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    Product Information - Ours vs. Theirs

    Quite simply, the difference between our cotton and the cotton of other leading brands is the finishing process. Our combed ring spun cotton crafted from 30-singles yarn knitted on a 28-gauge knitting maching is noticeably softer and higher in quality than the carded cotton used by other brands.
    Combed Cotton Fibers Ring spun/30-Single Yarn Finer 28-Gauge Weave
    The combing process separates 80% of the more desirable (longer, thinner, more even) fibers from the less desirable (shorter, coarser, less consistent) fibers. A higher count of thinner fibers are tightly twisted together to make a stronger, smoother, finer (30) gauge thread. 30-singles yarn is woven on a 28-gauge machine, producing a finer-knit fabric that is softer and lighter to touch.
    Carded Cotton Fibers Open-Ended/18-Single Yarn Knitted on a 20-Gauge Machine
    Carded cotton is a mixture of ragged, thicker, short fibers. Cheaper for manufacturers to produce, this cotton is rough, heavy and lower in quality. Fewer coarser fibers are blown together, resulting in a loosely bound, thicker (18) gauge, heavier, rougher thread. Most cotton jersey is created on a 20-gauge knitting machine. The result is a looser knit, heavier material that is coarse to the touch.
    Printability
    American Apparel has the best-quality fabrics and styles for screenprinting and other embellishments. Each style's 30-singles combed ring spun cotton surface is exceptionally smooth and tight-knit, making for a superior canvas to adorn.
    Superior Printability
    Our 30-singles combed ring spun cotton fabric is the best possible surface for high-resolution screen printing, embroidery and embellishment.
    Printability
    The 18-singles open-ended cotton used by other leading brands does not yield comparable results to what can be achieved when using our fabric.