10 Things To Tell If A Shirt Is Good Quality

1. Fabric weight
   • Hold the shirt up to light. Very thin fabric can indicate lower durability.
     
   • Heavier doesn't automatically mean better—the fabric should match the style.
2. Fabric composition
   • 100% cotton is common for premium T-shirts.
   • Long-staple cotton such as Supima or Pima can provide a smoother, more durable feel.
     
3. Feel of the fabric
   • Good fabric should feel substantial and consistent.
   • Run your hand across the entire shirt. Look for rough patches, excessive fuzziness, or inconsistent texture.
4. Stitching
   
   • Seams should be straight and tight, without loose threads.
   • Check the shoulder seams, armholes, side seams, and hem particularly closely.
5. Collar
   • A quality T-shirt usually has a collar that feels structured rather than floppy.
   • Stretch it gently and release it. It should return close to its original shape.
6. Hem
   • Look at the bottom and sleeve hems.
   • They should be straight, even, and securely stitched.
     
7. Shape
   
   • Check whether the left and right sides are symmetrical.
   • The shirt shouldn't twist noticeably along the side seams.
8. Printing/embroidery
   
   • Bend and stretch it slightly. Excessive cracking or peeling is a bad sign.
   • Embroidery should be clean on both the front and inside.

9. Wash test — VERY important
   Buy/sample one shirt and wash it 3–5 times according to the care instructions.

   Check:

   • Shrinkage
   • Collar deformation
   • Color fading
   • Pilling
   • Seam twisting
   • Print cracking
   • Overall shape
10. Compare it to a shirt you already consider premium

Put your shirt next to something like a premium-quality blank and compare:
weight → fabric feel → collar → stitching → fit → wash performance.