Custom Tshirt Design for Private-Label Brands

Logo Basics

1-color chest logos suit startups, staff programs, and repeat wholesale. Use a 180–240 GSM ring-spun jersey tee with screen print or embroidery. 2 placements—left chest and back neck—keep setup costs controlled. Approve Pantone references, print dimensions, and a placement tolerance before sampling.

Graphic And Type Tees

3–6 ink graphics suit artist drops, streetwear, and licensed-style storytelling. A 220–280 GSM oversized tee gives illustration, halftone, and discharge effects a stronger canvas. 2 typographic rules matter: confirm font licensing and convert final artwork to outlines. Fine lines, distressed textures, and multiple ink colors require a production-sized test print.

All-Over And Performance

100% coverage concepts fit resort, sports, and promotional programs. Polyester interlock or sublimation-ready jersey is the practical base because cut pieces are printed before sewing. 4 panels—front, back, and sleeves—need repeat alignment and seam allowances in the artwork. Performance or uniform tees also need colorfastness, logo legibility, and consistent reorders.

Premium Fashion Tees

240–320 GSM premium tees target contemporary labels and higher retail price points. Choose combed cotton, boxy proportions, dropped shoulders, and restrained branding rather than a crowded front graphic. 3 development checks protect the result: collar recovery, wash shrinkage, and graded proportions from XS through 3XL. Garment dye, enzyme wash, embroidery, or appliqué should be tested on the approved fabric.

Cotton Fiber Choices

100% cotton jersey is breathable and familiar, but open-end yarn feels drier and may shrink more than ring-spun or combed cotton. Ring-spun 180–220 GSM gives a smoother hand and cleaner screen-print surface. Organic cotton follows the same performance logic, while certification scope must be verified for the actual fabric lot. Ask for pre-shrunk or compacted finishing when post-wash measurement stability matters.

Blends And Recycled Fibers

60/40 cotton-poly blends dry faster, resist wrinkles, and hold shape better than all-cotton jersey, but polyester can reduce water-based ink opacity. Use low-migration inks or blockers for dark polyester blends. 50/50 recycled-content fabrics support sustainability positioning, yet recycled fiber percentages, certification documents, and color consistency should be reviewed per lot. Polyester-rich jerseys suit activewear; cotton-rich blends suit everyday retail.

Weight, Knit, And Opacity

140–160 GSM single jersey suits lightweight promotional tees but can become translucent in pale colors. 180–220 GSM offers dependable opacity and mainstream retail versatility. 240–300 GSM heavyweight jersey creates a structured oversized silhouette and premium hand, though rib, neck tape, and shrinkage testing must match the body fabric. Single jersey is standard; interlock is denser, smoother, and more stable.

Choose the Print Method

1–2 spot-color logos suit screen print: it delivers a durable, opaque finish and economical unit cost once screens are set. DTG suits detailed artwork or photographic color blends on cotton, while DTF and heat transfer handle small runs, variable artwork and difficult placements. 3D puff, high-density, silicone, foil, flocking and discharge create distinct retail cues, but require strike-offs to confirm adhesion, color and wash behavior.

• Screen print: best for repeat bulk artwork
• DTG: soft photographic cotton prints
• DTF: versatile low-setup multicolor graphics
• Heat transfer: names, numbers and small placements

Compare Production Tradeoffs

100-unit capsules can use DTF, transfers or embroidery without spreading a large screen charge across too few garments. Screen printing becomes increasingly efficient for stable, repeated artwork as volume rises.

Build a Branded Finish

1 neck print can replace a sewn main label for a cleaner, lower-bulk interior; confirm ink opacity on dark garments. Woven main, size and wash-care labels, hang tags and branded packaging give a stronger private-label presentation. 2 decoration zones—such as left chest plus back—need measured placement from seams, not visual estimates. Appliqué and embroidery add dimension but can stiffen lightweight jersey, so reserve them for logos or structured areas.

• Specify Pantone references where color matching matters
• Approve wash-tested samples before bulk production
• Match packaging protection to fold and shipping method

Fit Blocks And Shoulders

Three fit blocks—regular, relaxed, and oversized—need separate chest, body-length, sleeve, and shoulder specifications. A dropped shoulder changes drape and mobility; it should never be created merely by upsizing a regular block. Across XS–3XL, grade increments should be stated for every key point of measure. Confirm shoulder slope, armhole shape, and sleeve opening on a full size set to prevent distorted proportions.

• List finished-garment tolerances, commonly ±1 cm
• State shoulder seam position from high-point shoulder
• Approve base size and graded size-set measurements

Neckline Recovery And Taping

A 1×1 or 2×1 rib collar should have a defined finished width and recovery target after stretch. Specify collar height, rib composition, and neck-opening measurement rather than requesting a ‘premium collar.’ One shoulder-to-shoulder neck tape stabilizes the neckline and covers seam allowances. Require clean tape ends, even attachment, and no twisting at the back-neck join.

• Define collar width in centimeters
• Specify rib weight and elastane content
• Request stretch-and-recovery wash checks

Seams, Hems, And Durability

Eight to 10 stitches per inch is a useful starting range for jersey seams, subject to fabric weight and machine type. Uneven stitch density, skipped stitches, or excessive seam puckering shorten service life and look inexpensive. A twin-needle hem with an agreed depth improves shape retention at sleeves and bottom hems. State side-seam construction, label placement, thread color, and whether a flatlock seam is required.

• Set hem depth and twin-needle gauge
• Inspect side seams for twisting after wash
• Match thread strength to fabric weight

Shrinkage And Wash Approval

Three wash cycles at the intended care condition provide a practical early check for shrinkage, twisting, color loss, and collar deformation. Set maximum acceptable length and width shrinkage in the tech pack before bulk cutting. A pre-production sample should be measured before and after washing against approved points of measure. Retain the wash method, detergent condition, and results with the pattern and material records for repeat orders.

• Record length and width shrinkage separately
• Check spirality on tubular-knit bodies
• Photograph neckline and hem after washing

Verify Category Experience

Three recent production references should show comparable jersey weight, silhouette and decoration, with photos of inside seams and finished packing. Ask for factory location, core equipment, operator count and examples of normal, oversized or extended-size grading. A manufacturer that can review a tech pack, sketch or reference garment is usually better positioned to identify construction risks before sampling.

• Comparable sample garments
• Production-reference photos
• Pattern and grading examples

Audit Development And Materials

Two rounds of samples are common before pre-production approval; confirm the sample calendar, revision method and who signs off measurements. Request fabric swatches, composition and GSM, Pantone approval method, shrinkage or colorfastness reports where relevant, and decoration strike-offs. Screen print, DTG, DTF and embroidery need separate artwork, placement and wash-performance controls.

• Fabric specification sheet
• Decoration strike-off
• Wash-test documentation

Compare Production Control

A 2–4 week bulk window means little without stated checkpoints for incoming fabric, in-line measurements, final inspection and export packing. Ask which standard is used for final AQL inspection and how defects, replacements and shipment delays are handled. Confirm compliance documentation—such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS, WRAP or BSCI—only when applicable and current. Junsheen’s integrated development, sourcing, decoration, QC and export support can reduce handoff risk when the program requires coordinated ownership.

• Written production timeline
• Inspection reports
• Export and packing plan

Start With The Wearer

Three wearer inputs—body profile, climate, and use case—should precede silhouette selection. Designing first often produces a flattering sample but weak sell-through; document target fit, size range, and price point in the brief.

Specify Fabric Beyond GSM

180 GSM can feel radically different in ring-spun cotton, open-end cotton, and cotton-poly jersey. Choosing by appearance alone risks unexpected drape, opacity, shrinkage, or cost; approve a washed swatch with fiber content, knit, GSM tolerance, and shrinkage target.

Prepare Production-Ready Artwork

300 DPI artwork at final print size and vector logos reduce redraws and registration errors. Low-resolution files, unseparated colors, or unsupported effects can delay sampling; supply AI, EPS, PDF, or transparent PNG files plus Pantone references and print dimensions.

Control Sample And Compliance Risks

5% shrinkage and normal dye-lot variation can alter measurements and color matching after washing. Test a finished sample, set measurement tolerances, approve decoration after wash, and confirm required fiber, care, country-of-origin, size, and brand labels before bulk approval.

Set The Commercial Brief

Two customer decisions drive the brief: who will wear the shirt and at what retail price. The brand owns the silhouette, competitive reference, price ceiling, size range, color plan, and launch date. One feasibility review should follow before sampling. Junsheen can flag construction, fabric, decoration, MOQ, and grading risks, while the brand decides which compromises preserve the product position.

• Target customer and retail price
• Style, colorway, and size range
• Reference garment or design direction
• Required delivery date and market

Build A Production-Ready Pack

One tech pack should specify measurements, tolerances, stitch details, Pantone colors, artwork placement, labels, and packaging. A sketch alone can begin development, but measurable specifications are needed before bulk approval. 150–220 GSM jersey commonly suits standard tees, while 220–280 GSM supports heavier streetwear. The brand selects hand feel and intended use; the factory sources swatches and confirms decoration compatibility.

Approve Samples And Sizes

One prototype verifies silhouette, fabric, print or embroidery, and workmanship before revisions are closed. The brand records corrections in writing; the factory updates patterns, specifications, and sample materials. XS through 3XL requires a graded size set rather than simply enlarging one base size. The brand approves fit on intended wearers, and Junsheen confirms measurement tolerances before the bulk order is released.

Release Bulk With Controls

100-unit MOQ production should start only after price, approved sample, size set, artwork, labels, and shipping marks are signed off. The brand issues the purchase order and deposit; the factory confirms materials and production timing. Three inspection points—incoming fabric, in-line sewing, and final packed goods—should cover measurements, decoration, defects, and count. The brand must reserve time for final approval, balance payment, freight booking, and customs documents.