Sweatshirt manufacturing for independent brands
Custom Streetwear Sweatshirt Manufacturer
Size the artwork to the body
A crewneck has nowhere to hide. With no hood or pocket, the artwork and the proportions are the whole garment. Decide how big the artwork sits and how the body carries it, then check both on a sample.
From 100 pieces per style and colour. Fabric, finish and construction may affect minimums.
What to read in this garment
- Wide neck rib Sets the top of the proportion
- Appliqué shapes Three pieces with stitched edges
- Dropped shoulder Seam falls onto the sleeve
- Short body Rib hem above the hip
Compare artwork scale
Small mark, centre graphic or full front?
All three sit on the same short, wide body. What changes is how much of the front the artwork takes over.
Small mark
Leaves the fabric and rib to do the talking. Suits embroidery.
Watch for: Small detail has limits in thread. Send the artwork at real size.
Start a brief with thisCentre graphic
Sits clear of the neckline and hem rib, with fabric around it.
Watch for: Agree the distance from the collar. It sets where the graphic lands on the chest.
Start a brief with thisFull front
Fills the front. Large appliqué or print becomes part of the structure.
Watch for: Large decoration changes weight and drape. Judge it on the made-up garment.
Start a brief with thisShaded areas show placement only. Final size comes from your artwork file.
Compare the body
The same artwork on two different bodies
A shorter, wider body gives artwork less height. Choose the body first, then size the artwork to it.
Regular body
Hem sits at the hip. A longer front gives a graphic more height.
Watch for: Rib depth sets where the hem lands.
Start a brief with thisShort, wide body
Shoulder dropped, sleeves full, body cropped above the hip.
Watch for: Agree how tight the hem rib should grip. It changes the whole shape.
Start a brief with thisDashed line: the regular body, for comparison. Drawn proportions, not a size chart.
What to send, what we check
Six decisions to settle on a sweatshirt
You don't need every answer. Send what you know and flag what you'd like help with.
| Decision | Tell us | Checked on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Artwork size | Final-size file and the width you want on the garment. | Size against the chest, flat and worn. |
| Position | Distance from the collar and centre front. | Where it lands on a body. |
| Decoration | Embroidery, appliqué or print, and the effect you want. | Surface, edges and how the area feels. |
| Neckline | Rib width, opening shape and any seam detail. | How the collar sits and recovers. |
| Body and hem | Length, chest width, and whether the hem grips or falls straight. | Hem and cuff hold in the selected fabric. |
| Fabric | Surface and inside finish, with GSM if you know it. | Handfeel, and how the rib sits with the body fabric. |
Measuring a crewneck you like?
Lay it flat. If the artwork position matters, measure that too.
- ChestArmpit to armpit, 1 inch below the armhole.
- LengthHigh point of the shoulder to the bottom of the rib.
- SleeveShoulder seam to end of cuff.
- Neck ribDepth of the collar rib.
- Hem ribDepth of the rib, top to bottom.
What should I specify for a crewneck?
Body length, chest width, shoulder position, sleeve volume and neckline shape. A reference garment makes all of these easier to agree.
Can I add embroidery or appliqué?
Yes, both can be part of the project. Send the artwork and placement so we can check it against the fabric and plan the sample.
How is a sample approved?
We record feedback on fit, measurements, fabric, colour, artwork and construction, agree any revisions, and you approve the final specification before bulk.
Body and rib rarely look identical.
Rib is a different knit from the body fabric, so even dyed to the same colour it can catch the light differently. Check the combination on a physical sample before you approve it.
What to send for your sweatshirt
- Front and back references of the body shape
- Artwork at final size, with placement
- Decoration method, if you have one in mind
- Quantity per style and colour, and destination