A crew neck t shirt manufacturer makes more collars than any other kind, but the neckline is also where t-shirts most often go wrong: necks that stretch, go wavy after washing, or feel too tight to pull on. This guide covers the different types of collars on t shirts, how men’s and women’s necklines differ, how a neck rib is built to industry standard, and the common collar problems and how they are solved, based on more than 20 years of producing t-shirts and polo shirts in Tirupur.
9 Different Types of Collars on T-Shirts
These are the different types of neck t shirt styles we produce, from the everyday crew neck to polo collars. Every crew neck t shirt manufacturer will recognise them, but each one is built differently.
1. Crew Neck
A close-fitting round neckline finished with a rib band that sits near the base of the neck. It is the most common t-shirt neck, clean and versatile, and the default for basics, printed tees, and uniforms.
2. Round Neck
Similar to a crew neck but usually cut slightly lower and wider, giving a softer, more relaxed look. For boys’ and kids’ ranges, it is the standard neckline, covered on our page for round neck t shirt manufacturers.
3. V-Neck
A neckline that dips to a point at the front. Men’s V-necks are usually shallower; women’s are often deeper. A v neck t shirt manufacturer has to get the point clean and symmetrical, which takes a mitred or overlapped rib join at the centre front.
4. Scoop Neck
A wide, deep, rounded neckline, mostly used in women’s tees and tops. It is often finished with a narrow rib or a self-fabric binding rather than a wide rib band.
5. Henley
A round neck with a short button placket at the front, giving a casual, slightly dressier look. It needs a reinforced placket and buttonholes that hold up to repeated washing.
6. Polo Collar
A fold-down collar with a button placket, usually on pique fabric. Polo collars are flat knitted, and they can be plain, tipped, or striped, as covered further below.
7. Mock Neck
A short, stand-up neckline that rises part way up the neck without folding over. It is popular in fashion tops and layering pieces.
8. Boat Neck
A wide, shallow neckline that runs almost horizontally from shoulder to shoulder. It is mainly used in women’s tops and relaxed styles.
9. Split or Notch Neck
A round neck with a short vertical slit at the centre front. It adds a detail without a placket and suits both fashion and casual tees.
Collars on Men’s vs Women’s T-Shirts
| Detail | Men’s T-Shirts | Women’s T-Shirts |
|---|---|---|
| Common necklines | Crew, V-neck, henley, polo | Scoop, V-neck, crew, boat, mock |
| Neck width and depth | Higher and narrower | Wider and often deeper |
| V-neck depth | Shallower | Deeper |
| Rib width | Standard to wider rib | Narrower rib or fine binding |
| Finish | Rib band, often with back-neck tape | Rib, self binding, or clean finish |
For women’s ranges built on these necklines, see our women’s clothing manufacturers page.
How a Crew Neck Is Built
The neck of a crew neck t-shirt is a separate strip of rib fabric sewn to the body. By industry standard, it is a 1×1 rib, knitted as a double-knit structure, and it usually contains a small amount of elastane, often around 5%, so the neck springs back after being stretched over the head. The rib strip is cut shorter than the neckline it is sewn to, so it is slightly stretched as it goes on; that tension is what makes the neck lie flat and hug the body. Getting the rib length right is the most important decision in the whole collar. Most crew necks also carry a back-neck tape, a strip of fabric covering the inside back seam, which reinforces it and stops it stretching. Our guide to knitting and knit structures explains how rib is made.
Common Collar Problems and How They Are Solved
Wavy or “Bacon” Neck
The neck ripples after washing instead of lying flat. It usually comes from a rib that was too long for the neckline, a rib without enough elastane to recover, or a rib and body that shrink at different rates. The fix is to correct the rib length, use a rib with elastane, and make sure the rib and body fabric are from compatible, pre-shrunk batches.
Neck Stretching Out Over Time
The neck opening grows and loses its shape after repeated wear. It is solved with an elastane rib, a back-neck tape to stabilise the seam, and the right stitch, a coverstitch or twin-needle finish that stretches and recovers with the rib.
Neck Too Tight to Pull On
A neck that looks right flat can still be too tight to pass over the head. The solution is to set a minimum neck stretch in the spec and test it on every sample, especially for kids’ ranges, where a tight neck is a common complaint.
Polo Collar Curling
Collar points that curl up after washing come from the knitting tension of the flat collar or from pressing. They are solved by knitting the collar to the correct tension and structure, and finishing it properly with steam pressing before packing.
Collar Shade Mismatch
Flat-knit collars are knitted and dyed separately from the body fabric, so their colour can drift from the body. The fix is to approve a lab dip for the collar alongside the body fabric, and to check both together on the sample.
Polo Collars: Flat-Knit, Tipped, and Striped
Polo collars and cuffs are made on flat knitting machines, which knit each collar to shape. We have our flat-knit collars knitted to order through our knitting partners rather than buying stock collars, which means the collar can match the body colour, and can carry tipping, a contrast stripe along the edge, or full stripes. Striped collars are made from dyed yarn, the same yarn-dyed method we use for auto-stripe polo shirts, covered in our guide to dyed t-shirt production. For brands in the market for collar t shirt manufacturers in Tirupur, made-to-order collars are what let a polo match the brand’s colours exactly.
How to Specify a Collar in Your Tech Pack
State the neckline type, the neck width and depth for each size, the rib type and finished rib width, and whether the rib should contain elastane. Say whether you want a back-neck tape and which stitch finishes the neck. For polos, give the collar height, point length, placket length, button count, and any tipping colours. Set a minimum neck stretch and ask for a wash test on the sample, so any waviness or stretching shows up before bulk, not after.
Our recommendation
As a crew neck t shirt manufacturer, our advice is to treat the collar as a specification of its own: rib type, width, elastane, rib length, tape, and stitch. For polos, have collars knitted to order so colour and tipping match. We produce crew neck, V-neck, henley, and polo shirts from a minimum of 300 pieces per colour per style, confirmed against a washed sample before bulk. Send us your tech pack for a sampled quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of collars on t-shirts?
The main types are crew neck, round neck, V-neck, scoop neck, henley, polo collar, mock neck, boat neck, and split or notch neck. Crew and round necks are the most common, polo collars are used on pique polo shirts, and scoop and boat necks are mostly used in women’s tops.
What is the difference between a crew neck and a round neck?
Both are round necklines. A crew neck sits close to the base of the neck with a snug rib band, while a round neck is usually cut slightly lower and wider for a more relaxed look.
Why does a t-shirt neck go wavy after washing?
A wavy neck usually comes from a rib cut too long for the neckline, a rib without enough elastane to recover, or rib and body fabrics that shrink differently. Correcting the rib length, using an elastane rib, and matching pre-shrunk fabrics solves it.
How are polo shirt collars made?
Polo collars are knitted to shape on flat knitting machines. They can be plain, tipped with a contrast edge, or striped using dyed yarn. Knitting collars to order lets them match the body colour of the polo exactly.
How do men’s and women’s t-shirt collars differ?
Men’s necklines usually sit higher and narrower, with shallower V-necks and standard rib widths. Women’s necklines are often wider and deeper, including scoop and boat necks, and use a narrower rib or fine binding.
About the Author: Karthik Shan
Karthik Shan is the founder and CEO of The Synerg, with 20+ years in the Tirupur textile hub. He publishes practical playbooks for brands on fabric GSM, costing (CM/CMT), AQL quality standards, and export-ready production.