If you say polyester, most people will think back to the seventies and those big tacky collared shirts. Others may think of those nasty, fuzzy blankets found in cheap motels. Let’s face it, polyester has gotten a bad reputation, but today’s t-shirts are giving polyester a second chance. Polyester shirts have become pretty popular and there are five big reasons why.

1. Polyester is Durable

The majority of our clients who purchase our 100% polyester t-shirts use them for athletic purposes. Running, biking, and crossfit teams all love the durability and comfort of a 50/50 cotton polyester blend like the Gildan DryBlend shirt or the 100% polyester moisture wicking Augusta Sportswear t-shirt.

Even high impact athletes can’t break these tees. Polyester lasts forever so your t-shirt won’t fade or wear out.

2. Polyester Doesn’t Shrink

Over the years we have noticed that certain 100% cotton shirts do shrink after several washes. Some models will shrink from the side, while others will shrink up. The popular Gildan Ultra Cotton t-shirt shrinks proportionately overall, but it still shrinks. Due to the nature of polyester fiber, garments like t-shirts do not shrink. Even tees that are a 50/50 blend will maintain their shape over time.

3. Polyester is Affordable

So all of this durability comes at a cost right? Nope. The Gildan DryBlend shirt is affordable and costs nearly the same as our 100% cotton best-seller, the Gildan Ultra Cotton. These tees are less than each on a small order of 25 tees (white tee, one ink design). It is also one of our cheapest tees.

4. Polyester is Sustainable (That’s right!)

If you are environmentally conscious, you may want something with natural organic cotton and wouldn’t even consider printing a tee that contained synthetic materials. Some polyester t-shirts are even made with a blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester; you can’t get any more sustainable than that.

Comfy tees that are organic and help you reduce your carbon footprint? What more could you ask for?

5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff with Polyester

Polyester fabric has wicking capabilities which means it helps pull sweat away from the skin. Not only will polyester help keep you cool, but it will also keep sweat off of you when things heat up. Since it doesn’t retain sweat like 100% cotton t-shirts, the chemicals in sweat won’t get embedded in the fibers which result in those weird and unsightly yellowish sweat stains.

Still debating on polyester vs cotton? We broke down the differences between t-shirt blends to help you decide which is right for you.