T-Shirt and Streetwear Glossary: 50+ Terms Explained Simply

Product pages use a lot of special words. This glossary explains each one in plain English. Each term links to a full guide where one exists.

#Fit and shape

#Oversized

A t-shirt cut loose on purpose, with a wider chest, a longer body, dropped shoulders and longer sleeves. Read What Is an Oversized T-Shirt?.

#Boxy fit

A cut that is wide but short, so the width and the length are close to equal. Read Boxy Fit vs Oversized T-Shirt.

#Regular fit

A cut that sits close to the body but not tight, with the shoulder seam on the edge of the shoulder.

#Slim fit

A cut that follows the body closely at the chest, the waist and the arms.

#Relaxed fit

A cut with a little extra room, between a regular fit and an oversized fit.

#Drop shoulder

A shoulder seam that sits below the edge of the shoulder, on the upper arm. It is a key part of the oversized look.

#Baby tee

A small, close-fitting t-shirt that ends at or a little above the waist. Read What Is a Baby Tee?.

#Cropped

A garment cut shorter than usual, so it ends above the waist.

#Longline

A t-shirt cut longer than usual, so it ends well below the hips.

#Raglan sleeve

A sleeve that runs in one diagonal seam from the armpit to the neck, often in a contrast colour.

#Henley

A collarless t-shirt with a short button strip at the neck. Read Henley and Waffle T-Shirts.

#Unisex

A garment sized and cut to be worn by people of any gender. Unisex sizes usually follow men's sizes.

#Rise

The distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband of pants or jeans.

#Fabric and fibre

#GSM

Grams per square metre. It is the weight of one square metre of fabric. A higher number means a heavier, thicker fabric. Read What Is GSM in T-Shirts?.

#Heavyweight

A t-shirt fabric of about 210 GSM or more. It is thick, firm and holds its shape.

#Combed cotton

Cotton with the short fibres removed before spinning. It feels smoother and pills less.

#Organic cotton

Cotton grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.

#Single jersey

The common smooth, flat knit used for most t-shirts.

#French terry

A knit with small loops on the inside, used for hoodies and sweatshirts. It is warm but breathable.

#Loopknit

Another name for french terry, often used by Indian brands.

#Fleece

A fabric with a brushed, fluffy inside that traps warm air. Read How to Choose a Hoodie.

#Waffle knit

A textured fabric with a grid of small raised squares that trap air.

#Rib knit

A stretchy knit with fine vertical lines, used for neck bands, cuffs and fitted tops.

#Slub cotton

Cotton yarn with small thick and thin parts, which give the fabric a slightly uneven texture.

#Cotton-poly blend

A fabric that mixes cotton and polyester. Read Cotton vs Polyester T-Shirts.

#Lycra or spandex

A stretchy synthetic fibre added in small amounts to help a fabric keep its shape.

#Wash and finish

#Bio wash

A wash with enzymes that removes loose fibres from the surface, so the fabric feels softer and pills less.

#Pre-shrunk

Fabric shrunk at the factory before the garment is cut, so it changes size less after washing.

#Acid wash

A process that fades a dyed garment in uneven, marbled patches with stones soaked in a bleaching chemical. Read Acid Wash T-Shirts.

#Stone wash

A wash with plain stones that softens the fabric and fades it evenly.

#Garment dye

Dye applied to the finished garment instead of the fabric. It gives a soft, lived-in colour.

#Vintage wash

A general term for a wash that makes a new garment look older and faded.

#Print and decoration

#DTF print

Direct to film. A design printed on film, covered with a heat-melt glue powder, and heat-pressed onto the garment. Read DTF vs Screen Print vs Puff Print vs DTG.

#DTG print

Direct to garment. An inkjet printer prints the design straight into the fabric.

#Screen print

A method that pushes ink through a mesh stencil onto the fabric, one screen per colour.

#Puff print

A screen print with an additive that makes the ink rise when it is heated, so the print feels raised.

#Plastisol ink

A screen printing ink that sits on top of the fabric. It gives bright colours and a slightly rubbery feel.

#Water-based ink

A screen printing ink that soaks into the fabric and feels very soft.

#Embroidery

A design sewn into the fabric with thread.

#All-over print

A design that covers most or all of the garment, not only the chest or the back.

#Construction

#Neck rib

The stretchy band around the neck of a t-shirt. A thick, firm neck rib keeps its shape longer.

#Double-needle stitching

Two parallel rows of stitches at a hem or a seam. It is stronger than one row.

#Shoulder taping

A strip of fabric sewn over the inside of the shoulder seam to stop it from stretching.

#Side seam

The seam that runs down each side of the garment, from the armpit to the hem.

#Pilling

Small balls of fibre that form on the surface of fabric when fibres rub together. Read How to Wash T-Shirts So They Last.

#Streetwear culture

#Streetwear

Casual clothing that comes from youth culture, such as skateboarding, surfing and hip-hop. Read What Is Streetwear?.

#Drop

A small batch of new products released on a set date. Many drops sell out and are not restocked.

#Restock

A new batch of a product that sold out before.

#Collab

A product made by two brands or by a brand and an artist together.

#Homegrown brand

A brand that started and makes its products in its own country. In India, the term usually means a small, independent Indian label.

#Merch

Short for merchandise. Clothing and items sold by an artist, a team or a show to its fans.