How We Produce Custom T-Shirts For Overseas Brands
Custom T-shirt production starts with order clarification, then moves through fabric, GSM, sample approval, decoration, bulk sewing, QC and export packing. What this T-shirt question usually means in production A T-shirt looks simple, so buyers sometimes expect production to start immediately. In practice, the factory has to lock fabric route, size chart, collar and seam standard, artwork size, label content and packing method before bulk cutting. Otherwise the shirt can change between sample and production. In practical terms, we want the buyer and factory to agree on fabric, measurements, artwork, labels and packing before any bulk material is committed. That record keeps the sample from becoming a one-off piece instead of a repeatable order. A brand order may need a cleaner collar, better shrinkage control, private labels and retail packing. A company shirt may need size consistency, logo durability and delivery timing. A distributor may need repeat-order records. If we ignore these differences, the production plan becomes too vague. Our production team usually asks for product use, quantity, size range, fabric target, artwork, destination country and target date. We do this before quotation because a useful price needs these assumptions. Requirement review and quotation basis A T-shirt quotation should show what it is based on. We check whether the buyer wants cotton, polyester, blend, jersey, pique or performance fabric. We ask about GSM or at least target hand feel. We ask whether the decoration is screen printing, heat transfer, DTG or embroidery. We also check color count, size range, label needs, packing method and delivery term. If the buyer only sends a photo, we can give a direction, but we do not pretend that the final cost is fixed. A photo does not show yarn quality, GSM, shrinkage, stitching or packing. When the quotation assumptions are clear, the buyer can compare suppliers more fairly. Without those assumptions, the cheapest quote may simply be a different product. Fabric sourcing and GSM confirmation After the basic order direction is clear, we review fabric. For T-shirts, this can include combed cotton jersey, cotton-poly blends, polyester performance fabric, pique structure or other materials depending on the buyer's use case. GSM must be discussed early because it affects the sample feel, unit cost, printing result, shipping weight and market fit. A 160 GSM event shirt and a 240 GSM retail brand shirt should not be treated as the same production order. If the buyer wants a stock color, the process is usually easier. If the buyer needs a custom color or Pantone direction, we need to check fabric dyeing, MOQ and color approval. These steps affect both sample time and bulk timing. Pattern, fit and size chart preparation Once fabric direction is realistic, the pattern and size chart need attention. A T-shirt may look basic, but body length, shoulder width, sleeve shape, collar size, hem and tolerance all affect the final product. If the buyer sends a tech pack, we review whether the measurements match the fabric behavior and target market. If the buyer has no size chart, we can start from a reference garment or a standard fit direction, then use the sample to confirm changes. We ask buyers to make fit comments in writing. A comment such as make it better is hard to use. A comment such as reduce body length by two centimeters on size M can become a production instruction. Sample development and artwork testing The sample is where fabric, fit and decoration meet. We use the sample to check whether the fabric feels right, whether measurements work, whether the collar and sewing match the target, and whether the logo method works on the actual fabric. Artwork is reviewed before decoration. Screen printing needs color and placement confirmation. Embroidery needs size, stitch density and fabric stability. Heat transfer needs material, pressure and wash expectations. The same logo can behave differently on different fabric surfaces. We do not want buyers to approve only a photo. The sample should be checked as a production reference. If changes are needed, they should be confirmed before bulk fabric and trims are prepared. Bulk production after approval Bulk production begins after the sample, artwork, quantity, size ratio, labels, packing and delivery details are approved. We connect the approved sample with written order details so cutting, sewing, decoration and QC are working from the same standard. Production includes material preparation, cutting, sewing, collar and seam work, decoration, trimming, ironing or finishing, final inspection and packing. The order may look simple from outside, but each step needs the correct reference. If the buyer changes fabric, print size, label content or packing after approval, we review cost and timing again. Some changes are easy before material booking, but difficult after cutting or decoration. This is why approval discipline matters. QC points during and before shipment For custom T-shirts, QC usually checks material appearance, color, measurements, collar shape, stitching, print position, embroidery quality, label content, loose threads, quantity, size ratio and packing. The approved sample is the reference. Some defects are small but important. Twisted seams, weak collar recovery, uneven print placement or wrong size labels can create problems for the buyer after delivery. We prefer to catch these before cartons leave the factory. For repeat orders, records matter. Fabric direction, size chart, label files, decoration placement and packing method should not depend on memory. Keeping records makes the second order faster and safer. Packing, export and delivery preparation Packing is part of production. We confirm whether the buyer needs individual polybags, size stickers, hangtags, barcode labels, carton marks, packing lists or packing by size, team, department or SKU. Export packing should make the goods easy to receive and count. If the buyer sends packing instructions after shirts are finished, the shipment may be delayed because labels, stickers or carton marks still need to be prepared. Before delivery, we confirm carton information, destination country and trade term such as EXW, FOB, DDP or an agreed shipment route. The earlier these details are clear, the fewer surprises appear near shipment. FAQ about T-shirt production Can we produce a T-shirt from a reference photo? Yes, but we still need fabric direction, GSM, size range, logo details, quantity and packing. A photo is a starting point, not a full specification. Can we do low MOQ trial production? Sometimes. Low MOQ is easier with available fabric, standard colors and simple decoration. Custom dyeing, many colors or complex labels increase MOQ pressure. When does bulk lead time start? It should start after sample approval, material confirmation, artwork approval, label approval and order details are locked. What should you send for a Get Quote request? Send product type, target quantity, fabric or GSM idea, size range, logo file, label or packing needs, destination country and target date. How we prevent a T-shirt order from changing during production Most production problems start when the order changes after approval. A buyer may decide that the logo should be larger, the fabric should be heavier, the label content should change or packing should become retail-ready. Some changes are possible, but the timing matters. Before bulk production, we ask the buyer to confirm the order file again. The file includes fabric, GSM, color, size chart, tolerance, artwork, decoration method, label files, packing rules, quantity, size ratio, destination and delivery term. This final check keeps the sewing team, decoration team and QC team working from the same reference. If a change appears after material booking, cutting or decoration, we explain the effect on cost and lead time. This is not to block the buyer. It is to make sure both sides understand that the order is no longer the same as the approved sample. How production updates help overseas buyers Overseas buyers cannot stand beside the production line, so clear updates are important. For serious orders, we try to keep communication practical: material status, sample comments, bulk start, decoration status, QC timing, packing status and shipment preparation. We do not believe buyers need long messages with vague promises. They need to know whether fabric is ready, whether artwork has been approved, whether a size issue appeared, whether packing files are missing and whether the schedule is still realistic. This communication is especially important for events, team orders and brand launches. If the buyer has a fixed delivery date, we need to know it early so we can explain what can be safely changed and what should stay locked after approval. A final check before we cut bulk fabric Before bulk fabric is cut, we like to pause and check the order one more time with the buyer. This review is simple but important: fabric, GSM, color, size chart, artwork, label files, packing, quantity, size ratio and destination country. Cutting is the point where many decisions become expensive to change. If the buyer still has doubts about fit, logo size, label content or packing, those questions should be solved before this stage. A careful final check protects the buyer and helps our factory keep the order moving without rework. When all details are locked, production can follow the approved sample instead of trying to interpret messages during the busiest stage of the order.