T-Shirt Manufacturer for Custom and Private Label Brands

Why Brands Choose This T-Shirt Manufacturer

“Most brands do not need a trading company. They need one factory that will hold GSM, fit and shade on the reorder.”

— Chowdhury Remon, Founder & CEO, SDF Clothing. Reviewed this page 20 September 2026.

T-Shirt Manufacturer Cost (Indicative FOB)

Indicative FOB pricing from this t-shirt manufacturer is $2.50–$4.50 per piece at 300 pcs for 180 GSM cotton, and $2.10–$3.80 at 1,000 pcs. GOTS organic 200 GSM is $3.80–$5.80 at 300 pcs. Final quotes are issued in 48 hours.

FOB = buyer pays freight and duty from port. Print colours, embroidery, special dye and packaging change the range. Use the price calculator for a spec-level figure, then request a 48-hour quote. Manufacturing costs explains what moves price per piece.

T-Shirt Manufacturer vs Print Shop vs Blank Wholesaler vs POD

SDF Clothing is a cut-and-sew t-shirt manufacturer, not a print-on-demand shop and not a blank wholesaler. Search results mix four different kinds of business under that name, so the table shows how they differ.

Wholesale blanks are an optional add-on for us, on the same 300-piece style minimum, and the core business is cut-and-sew to your pattern. We are also the factory itself, not a directory or a list of factories.

What is a t-shirt manufacturer?

A t-shirt manufacturer is a cut-and-sew factory that knits or buys jersey, cuts, sews, decorates and packs tees to a brand’s specification. You bring a tech pack or a reference garment, and the factory develops samples and runs bulk production on its own sewing lines. That is why manufacturers set a minimum per style, where a print shop or blank supplier sells from stock.

T-shirt vs tee shirt vs tshirt

Same garment. This page uses t-shirt; tee shirt, tee and tshirt mean the same product to our production team.

T-Shirt Manufacturers Compared: What to Check Before You Order

Compare factories on production model, MOQ per style or per colour, sample policy, lead time, fabric range, decoration, labels, QC standard and quote speed. Use this table when shortlisting t-shirt manufacturers. Figures are what SDF quotes for OEM/private label tees.

What is the typical t-shirt manufacturer MOQ?

Most factories set an MOQ between 50 and 1,000 pieces, often per colour, and SDF’s t-shirt MOQ is 300 pieces per style. Lower minimums usually mean printing on bought blanks rather than cutting your own pattern. Test your size and colour split with the MOQ calculator before you brief a factory.

Is t-shirt manufacturer MOQ per style or per colour?

At SDF it is per style: 300 pieces per style, up to 3 colours, with sizes mixed. Many factories count per colour, so the same three-colour order can mean 900 pieces elsewhere. A second style needs its own 300 pieces, so two styles start at 600.

How to Choose a T-Shirt Manufacturer

Choose a t-shirt manufacturer by model (private label, OEM, wholesale blanks or CMT), MOQ per style vs per colour, GSM range, in-house print, AQL, and destination labelling — then approve a washed sample.

1. Decide the model: private label, OEM, wholesale blanks, or CMT.
2. Lock fabric and GSM before you compare prices — 160 GSM jersey and 220 GSM oversized cotton are different garments.
3. Ask whether MOQ is per style or per colour. SDF is 300 pieces per style, up to 3 colours, sizes mixed.
4. Require a proto sample and a pre-production sample, not a photo.
5. Check print method against design: screen for volume spot colour, DTF for small multi-colour runs, embroidery for logos.
6. Confirm labelling rules for the destination market (US RN/CPSIA, UK/EU GPSR and fibre, Australia ACL, Canada bilingual).
7. Confirm QC standard in writing (SDF uses AQL 2.5).
8. Confirm Incoterm and port (SDF quotes FOB) and sea vs air lead time.
9. Ask for certification scope that matches the claim (GOTS only if the tee is organic; OEKO-TEX for chemical safety).
10. Send the same tech pack to two factories and compare washed samples, not website claims.

What should be in a t-shirt manufacturer RFQ?

A good RFQ states style and fit, fabric and GSM, quantity by size and colour, destination country, decoration, label needs and a target ex-factory date. A tech pack or reference garment lets a factory quote against a real specification instead of a description. The full checklist is in what to send for a quote below.

Custom T-Shirt Manufacturer Capabilities

As a custom t-shirt manufacturer, SDF cuts and sews crew neck, V-neck, scoop neck, tank, henley, cropped, graphic, long sleeve and oversized tees from your tech pack or a developed block.

Styles we produce

• Crew Neck T-Shirt
• V-Neck T-Shirt
• Scoop Neck T-Shirt
• Long Sleeve T-Shirt
• Oversized T-Shirt
• Relaxed Fit T-Shirt
• Slim Fit T-Shirt
• Cropped T-Shirt
• Graphic T-Shirt
• Tank Top
• Henley Shirt

Cropped tees are a shortened body length on a fitted or boxy block. We fix the hem height in the tech pack and check it flat on the sample, because a few centimetres change the silhouette. Graphic tees are usually a crew neck or oversized block that carries print or embroidery artwork. Print method, placement and colour count are set at tech pack stage, so your quote covers the artwork as well as the tee.

Crew, V-neck, scoop, tank and henley

Crew neck is the default and the pattern we have refined most, and V-neck, scoop, tank and henley are built from the same base block.

Crew neck. A 1x1 rib collar and set-in sleeve, graded standard or fitted to your size spec. Long sleeve versions reuse the same block with the sleeve swapped, so adding one to an approved crew neck line does not need a full re-grade.

V-neck. V-necks need accurate rib-tape mitering at the point, which we flag at tech pack stage because it is a common failure point. The depth and width of the V change how the tee sits, so we confirm both on the proto sample.

Scoop neck. A wider, lower neckline, most often used on women’s and fitted blocks. We fix neck width and drop in the tech pack, because a small change in depth shifts how the tee sits.

Tank. The same base block with the sleeve removed and the armhole finished with binding or rib. It suits lighter jersey, 140–180 GSM, for warm-weather lines.

Henley. A round neck with a two- or three-button placket. The placket adds a construction step, so we confirm placket length, button type and reinforcement on the first sample.

Oversized t-shirt manufacturer fits

An oversized t-shirt manufacturer grades a dropped-shoulder, boxed-hem block, usually at 200–220 GSM so the tee holds shape.

We run boxy and oversized streetwear blocks with dropped shoulders and a squared hem. Heavyweight 200–220 GSM holds the boxy shape better than 140–160 GSM jersey, and it carries screen print and embroidery well. Raglan and dolman sleeves change the shoulder seam construction and usually add one sampling round. Standard retail fit stays the default for general apparel brands, and fitted or muscle-fit grading with side seams suits activewear-adjacent labels. For heavier streetwear-only programs, see our streetwear manufacturer page.

Wholesale t-shirt manufacturer blanks

SDF supplies wholesale blanks, unbranded or lightly branded tees from a stock block, on the same 300-piece style minimum as custom work.

Retailers and decorators use blanks to print, embroider or label later. Blanks come from our stock block, so you supply no tech pack. If you want your own pattern or labels, the custom and private label programs apply instead.

Private Label T-Shirt Manufacturer Setup

Private label means SDF produces tees under your brand — your woven neck labels, care labels, hang tags and packaging on the factory’s production line. Labels and packaging are sourced and set up during the sampling phase, through our label suppliers or yours. The garment labels guide covers the label types worth knowing before you brief your first order.

CMT is a separate arrangement because sourcing and dyeing a fabric lot for one client does not scale below 5,000 pieces. Not sure which model fits? Our OEM vs ODM vs CMT comparison and private label vs white label guide walk through the practical differences before you commit to a tech pack.

Private label vs white label vs custom t-shirt manufacturer?

Private label, white label and custom describe three levels of control: private label puts your brand on a tee made to your spec, white label rebrands a stock tee that other brands can also buy, and custom means the pattern, fabric or print is developed for you. At SDF, private label and custom usually run as one program with your brief, your labels and your packaging. White label maps to wholesale blanks: a stock block with light branding, on the same 300-piece style minimum.

T-Shirt Fabric, GSM and Construction

SDF’s default fashion tee is 180–200 GSM single jersey in combed ringspun cotton, with 140–220 GSM available in jersey, piqué, interlock, waffle and slub.

Single jersey is the standard t-shirt knit: smooth face, light stretch, the base for most basic tees. Interlock is a double knit, more stable and less sheer than jersey. Waffle is a raised grid knit. Piqué is a different, textured knit used mostly on polos. Slub jersey has an intentionally uneven yarn for a worn-in, vintage look. The fabric types glossary covers the rest.

A ribbed crew neck (1x1 or 2x1 rib) is the standard, cost-effective choice. Binder necklines, where self-fabric is folded instead of a separate rib, look cleaner and more premium but add a construction step.

Full size runs are graded to your spec sheet or to the default men’s / unisex regular-fit block below. Points of measure and US, UK and EU conversions are in the size chart guide, and the POM guide explains how each measurement is taken.

What GSM should a t-shirt manufacturer run?

Run 180–200 GSM for a standard retail tee, 140–160 GSM for light, drapey or hot-climate styles, and 200–220 GSM for oversized and streetwear blocks. The same GSM feels different across yarn counts, knits and fibres, so ask for swatches at two weights before you commit. The GSM converter and the fabric GSM guide cover the maths.

What yarn count is used in premium tees?

Premium fashion tees typically use 30/1 combed ringspun cotton, while heavyweight and value tees typically use a coarser 20/1, often open-end or carded. Combed ringspun goes through an extra combing step that removes shorter fibres, giving a finer, more even yarn with a softer hand-feel and a cleaner print surface, at a moderate premium over carded cotton. SDF’s default fashion tee is 30/1 combed ringspun, with 20/1 on heavyweight. The yarn count guide explains how count and structure interact.

Side seam vs tubular t-shirts?

Side-seamed tees are cut from flat fabric and joined with two side seams, which gives more control over body shape and fit, while tubular tees are knitted as a seamless tube with no side seams. Tubular uses fewer sewing operations, but the body width is fixed by the tube diameter. SDF’s default is side-seamed, with tubular available on request.

What SPI is specced on a fashion tee?

Fashion tees are typically specced at 12–14 stitches per inch (SPI) on main seams, with the exact figure fixed in your tech pack. More stitches is not automatically better on knits, because a very tight stitch can perforate the fabric and weaken the seam. The stitch quality and SPI guide shows how SPI is checked.

Do t-shirt manufacturers pre-shrink fabric?

Yes, finishing steps such as relaxing and compacting the knitted fabric reduce shrinkage before cutting, though no cotton tee is completely shrink-free. SDF’s shrinkage target is 5% or less after a wash test, stated on the spec. The shrinkage calculator shows how a pattern allows for it.

Can a t-shirt manufacturer match Pantone?

Yes. We match fabric colour to a Pantone reference through a lab dip, a small dyed swatch you approve before bulk dyeing starts. A lab dip typically takes two to three rounds before the shade is signed off, so send the Pantone code or a physical swatch early. Read lab dips explained for how the rounds work.

Printing and Decoration Options

SDF screen prints and embroiders in-house, and runs DTF and sublimation through partner facilities it manages and QCs.

Screen printing is the most cost-effective method above roughly 100 pieces per design. Each extra colour adds a screen and a setup step, so one- and two-colour designs price noticeably better than full-colour art. Embroidery is also in-house and is the standard choice for logo placements on the chest, sleeve or back yoke.

DTF and sublimation run through partner facilities we manage directly, so you keep one point of contact and we sign off quality before anything ships, though lead time runs a few days longer than in-house work. DTF suits smaller runs and gradient-heavy or photographic designs better than screen print does. Our printing methods comparison breaks down cost and durability by technique, and the printing service page lists setup costs and turnaround.

T-Shirt Manufacturing Process and Lead Time

Production runs in seven steps: brief, a quote within 48 hours, fabric and colour, a proto sample in 10–14 days, pre-production sample sign-off, bulk cut-and-sew in 30–45 days, then AQL 2.5 inspection and FOB shipment.

1. Brief / tech pack receivedA tech pack or a reference garment is enough to start.
2. Quote within 48 hoursFOB pricing and lead time for your spec.
3. Fabric + colour (lab dip if custom dye)You approve the shade before bulk dyeing.
4. Proto sample — 10–14 days; up to 10 free revisionsFit, fabric and print placement are checked on a real garment; most clients need 2–3 rounds.
5. Pre-production sample sign-offThe approved PPS is the standard the bulk order is judged against.
6. Bulk cut-and-sew — 30–45 daysCounted from PPS approval.
7. AQL 2.5, pack, FOB shipmentInspection, packing, then loading at the port under FOB terms.

Sample costs explained and L/C vs T/T cover how these terms work in practice.

What does AQL 2.5 mean on a t-shirt order?

Every bulk t-shirt order is inspected to AQL 2.5 before shipment. That means inspectors check a random sample from the finished lot and accept it only if major defects stay within the plan’s limit. On a 500-piece lot they check 50 tees and accept up to 3 major defects; on 1,000 pieces they check 80 and accept up to 5. Critical defects have a limit of zero. The sampling logic follows ISO 2859-1, and our AQL inspection guide walks through the numbers.

Shipping to the US, UK, Australia, Canada and EU

SDF ships t-shirts FOB to the US, UK, Australia, Canada and the EU, and quotes in USD, GBP, AUD, CAD or EUR.

Production and export are FOB Chittagong from our cut-and-sew factory. We do not operate as a US, UK or Australian print shop. Incoterms explained covers what FOB includes.

Label wording follows the destination: fiber content and RN for the US, fibre content and GPSR for the UK and EU, ACL care labels for Australia and bilingual EN/FR labels for Canada. Check the current rules at the source, including the UK GPSR guidance and the ACCC care labelling standard, and we confirm labelling and duty at quote.

Market pages: US brands · UK brands · Australian brands · Canadian brands · EU clothing regulations

What is HTS 6109 for t-shirt imports?

HTS 6109 is the US tariff heading for knitted or crocheted T-shirts, singlets and tank tops, and the same 6-digit heading applies in UK and EU tariffs. In the US schedule the cotton sub-line is 6109.10 and other fibres fall under 6109.90. The duty rate depends on fibre, origin and current tariff rules, so we confirm it at quote rather than publish a percentage. Look up the current line in the US HTS, or use our HS code tool.

What to send a t-shirt manufacturer for a quote

Send eight details to get an accurate t-shirt quote: style and fit, fabric and GSM, quantity by size and colour, destination, decoration, private label needs, a tech pack or reference garment, and your target date. SDF replies within 48 hours.

1. Style and fit (crew, oversized, etc.)
2. Fabric + GSM + yarn (or “recommend”)
3. Quantity by size and colour
4. Destination country
5. Print/embroidery count (colours or stitch count)
6. Private label yes/no
7. Tech pack or reference garment if you have one
8. Target ex-factory date

Not sure how to word it? The manufacturer email generator drafts the brief for you.

T-Shirt Manufacturer FAQ

Ten short answers to what brands ask most before ordering tees from a factory.