You may have seen the words 'soft-style' and 'ringspun' - but what does it mean for you?
What is Ringspun Cotton?
Ringspun cotton fabric goes through a process whereby it is spun using ring frames. Fabric made up from ringspun cotton is usually considered superior to cotton produced through other processes because the finished product is noticeably finer, softer and more durable.
Close-up on a 100% ringspun cotton t-shirt.
How is it made?
In the Ringspun process the yarn is made by continuously twisting and thinning the strands making a very fine rope of cotton fibres. The twisting process allows the short hairs of the cotton to stand out which results in a much stronger yarn. The number of times the fibre is twisted determines how soft the fabric will be.
How is it different to regular cotton?
With regular cotton (or open-end) the fibres run perpendicular to the fibre bundle. With ring spun cotton the fibres are aligned and all go in the same direction. Shorter fibres stick out thereby making the garment feel softer.
Close-up of an open-end cotton t-shirt - note the more coarse nature of the fabric.
Advantages
The main advantages of using ring spun cotton is its strength and softness.
T-shirts made with ringspun cotton feel extremely soft and comfortable. Although products made from ringspun cotton can be slightly more expensive their soft and long-lasting nature make them a great option for high-quality apparel.
Where to start?
Ringspun garments can be very affordable, here are 3 great examples to get you started.