GSM comes up constantly when people talk about quality t-shirts and most explanations either go too technical or just say "higher is better" without context. Higher isn't always better. It depends what you're buying the tee for. Here's what the numbers actually mean and how to use them.
What GSM Means
GSM stands for grams per square metre. It's the standard measurement for fabric weight — how much a one-metre square of the fabric weighs in grams. Higher GSM means heavier, denser fabric. Lower GSM means lighter and thinner.
That's it. Everything else — how it feels, how it drapes, how long it lasts — follows from that.
150 GSM and Under
Lightweight. This is the territory of fast fashion basics, summer undershirts, and promotional tees. The fabric is thin, breathable in hot weather, and cheap to produce.
The problems: it goes see-through when stretched, loses shape quickly, and doesn't hold up well to repeated washing. An oversized cut in 150 GSM fabric will start looking floppy and worn within a few months.
Fine for something you don't care about keeping. Not worth buying if you want the tee to last.
160–180 GSM
The sweet spot for most quality t-shirts, and specifically for oversized tees. Heavy enough to hold structure and drape properly, light enough to wear comfortably in warm weather.
At this weight the fabric has real presence — it feels like something when you pick it up. A drop shoulder oversized tee in 170 GSM holds its shape wash after wash. The print sits better on heavier fabric too, which is why most decent graphic tees are made in this range.
For Pakistan's climate — including Karachi summers — 170 GSM is manageable. It's not a winter-only fabric. The structure means it doesn't cling the way thinner fabric does, which actually makes it cooler to wear in some conditions.
Skribi tees are 170 GSM — both the graphic tees in Drop 01 and The Blanks plain tees. That's a deliberate choice for exactly these reasons.
200 GSM and Above
Premium heavyweight. This is the territory of high-end basics brands — the kind of plain white tee that costs three times what it should and people buy anyway because it's genuinely that good.
The fabric is thick, structured, and extremely durable. It also runs warm. In a Pakistani summer, a 200 GSM tee can feel like too much depending on how hot it gets where you are. Lahore in June is different from Islamabad in October.
Worth it if you're buying for cooler weather or you specifically want the premium heavyweight feel. Overkill for everyday summer wear in most of Pakistan.
220 GSM and Above
Streetwear brands in the US and Europe are pushing into this territory — 220, 240, even 260 GSM tees. The fabric is almost sweatshirt-like in weight.
Impressive to hold. Not particularly practical in South Asian heat. You'll see it mentioned in imported streetwear but it's not something most Pakistani brands are working with yet, for obvious reasons.
Which GSM Should You Buy?
For an oversized t-shirt in Pakistan: 160–180 GSM. It holds the drop shoulder silhouette, survives washing, and doesn't make you miserable in summer.
For a lightweight summer tee you're not precious about: 150 GSM is fine. Just don't expect it to last.
For cooler weather or if you specifically want a premium heavyweight feel: 200 GSM.
For most people, most of the time — 170 GSM covers it. That's exactly what Skribi's graphic tees and plain blanks are built on.
A Note on GSM and Price
Heavier fabric costs more to produce. A 170 GSM tee will almost always cost more than a 150 GSM tee from the same brand. That's not markup — it's just more material and more manufacturing effort.
If two tees are priced the same and one is 170 GSM and the other is 150 GSM, the 170 GSM one is the better value. You're getting more fabric, better structure, and a longer lifespan.