Ringspun Cotton
Cotton yarn made by twisting fibers — softer and stronger than open-end cotton.
Ringspun cotton is yarn produced by twisting and thinning the cotton fibers, then spinning them into a continuous strand. The resulting yarn is significantly softer, smoother, and stronger than the cheaper "open-end" cotton used in basic budget tees.
Most premium tees are 100% ringspun cotton — Bella+Canvas 3001, Next Level 3600, American Apparel 2001 are all ringspun. The hand-feel is noticeably nicer than a Gildan 2000 (which uses open-end yarn) and the print holds up better wash after wash.
Combed ringspun cotton goes one step further: the fibers are also combed to remove short strands and impurities, leaving only long, smooth fibers. The result is the softest cotton tier used in mass-market apparel.