Shirt Facts

It's true what they say: "Knowledge is Power." And when you're faced with the challenges of dressing your team for success, a little knowledge can go a long way—from knowing what's popular and why... to what terms mean when you see them on a label or in a catalog... even to fun tidbits of information people find interesting. All this can simplify your decision making, streamline your process, and show your team you've done your research.

Here, we've provided you with some of that knowledge... peruse it, have fun with it, use it in whatever way you can to put the power to work for you.

Digitizing

The first and most critical stage of embroidery is in the "digitizing" of your logo. This is the creation of the embroidery file that tells the embroidery machines how to sew your logo. There are many "cut-rate" shops who will skimp on the cost and, therefore, professionalism of the digitizing. What you get is a logo that has insufficient thread-count to create a quality logo or they have used an embroidery pattern that leaves the threads stitched in a sub-optimal manner.

We will ensure that your logo is created in the most precise method possible by employing highly experienced professionals. Whether your logo is simple with one color or highly intricate, it will be sewn with the highest quality.

Equipment

Secondly, you want to know that your custom apparel is being produced on the latest equipment in the industry so you benefit from the advances in technology. This will also ensure a top quality product.

Experience

Experience in the embroidery staff is also a crucial element because lack of experience can negate the first two. Knowing how to properly set up and align the garments on the machines is the difference between consistent and high quality garments and poorly produced ones. Our production facility management has been in place for well over ten years and is highly experienced at turning out the highest quality embroidered apparel.

Price

As you might imagine, having the highest quality digitizing, equipment, and experience is not always the cheapest but we would not be comfortable doing business any other way. Our goal is to be your custom apparel partner for a long time. In order to do that we know we need to provide the highest quality products at reasonable prices and then stand behind them with unsurpassed customer service.

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Casual Fridays and Dress Down Days

In order to compete in the employment marketplace, employers in the 90s searched for creative options to attract new employees and retain present ones.

So what happened?

• 90% of all US companies have casual day of some kind
• 1/3 of all companies allow casual clothing every day
• More the 40% of all companies have expanded their casual dress options in the last three years

Casualwear Businesswear Human Resources Survey

• 87% - improves morale
• 81% - perceived by employees as a benefit
• 51% - employees save money because of casual dress
• 47% - improves productivity

Given the chance, 96% of employees take advantage of dressing casual.

What employees said

• 81% - improves morale
• 57% - I'm judged now more on my performance than appearance
• 57% - better camaraderie with managers and co-workers
• 51% - do best work when casually dressed
• 43% - boss is more approachable

46% reported that if they were offered two equal positions, the employer who offered casual days every day would get preference.

Corporate Casual Levels

Boardroom Casual

Business Casual

Relaxed Casual

Dress Down Casual

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When holiday time rolls around, showing appreciation to clients and the people on your team can prove to be a smart move for encouraging more business and productivity in the office. Give gifts of golf shirts, wovens, tees, fleece, or caps tastefully decorated with your logo, and you can increase the benefits to corporate identity programs.

• Over 75% feel it helps improve their business
• Over 55% believe it leads to increased sales
• Over 70% consider it an important part of their marketing effort
• Over 85% believe it improves employee morale

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• 21.5 million men
• 5.1 million women
• With 2.1 million, juniors (aged 12-17) represent the fastest-growing group
• With 7 million, the 30-39 year age group is the largest percentage at 26.4%
• 1 in every 4 golfers is a senior (2.7 million aged 65+)
• 43% hold Professional/Management/Administrative occupations

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Most other fabrics have 70-80 tendrils of yarn per strand. Microfiber has 216 tendrils per strand. It's more finely woven, more luxurious, also windproof and waterproof.

Question:

What is the difference between "Pique" and "Interlock" weaves in a Polo/Golf shirt?

Answer:

Pique is more of a looser weave that is visible to the eye. Interlock is a micro-weave that gives the shirt a very smooth/soft texture.

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What is ring-spun cotton?

Answer:

Ring-spun is a process used to soften the cotton strands before they are woven into shirt fabric. The process makes for a soft feel.

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What is mercerized cotton?

Answer:

Mercerized is a process which uses a specialized gas to remove the fuzziness from cotton strands while still on the spool. The result is a smooth texture with an elegant sheen.

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Glossary

1x1 Rib Also 2x2 rib knit trim. The width of each rib is the same as the width

between each rib. This helps the garment retain its elasticity.

2-Way Zipper A zipper with two zipper pulls so that it can be unzipped from either

direction.

All-Weather Microfiber 100% Polyester Microfiber with waterproof coating and fully taped

seams. 100% waterproof.

Anti-Pill A treatment applied to garments primarily to resist the formation of

little balls on the fabric’s surface due to abrasion during wear.

Argyle Typically a diamond pattern woven into a garment.

Baby Pique Very small pique knit. See Pique Knit.

Back Pleats Tiny folds in the material on the back of a garment that allow for more

room and comfort.

Back Yoke A piece of fabric that connects the back of a garment to the

shoulders. This allows the garment to lay flat and drape nicely.

Basket Weave (Hanes 044X) Knit process of weaving yarns back and forth resulting in a two-tone

appearance.

Birdseye Jacquard A small geometric pattern with a center dot knit into the fabric.

Blanket Stitch A decorative stitch used to finish an unhemmed blanket. The stitch

can be seen on both sides of the blanket.

Box Pleat A single, uniform fold in the center back of a garment to allow for

more room and comfort.

Brushed Cotton Cotton fabric that is brushed to remove all the excess lint and fibers

from the fabric, leaving an ultra soft, smooth finish.

Button-Through Sleeve Placket A small placket located on the sleeve, by the cuff, which contains a

single button closure.

Casual Microfiber 100% Polyester Microfiber fabric that is water repellent and wind

resistant.

Cavalry Twill A type of Twill Weave (Pattern of the Twill).

Chambray A dressier fabric woven with white threads across colored threads.

Collarette The trim around the neck of a t-shirt or sweatshirt.

Combed Cotton Cotton yarn that has been combed to remove short fibers and

straighten or arrange longer fibers in parallel order.

Cool Mesh Similar to a pique knit but with a more open texture for increased

breathability. Features a soft hand for better comfort.

Cord Locks A stopper or toggle on a drawcord that keeps the cord from retracting

into the garment.

Coverseamed A finish in which two needles are used to create parallel rows of

visible stitching. It is used around the neck, arm holes, waistband,

and wrists of garments to create a cleaner, more durable finish.

Denier A density of the weave in a nylon or polyester product

Double-Needle Stitched A finish used on a sleeve and/or bottom hem that uses two needles

to create parallel rows of visible stitching. It gives the garment a

cleaner, more finished look and adds durability.

Dry-Fiber (PING) A high activity sportswear fabric that absorbs, wicks and dries faster

than average golfwear.

Duck Cloth Tightly woven fabric that provides wind and snag resistance.

Dyed-To-Match Describes buttons or trims that are the same color as the garment

onto which they are sewn.

End-on-End A 2-ply weave of different color yarns that run parallel against each

other so that both colors are visible.

Enzyme Washed A laundering process in which a catalytic substance is added to

create a chemical change in the fabric resulting in a very soft finish,

smoother appearing surface and reduced shrinkage.

Etched Tone Buttons A more upscale horn tone button with an etched pattern.

Extended Tail When the back portion of the garment is longer than the front.

Assists in keeping the garment tucked in during normal activity.

Eyelets Small holes or perforations made in a series to allow for breathability.

Finished with either stitching or brass grommets.

Full Cut Refers to a garment’s fit as being generous and roomy.

Garment Dyed A dyeing process that occurs after the garment is assembled.

Garment Washed A wash process where softeners are added to finished garments to

help the cotton fibers relax or bloom. The result is a fabric with a

thicker appearance, reduced shrinkage and a softer hand.

Herringbone A chevron or zig-zag pattern, knit into fabric.

High Profile A cap style with a high slope structured with buckram–a stiff fabric

lining. Less fitted to the head.

Horn Tone Buttons Buttons that appear to be manufactured from horn.

Houndstooth A medium sized broken check effect that is knit into the fabric.

Interlock Knit A fabric that has two plys knit simultaneously to form one thicker and

heavier ply. It has more natural stretch than a jersey knit, a soft hand,

and the same appearance and feel on both sides.

Jacquard Knit A pattern knit directly into the fabric during the manufacturing

process. Typically, 2 or more colors are used.

Jersey Knit Fabric has a definite smooth side, the outside, and a textured side,

the inside.

Locker Loop A looped piece of fabric in the neck of a garment for the convenience

of hanging the garment on a hook. Can also be located at the center

of the back yoke on the inside or outside of a garment.

Locker Patch A semi-oval panel sewn into the inside back portion of a garment, just

under the collar seam, to reinforce the garment and minimize

stretching when hung on a hook. The patch also allows for the

garment tag or label to be sewn below the neckline to help prevent

irritation.

Low Profile A cap style with a low slope that is more closely fitted to the head.

Can be either structured or unstructured.

Matte Taslan See Taslan but with a dull finish.

Melange A mix of different colors of yarns knit together to create a

heathered effect.

Mercerized A product that has gone through a process to produce a smooth,

lustrous hand.

Mesh Similar to a pique knit, but with a more open texture for

increased breathability. Larger knit than Cool Weave.

Micro Fleece A high density, anti-pilling fleece made of knit micro-fibers that are

brushed less than a regular fleece garment. It has a high capacity for

warmth without the weight.

Micro-Stripe An ultra-fine stripe that is knit into the fabric.

Microfiber Fabric that is tightly woven from a very fine poly thread and has a

sueded finish for a luxurious, soft feel. Microfiber fabric is naturally

water repellent due to its construction process and when specially

treated, can also be waterproof.

Mid Profile A cap with a slope height in between that of a High Profile and Low

Profile. It is most often structured with buckram.

Mother of Pearl Logo Buttons Buttons made from Mother of Pearl, with a logo inscribed on them.

Nail Head Design A jacquard knitting pattern in which the jacquard forms a design

similar to small nail heads.

Nublend™ The combination of a knitting and spinning process developed by

JERZEES® for their blended fleece that helps prevent pilling.

Overdyed A process in which yarn dyed fabrics or piece dyed garments are put

through an additional dye color to create unique colors.

Oxford A type of fabric where the fibers are either cotton or blended

man-made fibers.

Patch Pocket A pocket attached to the outside of a garment.

Pearlized Buttons Buttons that have a pearl-colored hue.

Pewter and Horn Tone Buttons Buttons that incorporate pewter and horn tone, usually one

encompasses the other.

Pewter Buttons Buttons that have a dull, metallic hue.

Pigment Dyed A type of dye used to create a distressed or washed look.

Pill Free® A process developed by Lee® to help prevent pilling on

fleece garments.

Pique Knit A knitting method that creates a fine textured surface that appears

similar to a birdsnest or waffle weave.

Placket The part of a shirt or jacket where the garment fastens together.

Poly-fill A warm polyester lining found in the body or sleeves of outerwear

garments. It has more loft than a regular nylon lining.

Polynosic Features similar characteristics to cotton and silk, has excellent luster

and very little shrinkage.

Popcorn Pique (PING) Alternating rows of 2 different pique knits; one knit is a baby pique,

while the other is a larger pique that resembles small circles knit

closely together.

Poplin A tightly woven, durable, medium weight cotton or cotton blend fabric

made using a rib variation of the plain weave which creates a slight

ridge effect.

Print Pro™ A knitting process developed by Hanes® for their fleece garments that

creates a tighter knit for a better printing surface.

PVC A polyurethane coating that is added to make garments water

resistant.

R-Tek™ Fleece 100% polyester fleece with an anti-pill finish whichprevents the

formation of little balls on the surface of the fabric.

Raglan Sleeves Sleeves set with a diagonal seam from the neck to the armpit.

Reverse Placket See Placket, but reversed for women’s garments.

Rib Knit A textured knit that has the appearance of vertical lines. It is highly

elastic and retains "memory".

Ring Spun Yarn Yarn made by continuously twisting and thinning a rope of cotton

fibers. The twisting makes the short hairs of cotton stand out,

resulting in a stronger yarn with a significantly softer hand.

Sandwashed A washing process in which the fabric is washed with very fine lava

rocks or rubber/silicon balls resulting in a softer fabric with a relaxed

look and reduced shrinkage.

Sculpted Hem A hem that is softly rounded for fashion detail. A collar that is

constructed from the same material as the body of the garment.

Self-fabric Sweatband Refers to headwear where the sweatband is constructed with the

same fabric as the crown.

Serge Stitch An overcasting technique done on the cut edge of the fabric to

prevent unraveling.

Side Vents Slits found at the bottom of side seams. They are fashion details that

allow for comfort and ease of movement.

Singles A term used to indicate the diameter of a yarn; the smaller the

number, the thicker the yarn.

Slash Pockets A pocket that has to be entered through a slash on the outside of the

garment. The pocket pouch is suspended from and attached to the

slash.

Stonewashed A washing process in which the fabric or garment is heavily washed

with lavarocks or rubber/silicon balls. The result is a softer fabric with

a distressed or weathered look and reduced shrinkage.

Storm Flap A strip of fabric sewn under or over the front zip or snap closure of an

outerwear garment to protect against wind and moisture.

Structured A cap style with a lined front consisting of buckram, a stiff fabric, that

controls the slope of the cap.

Sueded Cotton A fabric that goes through a brushing process to raise the nap and

give the garment a soft hand.

Sueded Nylon See Sueded Cotton.

Taped Seams A strip of fabric sewn to the seam of a garment to prevent distortion.

In outerwear, taped seams aid in waterproofing.

Taslan Refers to how the fibers are woven and the resulting texture. Used

mainly in outerwear garments, Taslan is a durable and water repellent

nylon fabric with a slightly shiny surface.

Teklon A rugged, stronger Taslan nylon that is water repellent.

Terra-Tek™ A durable and water repellent Taslan with a matte finish.

Terry Velour A type of material with uncut loops on both sides. It has a soft, plush

feel and is water absorbent.

Triple-Needle Stitched See Double-Needle Stitched but with 3 stitches.

Tubular Collar Collar which is knit in a tube form so it has no seams.

Tuck-In Tails A shirt constructed so the back hem is longer than the front. This aids

in keeping the shirt tucked-in during strenuous activities.

Twill A fabric characterized by micro diagonal ribs producing a soft, smooth finish.

Twill Tape Placket Lining Twill tape is attached to the inside of the placket for a fashion effect.

Underarm Grommets Small holes in the armpit area to allow breathability and air circulation.

Unstructured A low profile cap style with a natural low sloping crown. No buckram

has been added to the crown.

V Patch A section of material in a V shape that is sewn onto a garment

directly under the collarette. Can provide support against stretching

the neck opening and is also a style component.

Vents, Front & Back Allow for breathability and may aid in ease of decoration, allowing the

garment to be hooped and embroidered with no show-through on the

inside of the garment. Some vents are tacked down and are for

fashion purposes only.

Welt Collar and/or Cuffs A single ply fabric with a finished edge that is used for collars and

cuffs on sport shirts and short sleeve garments.

Wood Tone Buttons Buttons that simulate a wood appearance.

Yarn Dyed Yarn that has been dyed prior to the weaving or knitting of the

garment.

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