One thing we kept noticing with oversized t-shirts is that some feel amazing on day 1… then completely lose shape after a few washes.

So we decided to test different cotton fabrics ourselves to see which ones actually hold up long-term.

We tested 6 fabrics using:

• Normal machine wash
• Cold water
• Same detergent
• 5 wash cycles
• No dryer

Here’s what we found:

1. 160 GSM regular cotton

• Soft initially
• Shrunk noticeably after a few washes
• Lost structure pretty quickly
• Collar started twisting slightly

2. 180 GSM cotton

• Better than 160 GSM
• Still experienced some length shrinkage
• Fabric became thinner over time

3. 220 GSM heavyweight cotton

• Held shape much better
• Minimal shrinkage
• Oversized fit stayed consistent

4. 240 GSM loopknit cotton

• Best drape overall
• Very little visible shrinkage
• Actually felt better after washes

5. French Terry cotton

• Comfortable and durable
• Slight tightening after wash
• Retained texture nicely

6. Cotton-poly blend

• Lowest shrinkage overall
• But didn’t feel as breathable or premium as pure cotton

Biggest thing we learned:
Higher GSM doesn’t automatically mean better quality. The knitting quality, pre-shrinking process, and cotton itself matter way more than most brands talk about.

We originally started doing these tests while developing oversized tees for Kapda Kulture because we wanted heavier fabrics that still hold shape properly after repeated washes.

We also documented a more detailed GSM/fabric comparison here for anyone interested in fabric quality breakdowns and oversized tee construction:
Kapda Kulture Fabric Guide

Would genuinely love to know:
What GSM/fabric has worked best for you guys in oversized tees?