How a jeans button wears through a T-shirt
A small metal jeans button can act like a rough contact point against the soft knit of a T-shirt. When the shirt is trapped between the button and a desk, kitchen counter, or work surface, ordinary movement makes the fabric rub back and forth. The yarns gradually thin, then break, leaving a tiny hole—often around belly-button height.
The damage can be hard to notice as it happens. Repeated leaning, reaching, and shifting add up, while the button’s edge concentrates friction in one small spot. A belt buckle or another hard waistband detail can cause similar wear, but the jeans button is a frequent everyday suspect.
A small change can prevent repeat holes
Notice whether the holes appear in the same place on several shirts. If they do, check what presses against that spot: try a smoother or covered button, adjust a belt buckle, or avoid leaning the shirt against a rough edge. The hole may come from repeated rubbing, not a snag or a washing-machine mishap.
