas, we use our signature Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton in all of our garments. This cotton, exclusive to us, is 25% cleaner than other options.

This means it has fewer impurities, is softer, more comfortable, and more durable. You’ll notice the quality difference between our cotton and other options — not just C.O.E. – but other combed and ring-spun options, as well.

We preshrink all of our cotton, so you won’t have the worry of your garments shrinking after one wash.

The Best 100% Cotton in the Clothing Industry

At Bella + Canvas, we pride ourselves on using the top cotton in the clothing industry. Whether you’re searching for the best t-shirts for printing your custom designs, or you want to sell blank wholesale garments as is, you’ll notice the Bella + Canvas cotton difference.

Using our signature Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, our 100% cotton garments have a luxuriously soft and comfortable feel that can’t be beat.

If you’re looking for the best 100% cotton, look no further than Bella + Canvas for the cleanest, softest cotton in the industry.