I'm getting ready to order some shirts and can't decide.
This question is for BOTH men and women's shirts.
Do I choose the fitted or just the regular fit?
I'm leaning towards the regular fit as I feel I could reach a more broad audience. However, if the fitted are more popular, will this be a poor choice?
I'm liking the Ultra-Cotton Gildan 2000 style (especially for men's shirts, although I feel it could be marketed as a unisex/women's shirt also).
For the ladies only, I'm liking the Anvil 978 which has a slight, but not tight, fit.
Second thought, how about a GREAT UNISEX shirt since I don't have much money to spend on a variety of different styles/fits of shirts at this point. Does anyone just offer one type of shirt and make it profitable?
Gildan 2000 is one of the most popular shirts around. They also make a women's version.
The Anvil for women is nice. Their men's version (side seam, fitted, ring spun, 4.5oz) is very nice as well.
If you are going to be using transfers, I would offer the full range of women's and men's styles. It's not like you would have to warehouse a complete inventory of printed shirts. Use a local wholesaler, or one close enough where you can get shirts next day, and just order from them as needed.
Let people choose between men/women and regular/fitted. This way, you are reaching everyone.
With our first set we went with (quite) fitted shirts, which caused some sizing headaches among customers (really the perception/benchmark for sizes are way too lax out there.. vanity sizing gotta go!), but they loved them in the end.
Our second series is more of a standard sizing as a test, but we're looking to be somewhere in between the two of them for shirts after that
I'm getting ready to order some shirts and can't decide.
This question is for BOTH men and women's shirts.
Do I choose the fitted or just the regular fit?
I'm leaning towards the regular fit as I feel I could reach a more broad audience. However, if the fitted are more popular, will this be a poor choice?
I'm liking the Ultra-Cotton Gildan 2000 style (especially for men's shirts, although I feel it could be marketed as a unisex/women's shirt also).
For the ladies only, I'm liking the Anvil 978 which has a slight, but not tight, fit.
Second thought, how about a GREAT UNISEX shirt since I don't have much money to spend on a variety of different styles/fits of shirts at this point. Does anyone just offer one type of shirt and make it profitable?
I'll be heatpressing the transfers myself.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Suz
Hi- What is the style or look that you are going for? A more fashion forward shirt with print would probably be better for a more fitted blank. Although, I would stay away from anything that is TOO fitted as that cuts out a large section of possible customers. However, if you are trying to create a very trendy, or fashion-forward shirt, it really wouldn't make sense to go with a boxy-cut shirt like your typical Anvil or Gildan or Hanes.
However, if you are trying to create a shirt that can reach a broader audience, and you are not going for a fashionable or trendy look, then I would go with a more standard fitting shirt. If you are doing heat transfers, I am guessing this is probably the type of shirt you are creating.
As for unisex, hmmm... I would think that one is a no-go. Either offer men's only, or put the money in to offer women's. Women can still buy a man's shirt (making it unisex), but I think there is something somewhat unappealing about the concept of unisex. As a woman, it just doesn't work for me. It makes me feel uncertain about the sizing and I wouldn't know what size to buy. You don't want potential customers to feel hesitant.
I agree with Beau, it really depends on who your audience is.
For some people, a more relaxed shirt like an Alstyle 1701 or a Hanes Beefy tee would be the perfect "fit" for their clothing line.
For other people, using a Hanes Beefy tee or a Gildan t-shirt would be a BAD move for their clothing line. Some clothing lines *need* a more fashion fitted t-shirt or at least a more "upscale" t-shirt.
Let me say this, if your doing fun, cute, creative or common type designs, go with the Gildan 2000 or a 100 % preshrunk shirt. People buy the print, not the shirt. I guess I'm jaded, we have printed a lot of shirts over the last 20 years (Private Label) who specify the shirt and put there tag inside, 90% have fail by using expensive shirts.
Fitted or Non-Fitted Shirts or unisex? 
Re: Fitted or Non-Fitted Shirts or unisex? 
