What is a terry t‑shirt, and is it better than cotton?

A terry t-shirt is a tee knitted from terry fabric, which is smooth on the outside and has tiny loops of yarn on the inside. The loops make it thicker and a bit heavier than a plain cotton tee, so it holds its shape and hangs straighter.

It's the same family of fabric as a sweatshirt, only lighter. If you've seen "French terry" on a label, that's this. Below is how our terry oversized tee compares with our regular cotton oversized tee, in numbers, and which one I'd pick for what.

What terry fabric is

Turn a terry tee inside out and you'll see rows of small loops. A normal tee is single jersey, which is flat on both sides. Those loops are the only real difference, but they change a few things.

• Weight. Loops are extra yarn, so the same size tee weighs more.
• Drape. The fabric is stiffer. It falls from the shoulder in one line and doesn't cling to your back or stomach.
• Feel. The outside is smooth, the inside is slightly textured. It isn't fleece. There's no fuzzy brushed layer.

Our terry tee vs our cotton oversized tee

Here's what the product pages say.

• Cotton oversized: 100% cotton, 240 GSM, unisex oversized with dropped sleeves. Rs 899.
• Terry oversized: 90% cotton and 10% polyester in a terry knit, 260 GSM, unisex oversized with drop shoulders. Rs 999.

So the terry is 20 GSM heavier and costs Rs 100 more. GSM is the weight of one square metre of the fabric in grams. If that number is new to you, our GSM guide for oversized tees explains what 180, 240 and 260 feel like.

The cut is a little different too. These are the size chart numbers, in inches.

• Cotton oversized: chest 40 in XS, 44 in M, 50 in XXL. Lengths 27, 29 and 32.
• Terry oversized: chest 40 in XS, 44 in M, 50 in XXL. Lengths 26.5, 28.5 and 31.5.

Terry is the same width in the chest and half an inch shorter. You don't need to size up for it.

Is terry better than cotton?

Not better. Different, and it depends on when you'll wear it.

Pick terry if you want the tee to look structured. The heavier fabric keeps the boxy shape that oversized tees are bought for, and the print sits on a flatter, firmer surface. It's also the warmer of the 2, which is nice from November to February in most of North India, and in an office with the AC set too low.

Pick 100% cotton if you live somewhere hot and humid, or you sweat a lot. Pure cotton at 240 GSM is already a heavy tee. Terry adds weight and 10% polyester on top of that, and polyester doesn't breathe as well as cotton. For a Mumbai or Chennai summer I'd take the cotton one.

A simple way to decide: if you'd wear it mostly outdoors between April and September, go cotton. If it's for evenings, travel, college in winter, or you just like a tee that feels thick in the hand, go terry.

Does terry shrink or lose shape?

Most of a terry tee is cotton, and cotton can shrink a little in hot water. So treat it like any printed tee. Wash it inside out in cold water, dry it on low heat or on a line, and turn it inside out before ironing. That's the care line on our product page, and the longer version is in our post on how to wash printed t-shirts.

Got the size wrong anyway? You can swap it for free within 7 days of delivery. Keep the tee unworn and unwashed with the tag on. The full rules are on the returns and exchange page.

Which of our designs come in terry?

53 of them right now. Almost every design we sell comes in 3 fits, so you choose the print first and the fabric second. Let Me Be Weird is a good example. It's Rs 699 as a women's regular tee, Rs 899 as a cotton oversized tee and Rs 999 in terry. The Shiva print, Kalyug, comes in terry too.

You can see every one on the terry oversized t-shirts page, and the cotton ones under oversized tees. Each tee is printed after you order and usually ships in 24 to 48 working hours. Shipping is free.

Is a terry t-shirt good for summer?

It's wearable, but it isn't the coolest option. Ours is 260 GSM with 10% polyester, so it's warmer than a 100% cotton tee. For peak summer, pick the 240 GSM cotton oversized tee or a 180 GSM regular one.

Is terry cotton the same as French terry?

Yes, in t-shirts the 2 names mean the same fabric: a knit that's smooth outside with loops inside. Towel terry is a different thing. That one has loops on both sides.

Is a terry tee thicker than a normal t-shirt?

Yes. Ours is 260 GSM. Our regular tees are 180 GSM and our cotton oversized tees are 240 GSM.

Should I size up in a terry oversized tee?

No. Take your usual size. Our terry tee is as wide in the chest as our cotton oversized tee, and an M is 44 inches across.

Does the print last on terry?

The print method is the same as on our cotton tees, direct to garment, so care matters more than fabric. Cold wash, inside out, low heat.