Men’s T-Shirt Hem Types
T-shirt weather is fast approaching (or might already be here depending on where you live). So, to help you on your t-shirt buying journey, we put together this guide on the different hem types you’re likely to see out there. Gone are the days when there was only one type of hem on a t-shirt. Now, you have curved hems, straight hems, split hems, high-low hems, and the list goes on. Which one is the right one for you? Well, that’s mainly an aesthetic choice, but there are some functional differences as well.
First, what is a hem? That’s the edge of the garment that is turned back on itself and sewn together for a cleaner look. Of course, t-shirts aren’t the only garments with hems. Your pants have a hem, your dress shirts have a hem, in fact most everything you wear has a hem! But in this post, we’re focused on t-shirt hems which like we mentioned, come in a variety of flavors.
Let’s jump in!
Straight Hem
This is the most common hem you’ll see. It’s simple and gets the job done. It’s cut straight all the way around the garment without breaks or changes in the level of the fabric.
Since they are so common, straight hems don’t stand out. So, if not standing out is what you prefer, this is the hem type for you. With a straight hem t-shirt, it’s particularly important to find one that is the right length, especially if you have a bit of a gut. You want the shirt to hit mid j-stitch on your pants (that’s the crotch area).
Curved Hem
Curved hems are becoming an increasingly popular t-shirt option. Like the name implies the hem is curved in a half-circle fashion both in the front and the back of the t-shirt. Curved hem t-shirts tend to be longer to accommodate the curve and as such have the effect of elongating your torso. Curved hem tees are particularly popular in streetwear style.
Curved hems can also be called rounded hems or scalloped hems.
Split Hem
A split hem is a hem that has a v-shaped break between the front and back panel of the t-shirt. Split hems provide ease in the sweep (hem measurement) of your shirt and they can help accommodate a larger gut or just more movement. Split hems are popular on polos because of their sporting origin and are sometimes referred to as polo hems.
Step Hem
A step hem is similar to a split hem in that they both have a v-shaped cut out between the front and back panel of the shirt. However on stepped hemmed shirts, the back panel is longer than the front. This is especially noticeable from the side. They confer the same benefits as split hems in allowing for more ease and movement.
Step hems are also referred to as high-low hems or drop-cut hems.
A few other notes on hem differences:
There aren’t rules on which type of hems can be tucked-in and which can’t be, especially with t-shirts. That has more to do with the length of the shirt. There also aren’t rules on which hems are more formal than others. If you’re wearing a t-shirt, you’ve already established your formality.
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