Pre-Shrunk

Cotton is one of the most timeless and comfortable fabrics in fashion. Cotton garments have been around forever. There has always been one major drawback to cotton, however. It shrinks. When washed, cotton will shrink and sometime the shrink will be drastic. Many people who buy cotton garments will buy them in a size or two bigger than they need as they are anticipating the impending shrink after the first wash.

A Pre-Wash

Developers of cotton t-shirts decided to take initiative against cotton shrinking by washing these garments before they hit the retail market. Since cotton clothing shrinks the most on the initial wash, pre-washed cotton seemed to solve this problem. No longer would customers have to factor in an anticipated shrink when they bought their cotton t-shirt. Pre-washed cotton was also compacted, which led to the shirt being less likely to shrink. These bits of clothing were referred to as "pre-shrunk" cotton, meaning that your shirt was likely to remain the size that you bought it at.

Shrinking Still Possible

Just because one buys pre-shrunk cotton doesn't mean their t-shirt is immune to shrinking. Pre-shrunk cotton will still shrink, especially when thrown in the dryer. It won't shrink as much as a normal cotton shirt, but it still might be a good idea to buy a size larger than you would normally wear. The best way to avoid any sort of shrink at all is to buy pre-shrunk cotton and air dry it after you wash it. It is possible the shirt will still shrink a little bit in the wash, but this is the best possible way to reduce shrinkage. If you are looking to totally avoid dealing with the possibility of your t-shirt shrinking, it is best to buy a polyester shirt for a 50/50 cotton and polyester blended t-shirt. 50/50 blends are unlikely to shrink and if they do shrink it will be at a very minor pace. 100% polyester t-shirts will not shrink no matter how many times you wash them.

When it comes to purchasing a cotton shirt pre-shrunk is going to be your best bet. Just be prepared for any shrinking that may happen.