T-shirt manufacturing for independent brands
Custom Streetwear T-Shirt Manufacturer
Start with where the shoulder lands
Boxy, relaxed and oversized are different patterns, not different sizes. Show us the proportion you want and we work through the shoulder, body, sleeve and collar with you, then check them on a sample.
From 100 pieces per style and colour. Fabric, finish and construction may affect minimums.
What to read in this garment
- Dropped shoulder Seam sits below the shoulder point
- Wide sleeve Runs towards the elbow
- Rib collar Deeper than a standard tee
- Short body Width runs close to length
Compare the fit
Three tees that all get called “oversized”
Pick the closest direction and adjust from there. The dashed line shows the relaxed tee, so you can see exactly what changes.
Relaxed
Shoulder close to the natural point. The body falls straight and sits below the hip.
Watch for: Reads closest to a standard tee. Fabric weight and collar do most of the work.
Start a brief with thisBoxy
Wider chest, shorter body, shoulder seam dropped onto the arm. Width runs close to length.
Watch for: The short body is the point, so agree the finished length early.
Start a brief with thisOversized
Wide and long. The shoulder falls well past the arm and the sleeve runs towards the elbow.
Watch for: Sizing up a regular tee won't get you here. The pattern has to be cut this way.
Start a brief with thisDashed line: the relaxed fit, for comparison. Drawn proportions, not a size chart.
Plan the artwork
The same print reads differently at every size
A boxy body gives artwork less height to work with. Position is easier to agree when it is measured from the collar and centre front.
Chest mark
Small, close to the collar and shoulder. Often embroidery or a small print.
Watch for: State the distance from the collar and from centre front.
Start a brief with thisCentre graphic
Sits inside the chest width with room around it.
Watch for: Check how far the top edge sits below the collar when worn.
Start a brief with thisFull front
Runs close to the side seams and down towards the hem.
Watch for: Large solid prints change how the fabric hangs and feels. Judge it on a sample.
Start a brief with thisShaded areas show placement only. Final size comes from your artwork file.
What to send, what we check
Six decisions to settle on a T-shirt
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder and chest | Where the seam should land and how wide the chest runs. A lay-flat measurement from a tee you like is enough. | Where the seam sits on a body, not only on the table. |
| Body length | Finished length from the high point of the shoulder, and where it should sit when worn. | Length against chest width, flat and worn. |
| Sleeve | Length and opening width, or a reference photo from the side. | Whether the sleeve stands away from the arm or falls with it. |
| Collar | Rib width and neck opening. Note if the collar should stand or lie flat. | How the collar sits at the neck. |
| Fabric | The feel and drape you want, plus GSM if you already know it. | Surface and drape in the selected fabric. Composition and weight come from its material record. |
| Artwork | Final-size file and placement measured from the collar. | Placement, surface and the feel of the printed area. |
No pattern yet? Measure a tee you like
Lay it flat, smooth it out and take these six measurements. Tell us what you would change.
- ChestArmpit to armpit, 1 inch below the armhole.
- LengthHigh point of the shoulder, straight down to the hem.
- ShoulderSeam to seam across the back.
- SleeveShoulder seam to sleeve hem.
- OpeningAcross the sleeve hem.
- NeckInside collar edge to edge.
Can I split 100 pieces between colours?
No. The starting quantity is per style and colour, so two colours means 100 of each, not 50 and 50. Fabric, finish and construction can change that minimum.
Does a higher GSM mean a better tee?
No. A higher number means more fabric weight, not a better garment. The right weight depends on the shape, the knit and how the print sits on it.
Can you match a tee I already own?
Send it as a fit reference with your measurements and tell us what should change. Don't ask us to copy another brand's design or marks.
When will the sample and production be ready?
Samples take 7–10 days. Bulk production takes 25–30 days. The schedule for your project is confirmed after specification review.
A T-shirt is more than its GSM.
GSM tells you weight per square metre. Yarn, knit structure, finish and the pattern also decide how a tee falls, so two fabrics at the same weight can behave differently. Choose the weight with the shape in front of you, on a sample rather than from a number.
What to send for your T-shirt
- Front, back and side references of the fit you want
- Lay-flat measurements, if you have a tee to measure
- Artwork at final size, with placement
- Quantity per style and colour, and destination