What is a Raglan Sleeve? A Quick Guide to Raglan Sleeves & Styles

By: YouApparel Posted on: Nov 24, 2025

Raglan sleeve sweatshirts, hoodies and tees are uniquely engineered with a diagonal underarm-to-neckline construction that removes shoulder seams, offering superior mobility, comfort and printing performance. This guide covers the full landscape—raglan baseball tees, lightweight hoodies, athletic moisture-wicking raglans, tri-blend raglan tees and cotton-rich raglan sweatshirts used by teams, creators and resellers. Learn the history behind Lord Raglan, compare set-in sleeves vs raglan sleeves, understand printing compatibility (DTG, screen printing, sublimation), and explore the best wholesale raglan blanks from leading brands available at YouApparel.

There are regular shirts. And then there is the raglan shirt. But it has more to do with the shirt’s sleeves than the shirt itself. YouApparel’s wholesale apparel selection includes a lot of raglan styles, and some of them are top-selling pieces in their respective categories. There’s a lot of love for these garments.

But what exactly sets raglan shirts apart from standard shirts?

If you're shopping for blank raglan shirts or exploring custom raglan shirt options, this quick guide covers everything: history, garment types, construction methods, and styling tips.

What is a Raglan Shirt?

Flat illustration showing raglan sleeves versus set-in sleeves on a T-shirt, polo, hoodie and jacket, highlighting the diagonal raglan sleeve seam from neckline to underarm compared with the standard shoulder seam used in regular set-in sleeve apparel.

In this context, a shirt will cover most topwear including t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, polo shirts, woven shirts, and sweatshirts. So a raglan shirt is a garment with raglan sleeves, which is quite easily recognizable. A raglan sleeve extends diagonally from the underarm to the neckline - no shoulder seam or restrictions. You may have come across blank t-shirts in YouApparel with set-in sleeves where shoulder seams are evident. When you look at raglans, the difference becomes obvious. Raglan construction is meant to offer a better range of motion, roughly 25-30% more.

The History of Raglan Shirts

The name carries fascinating history. Lord FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, lost his right arm at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He needed clothing that allowed greater movement while concealing his disability. John Emary, founder of Aquascutum, designed the innovative diagonal sleeve cut from collar to underarm. It started as a practical military wear, but over time ended up as a sportswear essential before making its way into mainstream fashion.

Raglan Sleeved Apparel and Clothing

Raglan tees can make a great foundation for any outfit, especially when layered beneath sleeveless vests. There are short-sleeve and long-sleeve raglan styles, which work great for casual wear. Like every regular shirt, raglan shirts can also be decorated as per the fabric’s suitability.

Raglan baseball shirts with 3/4 sleeves, like the JERZEES 601RR baseball t-shirt, are among the most iconic styles today, with a white body and contrasting colored sleeves. This colorblocked look combined with raglan sleeves had a massive impact on street culture and among fashion influencers. Baseball raglans even made it to high-fashion status. The 2024-2025 trend cycle heavily favors vintage-inspired designs on these styles.

Three American male models wearing raglan sleeve apparel outdoors, showcasing a JERZEES 601RR triblend raglan baseball tee, a Russell Athletic 693HBM Dri-Power colorblock raglan hooded sweatshirt and an Independent IND40RP raglan hooded sweatshirt, wholesale blank hoodies, sweatshirts and tees from YouApparel.

Raglan hoodies like the 693HBM hoodie from Russell Athletic combine functionality with style, featuring Dri-Power® moisture management and a three-piece double ply hood. Sweatshirts with kangaroo pockets and ribbed cuffs enhance the functionality even more. There’s been a growing demand for lightweight raglan hoodies, like the Independent Trading Company IND40RP hoodie and the JERZEES 90MR french terry hoodie, in YouApparel. We believe this is for better mobility, and possibly also due to our competitive wholesale pricing on a few styles from leading brands.

Coming to raglan sweaters, the typical construction is top-down with knit sweaters having stitches cast on at the neckline. Knitters would then go about the stitching in a circle, increasing stitches at four raglan points. This creates the back, front, and sleeves transforming the sweater into a raglan sweater. Fit adjustments are easy with these sweaters. YouApparel currently does not offer raglan sweaters, but make up for it with top-quality raglan styles on other apparel categories.

Three male models wearing wholesale blank outerwear from YouApparel: a JERZEES 90MR snow heather French terry raglan hooded sweatshirt, a Burnside 9718B mentor coach’s jacket and a JERZEES M740 fleece lined nylon jacket, showcasing raglan sleeve hoodies, sweatshirts and layering tees and jackets for bulk buyers

Raglan outerwear, on the other hand, generally features a construction that supports layering underneath. Styles like the weather-resistant Burnside 9718B Coach Jacket and the Harriton M740 nylon jacket are meant to be part of a layered outfit for better functionality.

Raglan Shirts: Typical Fabrics & Construction Insights

Casual shoppers may not look at the fabric every time they purchase raglans. But when you are buying blank raglan t-shirts or sweatshirts in bulk, you should look into the fabric and the fabric choices you have.

Four American models wearing raglan sleeve wholesale blanks from YouApparel: a Lane Seven LST004 vintage raglan hooded sweatshirt, an Independent PRM30SBC special blend crewneck raglan sweatshirt, a Next Level 6051 triblend three-quarter raglan T-shirt and a Team 365 TT62 zone colorblock raglan T-shirt, showcasing raglan hoodies, sweatshirts and tees for bulk printing and customization.

Cotton options: Combed ring-spun cotton delivers softness and breathability, even if it’s blended with another fabric. The 100% combed ringspun cotton LST004 Vintage Raglan Hoodie from Lane Seven is a great example of that pure cotton softness. Screen printing on pure cotton offers excellent detail retention. It also takes embroidery really well.

Blended fabrics: Cotton-Polyester blends, especially CVC blends, are known for shrinkage resistance and cotton-like softness. The PRM30SBC raglan sweatshirt from Independent Trading Company, for instance, features a 52/48 ring-spun cotton/polyester blend fabric that resists shrinkage yet still delivers the kind of softness you would expect on a cotton sweatshirt, albeit not being fully cotton. Tri-blend combinations (polyester-combed cotton-rayon), like in the Next Level 6051 Triblend Three-Quarter Raglan Tee, provide ultra-soft, retail-quality feel.

Performance materials: Polyester-dominant blends have inherent performance features like moisture-wicking, and are very durable. Athletes prefer these for active wear, like the 100% polyester Team 365 TT61 Raglan T-shirt with moisture-wicking and UV protection.

Sustainable choices: Organic cotton and recycled polyester blends are an option if you or your customers are environmentally-conscious.

For custom decoration, fabric selection impacts results:

Screen printing works really well on combed cotton and CVC blends
DTG (direct-to-garment) printing shines on pure cotton
Sublimation requires 60%+ polyester content
Embroidery works on cotton fabrics

If you are wondering how to care for raglan shirts, you care for it like any other t-shirt depending on the fabric. You can wash them in cold water inside out. Air dry if you can. If there are prints on the shirt, do not iron on the prints directly. For specific care instructions, check the care label of the garment.

Wholesale brands like Bella+Canvas and Next Level offer trendy styles and color ranges. Next Level's 6051 tri-blend raglan, for example, is known for its balance of superb softness with a print-friendly surface. YouApparel’s collection has raglan styles from other brands like Russell Athletic that offers athletic-oriented styles and JERZEES that offers casual yet sporty-looking raglans that are praised for decoration-friendliness.

How to Style Raglan Sleeve T-Shirts & Sweatshirts

Raglan tee with jeans & sneakers. Classic outfit, which can also get a retro flair if you accessorize with a baseball cap.
Raglan tees or sweatshirts with joggers or leggings. You can use raglan sleeve shirts with moisture-wicking to make it more practical at gyms.
A long-sleeve raglan under a denim jacket or bomber is similar to how you would layer any tee. The raglan sleeves won’t be visible however. But under a vest, the aesthetic of the outfit shifts to a different direction.
Raglan shirt paired with chinos and loafers elevates toward smart-casual.

Why Raglan Sleeves Are Still Popular

Movement: Without a shoulder seam, there’s genuine freedom of motion

Comfort: There are no friction points like in regular shirts, so the wearer doesn’t feel a binding sensation

Fashion: People have always loved vintage baseball tees

Versatility: Works for multiple occasions and styles

Printing potential: Color blocking and contrast sleeves provide natural customization opportunities

Athletic heritage: Professional athletes trust this construction

Conclusion

Having a few raglan shirts in the collection could diversify inventory for resellers. Sports teams continue to use raglans that match their team colors. The construction of raglan shirts make it easier for decorators to enhance the garment aesthetically. History, functionality, and fashion align evidently. They will be on trend for years, we are sure.

Start exploring blank raglan shirts today and decorate them at competitive costs in YouApparel. Raglan sleeves aren't going anywhere. Join the movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a raglan sleeve?

It’s a sleeve construction with the sleeve extending from the underarm to the neckline, and without a shoulder seam. This eliminates the shoulder point entirely, offering more range of motion than standard sleeves with shoulder seam.

What does raglan mean in a shirt?

If the shirt’s name says “Raglan”, it means the shirt has a raglan sleeve - a sleeve that diagonally extends from the underarm to the neckline. The term “raglan” could mean the sleeve type and the comfort/fit characteristics associated with the construction.

Why is it called raglan?

The style is named after Lord FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, a British military officer who lost his right arm at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. This innovative sleeve cut was designed to give Lord Raglan greater freedom of movement while discreetly concealing his disability. The style became so popular it adopted his name and remains called "raglan" today.

What is the difference between a raglan and a regular tee?

The main differences are the raglan sleeves without shoulder seam, where regular tees have sleeves attached at the shoulder with shoulder seam. Appearance-wise, raglan t-shirts have sloping shoulders, which often comes in two-tone colors with the sleeves having a contrasting color to the color of the t-shirt’s body.

What is a raglan tee?

A raglan tee is a t-shirt featuring raglan sleeves. It can come in short-sleeve or long-sleeve options, and can be solid colors, color-blocked with contrasting sleeves, or customized with prints.

What is a raglan shirt?

A raglan shirt is a structured shirt variant featuring raglan sleeves. It can be button-up or pullover style, with or without a collar.

What is a raglan sweater?

A raglan sweater is a knitted garment with raglan sleeves. Typically knit top-down or bottom-up (seamless or seamed), it's characterized by no shoulder seam and a diagonal line from neck to underarm. Raglan sweaters often feature collegiate or Ivy League heritage styling.

What is a raglan hoodie?

A raglan hoodie is a hooded sweatshirt featuring raglan sleeves that typically start at the neck collar and are often in contrasting colors to the body. They're very popular in casual and athletic wear due to their combined comfort and functionality.

What is a raglan jacket?

A raglan jacket is an outerwear garment featuring raglan sleeves, which provides greater range of motion than traditional jackets. Raglan jackets can also accommodate layering underneath effectively.

How do I wear a raglan tee or shirt?

Raglan tees and shirts work across multiple style contexts. You can pair them with jeans, with joggers, or with leggings. Preppy outfit styles often combine raglan tees with chinos and loafers. Like regular tees, raglan tees can also be worn under denim jackets or bombers.

What are raglan seams in knitting?

In knitting, raglan seams refer to the diagonal lines of increases or decreases that shape raglan knit garments like sweaters. These aren't always actual seams but decorative lines (marker points) running from underarm to neckline. These lines create the distinctive sloped shoulder characteristic of raglan design.

What makes raglan sleeves popular?

Raglan sleeves are popular because of the garment’s enhanced mobility at the shoulders, athletic heritage, versatile styling, and unique colorblock options without compromising on printing potential.

Are raglan shirts in style right now?

Yes, absolutely. Raglan shirts have been trending strongly for years now. Current trends include vintage raglan sweatshirts, printed colorblocked raglans, and sustainable options.

What is the best material for raglan shirts?

Best material depends on end-use. 100% combed ringspun cotton is the best hands down for everyday casual. Tri-blend raglans work great as premium, super soft casualwear. Raglan tees or topwear made of polyester blends are reasonable choices for athletic/active wear.

Where can I buy raglan shirts wholesale or blank?

You can order blank raglan shirts from leading brands in the United States at competitive or even unmatched wholesale prices in YouApparel. YouApparel also offers professional-grade decoration services.

What is the best raglan shirt for printing?

We recommend Next Level 6051 tri-blend, Lane Seven LST004 Vintage raglan, and JERZEES 601RR raglan t-shirt. DTG works best on cotton/low-poly; sublimation requires 60%+ polyester. Tri-blend fabrics offer the best balance of softness and print durability.

How do I care for raglan sleeve apparel?

General care instructions mention washing the garments inside out in cold water, with mild detergents. We recommend air-drying raglan sleeve apparel if possible. For specific instructions, check the garment’s care label.