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A Guide to Polo Shirt Quality

When buying polo shirts, 'quality' always ranks highly as a factor for consideration. Naturally, buyers want to be sure that the goods they are purchasing meet and exceed their quality expectations, as well as the expectations of their customers. Buying poor quality clothing only serves to damage reputations, sometimes jeopardising the very existence of the businesses involved. That's certainly something that everyone can do without!

But how can buyers who are unfamiliar with the elements that constitute a good quality polo shirt be confident in their quality assessment of the product they're about to purchase? Moreover, how can wholesale buyers in this situation relate the difference in quality between a good quality polo shirt and a bad quality polo shirt to their customers?

8 Tips to help buyers assess polo shirt quality

1. Yarn Type. The type of yarn is a major determinant of quality. The longer the fibres used in the yarn the higher the quality of the fabric. Combing removes shorter fibres and produces a stronger more uniform yarn from which the fabric is produced.

2. Fabric Weight - The heavier the fabric the more raw materials have been used in producing the garment and accordingly the higher the cost of the polo-shirts. A polo-shirt with a fabric weight of 220 grams per square meter will cost more to produce than an equivalent polo-shirt with a fabric weight of 180 grams per square meter.

3. Fabric Dyeing. The method of dyeing is critical to ensure a polo-shirt is colourfast and retains its colour wash after wash. With 100% cotton garments reactive dyeing will give better performance on 100% cotton than direct dyeing. With polyester/cotton blends the fabric needs to be double dyed so that dyestuff is applied to both the cotton and polyester fibres.

4. Manufacture - Shoulders & Arms - Double top stitching along the shoulder seam of a polo shirt is a sure sign of quality. More than just a basic stitched shoulder seam, a double top stitch ensures neatness of the upper polo shirt area as well as strength and durability. Again, double top stitching along the sleeve seam where it connects with the main body of the polo shirt offers neatness around the sleeve and underarm area, as well as providing strength and durability to the sleeve. Look out too for polo shirts with ribbed cuffs. Ribbed cuffs prevent the sleeve from stretching and sagging. This keeps the polo shirt looking smart and just like new around the arms, even after considerable wear.

5. Manufacture - Polo Shirt Front - The buttoned upper area of a polo shirt should have good quality buttons. They need to be hard-wearing and also add to the stylish appeal of the polo shirt. Horn style buttons are an excellent choice of button that satisfies both criteria. Additionally, the highest quality polo shirts have an interlined fused placket at the base of the button row. This provides the buttoned neck area with added robustness.

6. Manufacture - Collar - A good quality polo shirt will have a 3-ply flat knit collar. 3-ply is superior to 2-ply and gives the collar strength and durability, helping to prevent it from 'folding up' when worn or after washing. Herringbone taping in the collar is a good quality sign too, as the taping helps the collar to maintain its shape.

7. Manufacture - Hem - In the hem area, look out for polo shirts with a double top stitching around the hem. Just as with the shoulder and arm seams, the double top stitch keeps the seam neat and prevents the threads from unravelling or working loose in this area. Also, look out for herringbone taping on the waist seam. Split sides are also very fashionable at the waist.

8. Label - Finally, polo shirts that have a removable label instead of a permanent tag on the neck are popular amongst buyers. A removable tag negates the problems of neck irritation that a permanent tag can cause.