Shirts and jackets are an integral part of life

Shirts and jackets are integral today as part of the total package and can be used to sell a company's image.   Brand name womens shirts and mens shirts are one of the most popular items.  Kids shirts are on the rise also.   Do not forget to buy good quality discount t-shirts, shirts, jackets and sweatshirts. 

Cotton Alternatives Soy for shirts

Soy -   Made from byproducts of soybean crops, soy fibers can be spun into yarn to make everything from T-shirts to socks to poloshirts and even ladies shirts. In addition to having a soft, smooth hand, soy-fiber products contain natural anti-bacterial agents and the same moisture-absorption properties as cotton, but with better moisture transmission for drier, more comfortable shirts, poloshirts and ladies shirts.  In addition, unlike cotton, it won't shrink under normal washing conditions. 

Shirts made out of corn

Corn - Fabric made from corn fibers has excellent moisture-wicking
properties in shirts and polo shirts. UV resistance and low oder
retention. This also makes corn also stain resistant, experiences
minimal shrinkage and pilling, is biodegradable and compostable and
these shirts and polo shirts can be made in the USA. According to
Natureworks, a company that produces corn fiber shirts and golf
shirts, production of the fiber uses 68% less fossil fuel resources
than manufacturing traditional synthetic fibers.
http://www.theshirtsource.com

From Retail to Corporate

 Gap Inc. is currently offering more that 60 apparel products to the promotional  marketplace.  The collection will include Gap T-shirts, stretch pique polos, golf shirts, ladies shirts and dress shirts as well as Old Navy's popular fleece sweatshirts.  The Gap womens classic stretch shirt is made of  97% cotton and 3% Lycra Spandex. Comes in size 

S, M, L, XL.  and in four colors. 

http://www.theshirtsource.com

2nd cotton alternatives in shirts

Soy - Made from byproducts of soybean crops, soy fibers can be spun into yarn to make T-shirts, socks, golf shirts. In addition to having a soft, smooth hand, soy-fiber products contain natural anti-bacterial agents and the same moisture-absorption properties as cotton, but with better moisture transmission for drier, more comfortable shirts and golf shirts.  In addition, unlike cotton, it won't shrink under normal washing conditions. 

http://www.theshirtsource.com

Most Popular Wearables

A new report came out releasing the top three wearables products. Number one was golf shirts then t-shirts. Caps followed closely in the number three position. One  interesting trend, though, proves the work place is moving away from casual dress and as dress shirts gained in popularity.  The top seven wearables products  are  golf shirts, t-shirts, caps, bags/totes, dress shirts, jackets and sweatshirts. 

http://www.theshirtsource.com

cotton Alternatives

Hemp - Three times stronger than cotton and easy to grow, hemp does not require fertilizer or pesticides.  Its also anti-microbial, UV resistant, and breathable.  Its not as soft as cotton but in a blend it can add durability to a garment. 

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Pique

Medium- to heavyweight fabric with raised dobby design. Pique can be run as single pique ( high and low stitches) and in a honeycomb effect   ( as a hexagonshaped stitch.  Better goods, especially mercerized styles, have introduced " Birdseye Pique"  a finer, smaller, raised dobby design, which features finer-sized yarns, such as 60's and 80's yarns,  which lend themselves quite nicely to mercerization. 

Wearables Glossary

Terry Cloth: This cloth has uncut loops on both sides of the
fabric. Woven on a dobby loom with a Terry arrangement, various
sizes of yarns are used in the construction. Terry is very popular
in robes and towels.
Virigin Wool: New wool that has never been used before, or reclaimed
from any spun, woven, knitted felted, manufactured or used products.

A look at Man Made Fabrics

Spandex is another popular man made fiber. Its ability to stretch and
snap back to its original form makes a spandex ideal for a blend used
in garments designed to hold their shape. Spandex was developed in
1959, but made famous in 1999 when Brandi Chastain whipped off her
shirt to reveal her spandex sports bra at the 1999 Women's World Cup
Championship. We'll never look at spandex the same way again.

A look at Man-Made fabrics

The most popular and the one that gets a bad rap is polyester.
Polyester doesn't wrinkle or fade, and it seems to last forever.
Polyester is often blended with cotton to produce a longer, lasting
garment that wrinkles less.
Nylon is the second most popular of the man-made fibers. It was
invented by DuPont Corporation in 1939 presumably becasse Lammot DuPont
himself got caught on the golf course wearing cotton when it started to
rain. Today it's use in many apparel items and is popular for its
resistance to moisture and wrinkles, and unending durability.

Wearables Glossary

Jeresey Fabric. The consistent interlooping of yarns in the jersey
stitch to produce a fabric with a smooth, flat face and a more
textured, but uniform, back. Jersey fabrics may be produced on either
circular or flat weft knitting machines. Jersey is comfortable and
durable.
Microfiber. A tightly woven fabric usually of fine poly thread.
Microfiber has a soft hand is comfortable to wear.
Mesh. Any Fabric, knitted or woven, with an open texture, fine or
coarse for added comfort and ventilation.

The Answers to Cotton Confusion

Customers who once turned up their collective noses at jersey fabric
because of its long association with everyday T-Shirts are now giving
jersey another look. The newer jersey garments are well made and the
fabric is soft and durable, which makes it popular with the consumer.
Looking to reduce shrinkage? Carded cotton is commonly used in most
pique fabric; it has been cleaned, separated, straightened and formed
into a long untwisted strand. Most customers recognize Pima cotton as a
higher end, better cotton. Retail stores tout Pima cotton as the
finest available. The longer cotton strands produce fabric that has a
soft hand but is durable, making Pima a popular choice with better
brands.

Wearables Glossary

<bold>Cotton: </bold> Soft vegetable fiber obtained from the seedpod
of the cotton plant and one of the major fashion fibers in the textile
industry. The longer the fiber, the better the quality. Lengths vary
from less than one-half inch to more than two inches. Cotton is
currently grown in 19 states and is a major crop in 14 states.

<bold>Combed Cotton:</bold> Cotton that has been combed to remove
short fibers and straighten long fibers for a smooth, finer hand.

<bold>Cool Knit:</bold> A pique variation with a defined surface
texture resembling a "waffle" pattern.

New Trend in Sweatshirts

The Shirt Source now offers the Youth Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt with
Stripes, made from extremely soft, 9oz. 60/40 ring-spun combed
cotton/polyster. The youth market - expecially as it relates to
schools and teams - is rock solid. Once the shirt source becomes a
team's trusted source for uniforms and fan gear. The customer will
come back for additional apparel year after year.

The Shirt Source .com

The Shirt Source has quality discount shirts,
jackets, t-shirts, golf shirts, dress shirts,
ladies fashions, sport shirts, sweats, outerwear,
fleece and activewear at wholesale prices.
We also carry t-shirts, shirts, custom shirts,
discount shirts, polo shirts, mans shirts, mans dress shirts,
golf shirts, dress shirts, womens shirts, sweat shirts,
jackets, discount jackets, wholesale shirts and leather jackets.

We specialize in the following brand names of discount clothing:

• Port Authority clothing
• Hanes
• Jerzees
• Outer Banks
• Gildan
• Sport-Tek
• Port & Company

This blog is born

Today Monday January 30, 2006 this Blog belonging to http://www.theshirtsource.com was born