100% Cotton Graphic Tees for Kids

Most inexpensive children's tees are a cotton-polyester blend, usually 60/40 or 50/50. The polyester makes them cheaper and more wrinkle-resistant, and it also makes them warmer, less breathable and prone to holding smell. For a child who runs about all day, that is the wrong trade.

Which colors qualify

This collection is the solid colors across our range, which are 100% combed ring-spun cotton. The heather and vintage shades are not here, because those fabrics are cotton-rich blends by construction: usually 52/48, 90/10 or 60/40 depending on the color. That is what gives a heather its flecked look, and there is no 100% cotton version of it. If pure cotton is what you need, the colors in this collection are the ones to order.

Combed ring-spun, not carded open-end

Not all cotton is the same. Combed ring-spun yarn has the short fibers removed and the rest twisted more tightly, which produces a smoother surface that resists pilling. Carded open-end cotton is cheaper and noticeably rougher, and it is what most budget tees use. Every blank we print on is ring-spun.

For sensitive skin

Pure cotton with a direct-to-garment print gives you no plastic panel on the chest and no synthetic fiber against the skin. The label is tear-away, so there is no tag left to scratch.

Cotton kids tees: common questions

Are these really 100% cotton?

The colors in this collection are, body and all. Rib collars on some styles include a small amount of spandex for recovery, which is noted on the product page. Heather and vintage shades elsewhere on the site are blends and are deliberately not included here.

Why are the heather colors not in this collection?

Because they are not 100% cotton. A heather fabric is made by mixing fibers, typically 52/48 cotton/poly or 90/10, and that mix is what creates the flecked appearance. There is no pure cotton equivalent of it.

Does pure cotton shrink more than a blend?

Slightly, around one to two percent, which the pattern already allows for. Hot drying is what causes real shrinkage.

Is cotton better for eczema?

Cotton is generally better tolerated than synthetics, and there is no plastic transfer panel here. It is not a medical claim, but it is the usual recommendation.