Turn almost any of our tees inside out and the label says the same thing: 60% polyester, 35% cotton, 5% spandex. It is the most common blend in our catalog by a wide margin, and it is worth a few minutes to understand, because it explains how the top will feel, stretch and wash.
How a fiber line is written
In the United States the fiber line on a label follows rules from the Federal Trade Commission. Each fiber goes by its generic name, with its share of the fabric by weight, and the list runs from the largest share to the smallest. So the order is information: the first fiber is the one there is most of.
Small amounts have their own rule. A fiber under 5% is normally listed as "other fiber", unless it does a job at that amount. The FTC's own example is a little spandex added for elasticity, which is exactly what the 5% on our label is. You may also see it called elastane, the name the international standard uses, and rayon may appear as viscose. Both names are allowed.
What each fiber does in the blend
- Polyester (60%) carries the shape. It dries fast, holds color well and resists wrinkling, and it keeps the fabric light.
- Cotton (35%) carries the feel. It is what makes the knit soft against your skin and lets it breathe.
- Spandex (5%) carries the stretch. It lets the neckline and cuffs recover their shape after you pull the top on.
| Blend | Styles | Shelves |
|---|---|---|
| 60% polyester, 35% cotton, 5% spandex | 62 | Sweatshirts & hoodies, 3/4 sleeve tops, Short sleeve tops, Tank tops, Long sleeve tops |
| 60% cotton, 40% polyester | 6 | Sweatshirts & hoodies |
| Blends with rayon | 5 | Short sleeve tops, 3/4 sleeve tops, Long sleeve tops |
| Blends with elastane | 3 | Short sleeve tops, Long sleeve tops |
Put together, the blend drapes more than a pure cotton tee and clings less than a heavy stretch knit. That is why the same fabric turns up in our V-neck tees, 3/4 sleeve tunics and tank tops: it hangs loose without looking limp.
In the 60/35/5 blend
TICTICMIMI V-neck 3/4 sleeve tee
Our plainest 3/4 sleeve tee, cut loose in the most common blend.
23 colors · S to XXL · from $9.99
Fleece: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
The hoodies and fleece sweatshirts flip the proportions. Cotton leads at 60%, which makes the fabric warmer and softer inside, and polyester at 40% helps it keep its shape through the wash. There is no spandex, so fleece stretches less and relies on ribbed cuffs and hems to hold its line at the wrist and hip.
In 60/40 fleece
TICTICMIMI Fleece pullover hoodie
The pullover hoodie in cotton and polyester fleece with a kangaroo pocket.
19 colors · XS to XXL · from $24.99
The ribbed knits
A few of our tops use rayon, a fiber made from wood pulp that drapes and feels cool. The ribbed 3/4 sleeve tunic is 60% polyester, 35% rayon and 5% spandex, and the ribbed polo is cotton and rayon with 8% elastane, enough stretch to cut it slim where our tees are loose.
What a fiber line does not tell you
The percentages say what the fabric is made of, not how thick it is, how tightly it is knit or how it was finished. Two tees with the same 60/35/5 line can feel different in the hand. That is why each of our product pages also describes the weight and fit of the style, and why the photos matter.
The care label is a separate matter with its own rules, and we cover it in how to wash tees and sweatshirts.
