T-SHIRTS: Side-Seamed vs. Tubular

Why Do Tubular Tees Exist? 
First off, the reason tubular tees exist is because they are cheap to make and require less sewing. Imagine a tube of fabric. Tubular tees are made by slicing into the tube to create a circular piece of fabric, then the arms and neck are sewn on and you have a T-shirt.

It’s All in the Fit
When you compare a tubular T-shirt to one that is side-seamed, there are obvious reasons for its inferior fit. Since human bodies are not the shape of a tube, a tubular tee won’t fit well. Just think: Have you ever seen a tubular T-shirt in a retail store? No, and you never will, because retail customers don’t want to wear a tubular fitting tee.  On tubular T-shirts, the armholes are not tailored and the neck openings are generic and the front is exactly the same as the back. This means you’ll get a more generic fit, verses the way side-seamed tees are specifically graded for every body type. Another negative for producing tubular T-shirts is that certain tube sizes are not available due to the lack of machine cylinder sizes, so you may notice strange jumps between sizes, for example a disproportionate jump from a large to an extra large. Side-seams are especially critical for unisex tees intended to be worn by women due to their curves. 
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What is Torquing? 
And finally, one of the biggest issues with tubular tees is torquing. This happens particularly when you wash the shirt and the garment begins to twist. Side seams help to hold the structure of the garment and keeps that big bold chest print front and center where it’s supposed to be.