Ringer collar

Ringer collars are built from a rib-knit band, usually 1 x 1 rib, knit or dyed in a different color than the body and set into the neckline in place of a self-color crew band — the same construction as a standard ribbed collar, just with contrasting yarn. Classic ringer tees pair a white body with navy or red trim at both the collar and sleeve cuffs, a look that traces back to '60s and '70s baseball and varsity styles.

For a shop, that contrast trim is effectively a free second color on the garment before any ink goes down — a customer can spec a navy ringer collar on a white tee and get a two-tone look without paying for a second print color, since the color comes from the fabric, not the press. We recommend ringer builds specifically when a client wants a retro varsity or Americana feel but the budget only covers a one-color print.

Because the collar and cuffs are a separate knit piece sewn on, pros confirm dye-lot consistency across a bulk order before committing — a ringer run built in batches can show slightly different trim shades if the contrast rib comes from more than one dye lot.

The mistake buyers make is assuming any tee with a colored collar is a "ringer" — a plain crew with a printed or dyed neckband isn't the same construction, and specifying "ringer collar" to a blank supplier when you actually want a dyed trim on a standard crew gets you the wrong garment.