Discuss the wholesale blanks industry: Factory direct, custom labels. You can also use this forum to locate a wide variety of wholesale products including t-shirts, hoodies, mousepads, coffee mugs and other imprintable products.
Since I am just starting out (still) I wanted to print on blank tees first and then if I become successful, have my shirts custom made to my specs. Here's the problem...I found the material I want, but the tee suppliers don't offer the style I like. I can get the style I like in another material, which leads to my problem. Obviously, I don't want to risk custom ordering shirts in the 1000's that may not sell, but on the other hand, I don't want to establish a brand by producing a product using material that I don't like just because the numbers and cost works out better. Does anybody have any opinions?
Hey Cheryl! THE MINIMUM Dilemma!!! I think many of us have that issue. If there was another tee designer with similar style taste, but enough "distance" in between in terms of location, competition and design style perhaps you could collab with said designer and "go in" on minimums??? It could be tricky, but it could work with blanks or with custom designs.
Hmmm...???
I'm interested to know what other suggestions come through the pipeline...
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Stay Rooted!!!
I think it's smart to work within your means to start out with.
If you can get something very similar to what you need that is a stock blank, then that seems better than buying 1000's of blanks that you aren't sure will sell.
In the meantime, while you are sampling, you can search for vendors with lower minimums.
What type of fabric and style are you looking for specifically? Maybe someone else here knows of a source.
Rodney, I would like to use sueded cotton for everyday wear - but I am looking into dry-wicking for fitness wear. I personally do not like the polyester feel so I found dri-release (still waiting for the samples) - it has cotton woven into the thread. The only shirts available are loose fitted and either white or gray. I would rather have fitted shirts with more color options. So, I am struggling with whether or not to print on other wicking fabric and plain cotton shirts, since I can't find sueded cotton. You mentioned ring spun on another thread - is that similar to sueded?
Rodney, I would like to use sueded cotton for everyday wear - but I am looking into dry-wicking for fitness wear. I personally do not like the polyester feel so I found dri-release (still waiting for the samples) - it has cotton woven into the thread. The only shirts available are loose fitted and either white or gray. I would rather have fitted shirts with more color options. So, I am struggling with whether or not to print on other wicking fabric and plain cotton shirts, since I can't find sueded cotton. You mentioned ring spun on another thread - is that similar to sueded?
Cheryl
For dry-wicking fitness wear, there are some good manufacturers out there with a better variety of colors in their blanks. Check out vaporapparel.com. Some of their blanks feel like regular cotton, but are dry wicking/performance type tees.
Also, Chris from vaporapparel can help you source or get tees made with his fabric in the style you need.
You mentioned ring spun on another thread - is that similar to sueded?
I'm not 100% sure. I know that ringspun cotton makes the t-shirt feel much softer, but I think there is a different process involved for sueded cotton.
Since I am just starting out (still) I wanted to print on blank tees first and then if I become successful, have my shirts custom made to my specs. Here's the problem...I found the material I want, but the tee suppliers don't offer the style I like. I can get the style I like in another material, which leads to my problem. Obviously, I don't want to risk custom ordering shirts in the 1000's that may not sell, but on the other hand, I don't want to establish a brand by producing a product using material that I don't like just because the numbers and cost works out better. Does anybody have any opinions?
thanks,
cheryl
Thanks for the post, Cheryl. We're going through the same dilemma here in Los Angeles, glad to see some of the advice on here.
We're looking for designs similar to American Apparel's in eco-friendly fabrics (we have a bamboo/cotton blend we're happy with), but since we're just starting out I'm not sure if we can commit to the minimums. I know AA is doing some organic stuff, but not in the same designs that we like...however, we'll probably end up starting out using their pre-made blanks for the same reasons Cheryl stated.
I'm also having trouble nailing down sewing contractors in LA, period. Anyone know of where to start, or have a recommendation?
(A lot of my leads have gone nowhere, with me finding out they only deal with "established" apparel companies, etc.)
custom vs blank tees 
Re: custom vs blank tees 
