Custom Tshirt No Minimum, Starting at 100 Units

Print-On-Demand And Decorated Blanks

One-piece print-on-demand is fastest for artwork testing, but unit cost and blank availability constrain margin and consistency. Blank decoration usually starts at 12–50 pieces; choose it for events, merch drops, or proven graphics needing faster replenishment.

Private Label And Semi-Custom

Stock-style private label commonly uses 50–100 units with existing blocks, labels, colors, and approved fabric options. Semi-custom low-MOQ production changes selected elements—Pantone color, trim, print placement, or wash—while retaining a proven base pattern.

Move To Fully Custom OEM

Fully custom OEM normally begins around 100 units per style and color, allowing original patterns, grading, fabric, construction, and packaging. Move after repeat orders expose blank-fit limits or when wholesale margins require a distinctive product; approve a size set before bulk.

Fiber And Hand Feel

Combed ring-spun cotton removes shorter fibers, producing a smoother print face and softer hand than open-end cotton. It suits branded basics where comfort and cleaner decoration matter. Organic cotton should be supported by transaction documentation when GOTS claims are made. Recycled cotton or polyester blends reduce virgin-fiber use, but buyers should test pilling, color variation, and print adhesion.

Weight And Intended Use

180 GSM jersey is a versatile retail-basic weight, while 240 GSM heavyweight jersey gives streetwear more drape resistance and a substantial collar. Request a washed sample because fabric weight and hand change after laundering.

Shrinkage And Performance

3–5% dimensional change is common for untreated cotton jersey, so measurements should be approved after the specified wash test. Compaction, pre-shrinking, and rib recovery requirements belong in the tech pack. 85/15 cotton-poly or polyester-elastane performance blends dry faster and retain shape better than all-cotton jersey. Confirm OEKO-TEX certification scope and test moisture management for active applications.

Choose The Print Method

1-color screen prints offer the lowest unit cost once volume repeats, but each color needs a screen and setup. Use them for bold artwork and scalable reorders. Full-color DTG suits small, detailed artwork on cotton-rich shirts; DTF handles vivid graphics on more fabric blends. Request a wash-tested sample because hand feel differs by transfer, ink, and curing.

• Screen print: scalable, opaque, durable
• DTG: detailed gradients, cotton-rich blanks
• DTF: flexible placement, fuller transfer hand
• Puff ink: raised effect for simple artwork

Compare Decoration Economics

3D embroidery creates a premium, tactile logo but needs digitized artwork and can distort lightweight jersey. Keep embroidery compact on T-shirts and confirm backing, stitch density, and placement on a sample.

Build The Brand Layer

1 Pantone reference is more reliable than a screen image for custom dye, print, thread, or trim matching. Approve physical swatches under your intended lighting before bulk production. 3 private-label touchpoints—neck print or woven label, hangtag, and branded packaging—make a blank feel like a retail product. Neck prints reduce label irritation, while woven labels and structured packaging strengthen a more premium presentation.

• Provide Pantone codes and vector logo files
• Use AI, EPS, PDF, or SVG artwork
• Check care-label content for target markets

Fabric And Collar Recovery

180–240 GSM ring-spun jersey is a common retail starting point; check each panel for consistent shade, weight, and stretch. Request lot swatches when a color-sensitive program matters. 1×1 or 2×1 neck rib should return after repeated stretching without rippling. Specify rib composition, finished neck opening, coverstitch width, and post-wash appearance.

• Compare body and rib color under the same light
• Stretch the collar 10 times during sample review
• Record finished GSM and allowable fabric variation

Seams And Hem Finishing

8–10 stitches per inch is a useful starting specification for many jersey seams; the right setting still depends on fabric weight and thread. Inspect shoulder joins, sleeve insertion, and side seams for skipped stitches, puckering, or uneven seam allowance. Single-piece tubular bodies reduce side seams, while side-seamed bodies offer more shape control. Require aligned side seams and even twin-needle sleeve and bottom hems after laundering.

• Shoulder tape width and placement
• Seam type: overlock, coverstitch, or flatlock
• Twin-needle hem spacing and thread color

Approval And Wash Controls

3–5 wash cycles on the approved sample can reveal collar distortion, torque, shrinkage, decoration cracking, and hem twisting before bulk cutting. Define wash method, drying method, and the acceptable result in the tech pack. ±1 cm is a practical tolerance for many adult T-shirt points of measure, with tighter control where fit is critical. Junsheen can retain approved patterns, graded size sets, and material records to support repeat orders.

• Chest width, body length, shoulder, sleeve length
• Shrinkage target by length and width
• Pre-production sample signed against approved measurements

Confirm Factory Scope

3 production stages—pattern making, cutting, and sewing—should be traceable to a named facility. Ask whether the supplier owns the operation, subcontracts it, or only buys blanks and prints them.

• Factory address and production-floor video
• Sample pattern, measurement sheet, and size grading
• Named decoration and finishing processes

Test Sampling And Communication

1 approved pre-production sample should match bulk fabric, trim, artwork placement, and measurements. Require written replies on Pantone references, tolerances, revision costs, sample timing, and the bulk critical path.

• Dated sample-development schedule
• Annotated approval photos or physical sample
• Single accountable merchandising contact

Verify Quality And Compliance

4 checkpoints—fabric receipt, in-line sewing, measurement, and packed-goods inspection—create a usable quality trail. Request an AQL plan, inspection reports, wash-test results, and current OEKO-TEX, GOTS, WRAP, or BSCI evidence where claimed.

• Measurement tolerance standard
• Defect classification and rework procedure
• Written claim and replacement process

Compare Operating Evidence

80,000 units monthly capacity is meaningful only when paired with confirmed line availability and realistic lead times. Export records, destination-market experience, packaging specifications, and post-shipment claim handling reveal whether a supplier can support repeat orders.

Price Is Not Landed Cost

A $1 lower unit quote can disappear after fabric substitutions, rejects, freight, duties, and rework. Compare identical GSM, fabric composition, decoration, packaging, Incoterm, and inspection scope before selecting a supplier. A 3% to 5% production tolerance is common, but unbudgeted cartons and air freight can change launch margins sharply. Request a written landed-cost worksheet and retain a contingency of 10% to 15%.

Printing Is Not OEM

One-piece print-on-demand services usually apply artwork to stock blanks; OEM begins with specifications, patterns, materials, and production approval. Confirm whether the supplier can develop the garment or only decorate an existing T-shirt. A 100-unit program needs clear ownership of patterns, graded measurements, and repeat-order records. Prevent confusion by approving a tech pack and pre-production sample before bulk cutting.

Approve Technical Samples

One digital artwork approval does not define a print: Pantone reference, print size, placement, ink type, and tolerance still matter. Send vector files and approve a strike-off or decorated sample under normal viewing light. One base-size fit sample cannot validate XS through 3XL, especially for oversized or extended-size products. Measure a size set after washing and specify acceptable shrinkage, often 3% to 5% for cotton jersey.

Plan Inputs And Timing

Four to eight weeks is a practical planning range after materials and sample approval; custom dyeing, complex trims, and revisions add time. Build backward from the delivery date and lock artwork, fabric, and packing details early. Ten missing tech-pack fields can create ten assumptions about seams, labels, measurements, colors, and finishing. Include a measurement chart, construction notes, Pantone codes, bill of materials, packaging instructions, and destination before requesting a final quote.

Define Customer And References

One customer profile should define the intended fit, retail price, climate, and use case. Collect 5–10 reference garments, then separate non-negotiable details from inspiration.

• Target customer and competing price point
• Fit photos: body length, shoulder, sleeve
• Color direction and Pantone references

Choose Materials And Specifications

160–180 GSM ring-spun jersey suits a lighter everyday tee, while 220–260 GSM cotton supports a heavier streetwear hand. Approve fabric swatches before costing is finalized, because weight, shrinkage, and dyeing affect both price and measurements. A complete tech pack should state fabric composition, GSM, measurements, tolerances, seams, labels, and packaging. This is the first decision gate: unresolved specifications should not enter prototype making.

Approve Decoration And Prototype

1 approved artwork file should identify print dimensions, placement, Pantone colors, and the chosen method—screen print, DTG, DTF, or embroidery. Test decoration on the selected fabric; an effect that works on paper can distort, crack, or feel too heavy on jersey. 1 prototype review should check fit after wash, construction, print registration, and label placement. Record corrections on one consolidated approval sheet before requesting a revised sample.

Grade, Produce, And Launch

XS–3XL grading must be reviewed as a size set rather than enlarged from one base size. Confirm the graded measurements, production sample, quantity by color and size, and approved packaging before bulk release. 100 units per style and color are appropriate when a brand has validated its customer, retail channel, and approved sample but needs a controlled launch test. Inspect incoming materials, in-line measurements, decoration, and packed goods; schedule photography, product pages, and inventory arrival before shipment.