If you consider yourself to be a sartorial specialist, it goes without saying that you’ll be able to differentiate between t-shirt styles. No, we don’t mean telling a crewneck tee from a v-neck- or a polo-neck t-shirt-most people can spot the differences. If you’re asked to point out the design or structural distinctions of three similar looking pure cotton tees, chances are that you won’t be able to enumerate all.
Can you tell which t-shirt features a tubular design and which one comes with a side-seam? 8 out of 10 people won’t be able to distinguish a side-seam tee from a tubular one. Understanding the basic features of the humble tee or realizing how a t-shirt is created gives you a fair idea of how different styles will suit you. The best way to find out if a specific tee will fit comfortably is to put it on.
The next best way to determine whether a particular t-shirt will be suitable for you is to appreciate its features. And when it comes to appreciating a tee’s features, most people tend to overlook side-seams-a modest yet an integral feature.
Side-Seams of a T-Shirt
If you’re like most shoppers, checking the side-seams might be the last thing on your mind when buying a t-shirt. But henceforth you’ll definitely make it a point to do so when or whenever you go shopping for a tee. Contrary to what you may think, side-seams are not complicated all; it’s a stitching extending from your forearm area to the hem.
Side-Seams Can Crucially Influence How a T-Shirts Fits on You
On the face of it, you may not be able to find a connection between a tee’s fit and side-seams. However as they say, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Side-seams don’t directly influence how a t-shirt will fit rather the stitching is an indication of the clothing’s manufacturing process.
That being said, a t-shirt featuring side-seams is created somewhat differently compared to a tee without this type of seam. This differentiation or rather the distinction forms the basis of how a tee is manufactured. You’ll come across two basic types of t-shirts in terms of how this item of clothing is crafted: tubular and side-seamed.
Side-Seamed Tee Vis-à-vis Tubular T-Shirt
A t-shirt with side-seams features sleeves-, front-, and back sections designed and cut separately. These individual sections are thereafter pieced or rather sewed up together to create a tee that fits you rather perfectly.
To make a tubular tee, you’ll first need to cut a cylindrical fabric roll. Next you’ll have to mark-out the neckline, create the cutout, and finally stitch on the sleeves. You can produce tubular tees relatively faster than side-seamed t-shirts, and they can also be made cheaply involving less labor.
However on the flip side, tubular tees don’t fit as nicely as side-seamed t-shirts for the simple reason that humans don’t have a cylindrical profile.
