Illustrative situation
A brand buys T-shirts described as pre-shrunk cotton. After the first wash, customers report that the shirts are shorter and tighter. The supplier says pre-shrunk means no shrinkage, and the brand wants to know whether that is true.
Main answer
Pre-shrunk is not a defined standard, so it does not mean a knit garment will not shrink. Fabric may have been relaxed or compacted to reduce shrinkage, but some residual shrinkage usually remains, so ask for a test result by a named method and write a shrinkage limit into the order.
What pre-shrunk means
The term suggests that the fabric was treated to shrink before cutting. For knits, this can mean relaxation, compacting or heat setting, which reduce movement later. For woven fabric, sanforizing is a mechanical compression process. Different mills use different processes, and there is no common definition of the phrase.
Why shrinkage remains
A knit is stretched during knitting and finishing, and some of that tension stays in the fabric. Washing and drying let it relax, so even treated fabric can shrink a few percent. Fibre type, yarn, construction and the customer’s washing and drying habits also change the result, so no treatment removes shrinkage fully.
How to test it
Ask for dimensional change results by a named method, such as ISO 5077 or AATCC TM135, with the washing and drying conditions and number of cycles stated. A garment test is better still, since sewing affects the result. Test each bulk fabric lot, not only the first one.
What customers actually see
Customers do not care about the process name. They see whether the shirt is shorter, tighter or twisted after a normal wash. Judge the garment after the wash your customers use, and give them care advice that matches the test, so the label and the result agree.
What to put in the order
Set a maximum shrinkage in length and width, say how it is tested and what happens if a lot fails. Add pattern allowances if needed. Describe the product accurately, for example as relaxed or compacted fabric, instead of promising no shrinkage. See why shrinkage differs between batches and T-shirt fit and fabric.
Fact, recommendation, uncertainty
- Established fact
- ISO 5077 and AATCC TM135 measure dimensional change after washing, and pre-shrunk is not a defined standard.
- Recommendation
- Ask for results by a named method, set a written limit and describe the treatment accurately.
- Uncertainty
- Some shrinkage usually remains after treatment, and the amount depends on fabric, process and customer care.
Sources and further reading
- ISO 5077:2007 — Determination of dimensional change in washing and drying
- AATCC TM135 — Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering
Sources checked on 24 October 2026. Standards bodies sell the full texts; we cite what their public pages state. General information, not legal or technical certification advice.
More perspectives from the team
Three further views on the same question, each by function. They add conditions and limits to the main answer; they are editorial notes, not customer reviews.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Sourcing
Ask what process was used and for test results on your lot. Limit: a mill’s process description may not show the final result. Ask for the shrinkage test report of the exact lot and not a generic brochure figure.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Product selection
Allow for residual shrinkage in the size chart and the length. Limit: too much allowance makes the unwashed garment look big. Choose a slightly longer body block if your fabric still shrinks in length.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Quality & care
Wash a finished garment and measure it before and after. Limit: use the same washing and drying method as your customers. Compare measurements before and after the same wash, recorded in a table.
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