Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

How to Fold a T-Shirt Quickly

John Jones
By
Man wearing a Cuts Clothing shirt.
Cuts

Your favorite worn-out t-shirt is elevated to near black-tie status during the summer. It’s lightweight and cool, gives you enough coverage for most situations, and cuts the mustard at all but the most elite of restaurants. Solid t-shirts in soft, comfortable fabrics make a minimalistic statement; while graphic tees allow us to indulge in self-expression. Of course, the problem is; without other layers to hide under, the t-shirt also has to be neat and wrinkle-free for all but the most grungy of circumstances. Whether you’re looking to get the laundry folded and put away quickly so you can hit the beach; are packing for a summer getaway, or want to start organizing your clothes at home; we’ve got a folding and storage solution to keep your old standby at the ready for all occasions.  

Kristyn Ivey runs Chicago’s first Platinum Certified KonMari tidying consultancy, For the Love of Tidy. Besides organizing the lives of her fellow Windy City citizens, she even counts her own father as a client, convincing the 63-year-old to use the “spark joy” method as his own storage solution. He’s even demonstrated his mastery of the Japanese packing techniques on her blog. We particularly liked his method of using a belt, tucked inside a button-down shirt collar, to provide structure.

Recommended Videos

While we may be looking to fold t-shirts in a hurry, Ivey reminds us to treat our clothing “with love and respect! Our clothes work very hard for us every day. So, it’s important to lead with gratitude and mindfulness even while folding t-shirts. The way we treat anything is the way we treat everything!”

Related

“The KonMari signature folding method trades stuffing and stacking for arranging shirts like file folders, upright and on edge,” she explains. “An inventory of every color, style, and texture greets you every time you open the drawer. T-shirts hold a KonMari fold really well; saving space and reducing the pressure that causes wrinkles.” 

According to “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” by neatness guru Marie Kondo; the goal is to fold each T-shirt into a simple, smooth rectangle. Kondo’s method goes like this: 

1. Fold each lengthwise side of the garment toward the center.

Step 1: Fold each lengthwise side of the shirt toward the center.
Chris DeGraw/The Manual

2. Tuck the sleeves in to make a long rectangular shape.

Step 2 illustration: Tuck the sleeves in to make a long rectangular shape.
Chris DeGraw/The Manual

3. Pick up one short end of the rectangle and fold it toward the other short end.

Step 3 illustration with front and back display: Pick up one short end of the rectangle and fold it toward the other short end.
Chris DeGraw/The Manual

4. Fold again; in halves or in thirds: the number of folds should be adjusted so that the folded T-shirt will stand on its edge, fitting the height of your drawer.

Final 4th step illustration: Fold again; in halves or in thirds: the number of folds should be adjusted so that the folded T-shirt will stand on its edge.
Chris DeGraw/The Manual

It may seem a bit complicated at first, but after a few loads of laundry you’ll be banging out folded t-shirts like a sales associate at The Gap. Having converted to the KonMari method myself; I organize most of my solid t-shirts by color; but I fold graphic t-shirts so that the pattern is easily “read” on the top of the fold, then put them in a separate drawer.

Ivey points out that heavier sweaters and knits can also be folded and stored upright, turning the sleeves inward. Polos are usually happiest when hung up to best protect the collar.  (Another editor’s note: “No. Wire. Hangers. Ever!” Please use soft plastic or velour-coated hangers when hanging knits so they don’t get stretched out in the shoulders.)

Now that your home is neat and tidy, are you ready to hit the road? “For travel, transfer the KonMari folded shirts from your drawer right to your suitcase or packing cube,” says Ivey. (She actually demonstrated her packing method for the local Chicago ABC affiliate.) The method involves using packing cubes to keep everything organized (the article compares the zip-up pouches to bento boxes, Japan’s brightly organized and decorative lunch containers). Ivey recommends packing the cubes with outfits in order of events planned, so if you’re headed off for a destination wedding, organize packing cubes by “day of,” rehearsal dinner, bachelor party, etc.

Ivey also suggests folding t-shirts right out of the dryer while they are still warm; “It’s a great way to avoid the need to iron or have a pile-up of clean clothes.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
John Jones
John Jones
Contributor
John Jones is a Jersey City, New Jersey-based writer who enjoys covering design in all its forms, from fashion to…
Don’t sweat it: The no-fuss guide to removing sweat stains from shirts you love
Follow these steps to save your wardrobe
A man getting dressed, buttoning up his shirt.

Nothing brings a grown man to tears faster than a massive sweat stain on an otherwise perfectly good shirt. It’s inevitable. The “investment” white dress shirt that always brings you luck on new client meetings is suddenly showing pit stains. The basic T-shirt you bought specifically for its minimalist appeal gets a grease mark right on the chest. The best chinos you’ve only worn once get a grass stain from one slip in the backyard. Knowing how to remove sweat stains from shirts - and your other favorite items - is essential.

Sure, you could just throw them away and buy new clothes, but these days disposable fashion is getting a bad rap, and dusting off a little thrift ingenuity seems downright trendy. We checked in with chemical engineer Dr. Daniel H. Jones for a few easy-to-use pointers to create our guide for how to remove sweat stains from shirts to make clothes look new again.

Read more
How to tie a tie: A step-by-step guide to 4 popular knots
Always look your best with these top notch knots
Close-up bright pink necktie makes a colorful contrast to a neutral gray suit on businessman

Neckties have been a staple in the gentleman's wardrobe for centuries, reaching all the way back to ancient Chinese warriors. Of course, they have evolved over the years, but the core of the garment stayed the same — fabric tied around the neck to bring attention to the head. But regardless of how long the tie has been in vogue, some men still don't know how to tie a tie.

That is where we come in, with a guide to help you figure out how to tie a tie and look your best. Of course, not every tie knot is the right one, so here are the most common four tie knots you should know. And how to tie them. Don't forget to take it one step further and send the right message with your tie by knowing what the color says.

Read more
This is how many suits you should own if you have to wear one daily
Keep looking sharp with the right number of suits for everyday wear
Gabriel Macht wearing a light gray suit

Every man needs a handful of suits in his life. However, some of us need a wardrobe of men's suits because we must wear them daily. Whether you're in finance, sales, law, or other professional industries, suits are your number-one way to make the best first impression you can. If you have to wear a suit daily, though, how many suits do you need to keep them fresh, sharp, and in good condition?

This answer to that question can vary depending on many factors. First, if you are outside often and exposed to the elements, you may need more suits because they'll get sweaty, wet, or collect much more dirt and grime than normal and require more frequent cleaning. Second, if you're someone who sits in an office all day, you may be able to get by with fewer suits. Of course, there are some tricks you can try along the way, and we'll let you in on some of the best in the business.

Read more