Loading page content
TextileWays develops and manufactures custom t-shirts for fashion brands, streetwear labels, corporate programmes and merchandise agencies. Choose the fit, fabric weight, neck construction, decoration, labels and packaging required for your market.
A t-shirt looks simple, which is exactly why it punishes imprecision: with only a few components, any inconsistency in fabric weight, neck tape or shrinkage is immediately visible to the customer. We treat it as a specification exercise rather than a commodity purchase, and a fifty piece validation run is often enough to confirm your fit, fabric and print are right before you commit to a season.
If you would rather not develop a pattern, ask about developed t-shirt base styles. Taking one and adding your own labels, trims and packaging is ODM, often called white label, and it is the quickest route to a first run.
Product types
Anything not listed can still be assessed on technical review.
Select an image to view it larger.
Final construction, fabric and fit are agreed during sampling.
Specification
Weight ranges are typical for this product. The finished weight of your fabric is confirmed on the approved sample rather than guaranteed to a figure.
Ranges are typical. The exact specification is confirmed on your approved sample before production.
Component-level guidance for t-shirts. Any ranges are indicative sourcing references, not guaranteed order specifications. Different components can need different fabrics, weights and units; the selected materials, construction and finished measurements are confirmed on the approved sample.
| Component | Weight, unit or setting | Construction choices | Check on the sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| JerseyIndustry guidance | 140 to 200 gsm typical range; 200 to 240 gsm for premium. Weight is not quality: recovery and shrinkage are checked on the sample. | Set in or drop shoulder, single or twin needle hems. | Shrinkage, torque and neck recovery. |
| NeckIndustry guidance | Specified by rib width and recovery, not gsm. | Ribbed or self fabric collar, taped shoulder and neck. | Neck recovery after washing. |
| BodyIndustry guidance | Side seamed or tubular. | Boxy, oversized or regular patterns drafted separately. | Twist on the side seams after washing. |
Decoration
Decoration is matched to the fabric and the artwork rather than applied by default.
Which method suits each placement on t-shirts, its trade-offs and what to approve before bulk. Compatibility is checked against the actual fabric, stretch, coating and heat tolerance; approval on one component does not establish suitability on another.
Materials
Composition, weight guidance and decoration compatibility for each fabric are on its own page.
What each part of t-shirts is usually made from, why, where it falls short and what to check. This is industry guidance, not a TextileWays specification: the fabric and components for your order are confirmed on technical review.
Ordering
None of these figures are published as a universal number, because none is true across every specification.
MOQ depends on material availability, colour count, construction, decoration and packaging. Projects can begin from approximately 50 pieces per style following technical review. Stock fabric in standard colours supports the lowest quantities; custom dyed colours follow dye house batch minimums.
A proto sample confirms construction, a fit sample confirms measurements against your chart, and a pre production sample in bulk fabric fixes every detail before production is released.
Lead time depends on the factors above rather than a single published figure. An indicative schedule is confirmed with your quotation.
Detailed product guidance
Materials, manufacturing routes and buying considerationsA t-shirt has few components, so any inconsistency in fabric weight, neck tape or shrinkage shows immediately. That is why we treat it as a specification, not a commodity purchase, whether you are launching a tee line, supplying a merchandise agency or outfitting a company.
Bring a reference garment or a measurement chart, or ask us to develop the fit. Regular, oversized and boxy fits, crew neck, long sleeve, vests and tank tops are all made, and the pattern is adjusted on a sample until the drape and proportions are right.
Around 140 to 200 gsm jersey is the common range, with 180 gsm the usual mid market point. Heavier jersey, from 200 to 240 gsm, reads as premium, tends to hold its shape better and suits oversized and boxy cuts, though yarn, knit and finish matter as much as weight. Lighter jersey drapes and suits layering and warm climates.
Fibre and yarn quality decide how a tee feels after washing. Two shirts at the same weight can feel completely different depending on the cotton and how it was spun.
Combed ring spun cotton is smoother and stronger than carded cotton, which is why it is used for softer, longer lasting tees. Organic cotton can be sourced where your market or brand asks for it, subject to availability and minimums.
Blends reduce shrinkage and creasing and can hold a print differently. They suit uniforms and heavy use, while pure cotton suits fashion and premium basics.
Private label tees carry your brand on the neck label, hangtag and packaging. White label tees start from a developed base style, so you skip pattern development and reach market sooner.
Choose your fabric, fit, neck construction, decoration and labels. We confirm the fit sample and the pre production sample before bulk, so what you approve is what is produced.
Taking a developed tee and adding your labels, trims and packaging is ODM, often called white label. It is the quickest route to a first run and a sensible start if you want to test demand before investing in your own pattern.
Woven or printed main labels, tagless heat transfer labels, care and fibre content labels to your approved wording, and individual polybagging or reduced packaging are all options.
Decoration changes cost and lead time, so we settle the method early. The right choice depends on your artwork, your quantity and the fabric.
Screen print suits larger runs and solid colours, while DTG and DTF suit detailed artwork on smaller runs. We verify the cure temperature and run a wash test on the approved strike off.
Embroidery adds texture on heavier tees, appliqué suits team and varsity looks, and heat transfers suit small logos and labels.
Projects can begin from approximately 50 pieces per style after technical review, and programmes can run beyond 100,000 pieces, so the same manufacturer can serve a first drop and a large order.
A proto sample confirms construction, a fit sample confirms measurements against your chart, and a pre production sample in bulk fabric fixes every detail before production is released.
Post wash measurements are recorded because cotton jersey relaxes after laundering, and neck stretch and recovery are checked because a failed neckline is the most common basics complaint.
Questions
Minimum order quantity depends on material availability, colour count, construction, decoration and packaging. Projects can begin from approximately 50 pieces per style following technical review. Where a fabric has to be knitted or dyed specifically for a project, the practical minimum is set by the mill rather than by us, and we tell you that before you commit.
Sampling normally runs in stages: a proto sample to confirm construction, a fit sample against your measurement chart, and a pre production sample that fixes fabric, colour, decoration, labelling and packaging. Each stage needs written approval before the next one starts. Sample charges and courier costs are quoted before work begins.
GSM describes fabric weight in grams per square metre. The same nominal fabric can finish at different weights depending on yarn count, knit or weave structure, dyeing and finishing. We publish typical ranges for guidance and confirm the actual finished weight for your approved quality on the sample.
It depends on the fabric, the artwork and the quantity. Screen printing suits solid colour artwork at volume. DTG and DTF suit detailed or low volume artwork. Sublimation works on polyester rich fabrics. Embroidery suits logos and durable branding. We confirm the method against your artwork and fabric during technical review rather than applying one method to everything.
Pick a design as your starting point. Colours, fabric and branding are set in the quote.
Grey washed tee with blue graphic printAsk for this design
Black tee with character graphicAsk for this design
Cream tee with small wave logoAsk for this design
Terracotta tee with sunset print on the backAsk for this designSampling comes before bulk. From approximately 50 pieces per style, subject to technical review.
Tell us your designShare your product details, target quantity and delivery requirements. We will confirm feasibility, materials and construction before quoting.
Contact our team
