Describe fabric and fit by taking every fact from the blank's own spec sheet: the fibre content (colour by colour, because heathers often differ), the weight as the maker states it, the maker's fit wording backed by a size chart, and care instructions that protect both the garment and the print. Then put each fact where buyers look for it: the first sentence of the description, the listing attributes and a size chart photo.
This is for print on demand sellers who list more than one blank, and for anyone whose reviews say a shirt felt thinner than expected, ran small or was "not 100% cotton". Often those reviews do not point to a bad product but to copy that described a different shirt from the one that arrived, and an accurate fabric description on Etsy closes that gap.
Start from the spec sheet, not from memory
Every fabric claim should trace back to the manufacturer's spec sheet for the exact style you list. Style names do not tell the whole story: a "cotton tee" is often a blend in some colours, and two tees in the same size can fit very differently. The table shows how much the details vary across blanks that print on demand sellers use every day.
| Blank | Main fabric (maker's wording) | Colours that differ | Fit and build notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000 | 5.3-ounce, 100% US cotton | Ash 99/1, Sport Grey 90/10, heathers 50/50 cotton/polyester | Classic fit, seamless body, taped neck and shoulders |
| Gildan 64000 | 4.5-ounce, 100% ring spun US cotton | Many heathers 65/35 polyester/cotton | Modern classic fit, seamless body |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | 100% combed and ring-spun cotton, 4.2 oz | Ash 99/1, other heathers sold as style 3001CVC | Unisex XS to 5XL, side-seamed, shoulder taping |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 6.1-ounce, 100% US ring spun cotton, garment-dyed | Slight colour variation to expect | Relaxed fit, soft-washed fabric |
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | 8-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly | Heathers 60/40 poly/cotton | Double-lined hood, rib cuffs and waistband with spandex, front pouch pocket |
Sources: Gildan spec sheets for the 5000, 64000 and 18500, the Bella+Canvas 3001 page and the Comfort Colors 1717 spec sheet.
Material: say what the buyer will actually get
If you offer a style in several colours, check the fibre content per colour. The Gildan 5000 is 100% cotton in most colours, but its spec sheet lists Ash as 99/1 cotton/polyester, Sport Grey as 90/10 and the heathers as 50/50. On the Gildan 64000, many heathers are 65/35 polyester/cotton, so polyester is the larger share. A listing that says "100% cotton" for every colour is wrong for those buyers.
There are two honest ways to handle it: name the exceptions in the description ("100% cotton, heather colours are a cotton/polyester blend"), or keep the blends in a separate listing. Either way, set the materials attribute. In March 2026 Etsy removed the Materials tag field, so materials now live only in the listing attributes (Etsy Help: what's new), and Etsy asks sellers to "Fill out both attributes and tags" (Etsy Help: attributes).
Weight and feel: the maker's number plus plain words
Quote weight the way the sheet gives it. Gildan's US sheets state weight in ounces (5.3-ounce for the 5000, 8-ounce for the 18500) without naming the area unit, while Gildan's European sheet gives the 5000 as 180 g/m² (Gildan Europe spec sheet). Do not convert between the two systems yourself, and never borrow a figure from a different style.
Numbers alone mean little to most buyers, so add a plain description of the feel that matches the weight: a 4.2 oz Bella+Canvas 3001 is a lighter tee, while a 6.1-ounce Comfort Colors 1717 is a noticeably heavier one. Our guide to t-shirt fabric weight explains what buyers actually notice.
Fit: the maker's words and a size chart
Fit wording comes from the maker too: "Classic fit" for the Gildan 5000, "Modern classic fit" for the 64000, "Relaxed fit" for the Comfort Colors 1717 and unisex sizing from XS to 5XL for the Bella+Canvas 3001. Unisex sizing is cut differently from women's sizing, and the gap between the two is a common source of "runs small" reviews. We cover how to explain it in unisex vs women's sizing.
Back the words with a size chart built from the maker's measurements for that exact style, shown as a listing photo and summarised in the description. If your buyers often want an oversized look, tell them which size to order for it instead of leaving them to guess. Our guide to building a size chart for apparel listings walks through the layout.
Care: protect the garment and the print
Care instructions should cover the blank and the print method. For the 1717, Comfort Colors gives "Maximum washing temperature 30C, inside out, with like colors." and "Do not iron.", and because the tee is garment-dyed it adds "Please allow for slight color variation in production and washing." (Comfort Colors 1717 spec sheet). For DTF prints, Printful warns that a print "might develop small cracks if the garment is washed in hot water" (Printful Help: print methods).
A short care line (wash cold, inside out, tumble dry low or hang dry, do not iron the print) sets expectations and heads off complaints. The full routine is in our DTF care guide.
Why accuracy pays off
Accuracy is also protection. Etsy Purchase Protection covers sellers when "Their item matches the listing description and photos, but a buyer claims it does not", and it does not cover cases where "The item doesn't match the listing description." (Etsy Help: Purchase Protection). Copy that matches the blank keeps you on the right side of that line. Etsy's description advice points the same way: "A person should be able to read the first sentence and know exactly what you're selling." (Etsy Help: SEO tips).
How Alomations keeps the copy matched to the blank
In Alomations, a product's facts live in a template you build once: product and category, price, sizes and colours, materials, SKUs, and the shipping, return and processing profiles. When a listing run writes the title, all 13 tags and the description, the fabric claims in the copy match the template's materials, a long-sleeve shirt is never called a "tee", and the Etsy listing attributes are filled from the product. Our walkthrough of building your first listing template shows each field.
The products themselves, including the Gildan, Bella+Canvas and Comfort Colors styles above, are on the catalog page with a "from" price per product. You still decide which colours to offer, so check the heather exceptions before you add them to a template.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to state the fabric for every colour?
If the fabric changes by colour, yes, at least in one sentence. "100% cotton, heathers are a cotton/polyester blend" covers most styles and is far better than a blanket claim that is wrong for some buyers.
Should I give the weight in ounces or grams?
Use the unit the maker's sheet uses for the version you sell, and add a plain word for the feel. Do not mix figures from different regional sheets or different styles.
Can I copy the manufacturer's description?
Use the facts, not the marketing paragraph. Write your own description around the facts, and start it with a sentence that says exactly what the item is.
Where should fit information go in the listing?
Near the top of the description, in a size chart photo, and in the variation names if you sell more than one fit.
Build a template with the right materials once, then try a listing run on the free plan.