Poly-Cotton Blend

Poly-cotton is a blended fabric combining cotton and polyester fibres, usually spun together in the same yarn, to balance the strengths of each. Cotton contributes softness, breathability and moisture absorption; polyester adds strength, wrinkle and shrink resistance, faster drying and lower cost. Common ratios include 65/35 polyester-cotton (also called TC), 50/50, and CVC ("chief value cotton", typically 60% cotton or more) which leads with cotton for a softer hand.

Blends are cheaper and lower-maintenance than pure cotton and hold colour and shape well, which is why they dominate workwear, uniforms, bedding, budget shirting and promotional tees. The trade-off is reduced breathability and a slightly less natural hand than 100% cotton, and the polyester content can pill and hold odour. Because polyester melts and scorches at the high temperatures cotton tolerates, blends must be ironed at a moderate setting, and they take a mix of reactive dyes for the cotton and disperse dyes for the polyester.