Creases in tees come from folding, compression and time. A tee folded tightly, often around a card insert, packed into a full carton and stored for weeks can develop creases that do not fall out quickly, especially in cotton and when the fabric was packed slightly damp or warm. Shine marks are different: they come from pressing with too much heat, pressure or time, or pressing directly on the face of a dark fabric, which flattens the surface and makes it reflect light.

Pressing

Ask the factory how tees are pressed before folding. For most jersey tees, a light steam finish is enough. Dark colours are more prone to shine, so pressing from the inside or using a cover cloth or a press pad can help. Agree that pressing must not leave shine or marks, and include a pressed dark tee in the approved samples.

Folding

Specify the fold method and folded size with a drawing or photo. A larger folded size means fewer, softer folds. Avoid sharp folds across the print where possible. Card inserts help presentation but sharpen creases; decide whether you need them.

Packing and moisture

Garments should be cool and dry before bagging. Packing warm, freshly steamed tees into sealed bags can trap moisture, setting creases and risking odours or marks. Specify the number of pieces per carton so cartons are not over-packed, and the carton strength for the shipping route.

Check it

Include packing and presentation in your final inspection. Under an ISO 2859-1 sampling plan, list shine marks as a defect and hard creasing that does not recover as a defect if it fails your agreed standard. To check whether creases are acceptable, hang a few pieces for a set time or wash them with a named procedure such as ISO 6330 and see if they recover.

For ecommerce

If tees ship directly to customers, the first impression is out of the bag. Consider a looser fold and tissue for premium lines, and test how a packed tee looks after a few weeks in a carton.

Keep one packed reference carton from approval so later shipments can be compared on fold, bagging and presentation.