Fabric · 1 min read
Combed vs Carded Cotton
Combed cotton vs carded cotton explained — softness, strength, pilling, and why Plain Thread uses combed cotton for oversized tees.
Not all cotton feels the same. The difference often starts in how the fibre is prepared before spinning.
Carded cotton
Carding cleans and aligns fibres, but shorter strands remain. Those short fibres can create a rougher hand-feel and more pilling over time.
Combed cotton
Combing takes the process further — removing shorter fibres so the yarn becomes smoother and stronger. That is why combed cotton feels softer against skin and wears cleaner after repeated washes.
Why it matters for skin
If you want a skin friendly oversized t-shirt, fibre quality matters as much as dye safety. Fewer rough ends means less irritation and a more premium everyday feel.
Plain Thread uses 100% combed cotton across Black, White, and Pink. Read more on the fabric page.