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As a kid, I always gravitated towards wearing what felt comfortable. My Mom couldn’t get me to wear anything but sweatpants. I cannot recall wearing jeans regularly until I was in Middle School. Fortunately, wind breakers and hammer pants were all the rage back then!

Fast forward, and I find myself consistently trying to convince my 7-year-old daughter to “just pick an outfit.” She can’t find something that is comfortable. Or, as she put it when she was 5 years old: “comfsterble”

My Mom reminds me of my own childhood sensory issues, and it helps me to be a more compassionate and patient Father.

Do you remember the opening to Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood?

At the one-minute mark, Mr. Rogers changes into his signature cardigan, takes a seat, then swaps out for sneakers before proceeding to the day’s episode.

I find myself unassumingly reenacting the opening sequence from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood each day when I get home from work.

Instead of throwing on my cardigan and playing with puppets, I find myself consistently slipping into the same cozy or chill outfits, then proceed to spend time with my wife and daughters.

The outfit is always the same:

Warm Weather: Vuori Ponto Shorts (multiple colors) and a soft tee shirt

Cold Weather: Vuori Ponto Performance Pants (multiple colors) and a soft tee shirt

Creature of Habit

My end-of-the-day transition to comfortable clothing reminds my mind and body that it is officially okay to turn off the workday.

This got me thinking: What is it that makes my favorite clothes my favorite clothes?

Is it the logo? NO

Is it a fashion statement? Definitely NO

Plain and simple: my favorite clothes, just feel good against my skin.

This led me to do a little dresser detective work. I began by sorting through my t-shirts in order to find my favorites.

You know these shirts:

· the one that you’ve had forever and just feels right

· the first one that your partner steals to sleep in at night

· you’ll layer it when it’s cold out or just rock it on a sunny day

· it drapes over your body perfectly

I looked for the reason behind why I kept gravitating toward these "favorite shirts" in my search.

My Findings:

It wasn’t a particular favorite brand.

There was no cost-related connection.

These seemed to be inexpensive shirts I picked up along the way.

They all FELT the same

I checked out the tag to see what these shirts were made of, and here’s what I found:

My favorite t-shirts all consist of either 50/50 or Tri-blend materials.

Let’s do a little breakdown of our three most common t-shirt fabric categories:

100% Cotton

The most popular and longest running shirt material. There are many different types of cotton. This post from t-shirtwholesaler.com does a fantastic job doing a breakdown of the types that are out there. I’ve really learned to appreciate the versatility of this material!

50/50 Blend

The 50/50 blend is a mixture of cotton and polyester, typically in a 50/50 or 52/48 ratio (hence the blend). According to stcroixprint.com, 50/50 cotton blended with polyester fabrics are versatile and durable. They maintain shape longer and have a softer, lighter feel to them. Cotton blended fabrics are less susceptible to excessive shrinking, piling, wrinkles and static. However, they are not as breathable as 100% cotton. 50/50 cotton blended fabrics are ideal for an athletic look and heavy usage.

Tri-blend

Tri-blend adds a third guest to the party. According to realthread.com, A tri-blend is a fabric made up of three different materials: cotton, polyester, and rayon. Rayon was originally created as a silk substitute, giving it a luxuriously soft feel. Made up of cellulose fibers, it's also moisture-absorbent, making it a great choice for athletic or athleisure wear.

The tri-blend is buttery smooth. It’s typically heathered and popular for vintage looking tees.

If you’re like me, then keep an eye out for those 50/50 and Tri-blend t-shirts.

According to statista.com, the expected revenue in the “t-shirt industry” will amount to roughly $44 billion in 2023. There are many apparel companies out there vying for a piece of that “comfsterble” pie. These apparel companies continue to innovate with their proprietary blends of fabrics.

Market demand breeds competition amongst these apparel makers. This healthy competition leads to much more comfortable apparel for you and I. Capitalism can be cozy! I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

As Tom Freston, the founder of MTV once said:

“Innovation is taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way.”

If only Mr. Freston knew how many bands featured on MTV would sell vintage t-shirts to their fans… that also included Rayon.