Hi all, first time poster here. I think I have a great idea for T-shirts, I've had this idea for years, but just recently decided to make it a reality.
I am going to do the design for the T-shirts myself. I want to have them custom made by a manufacturer. I own a small import/export company so I have experience dealing with manufacturers, also I live in Asia most the time and can speak Chinese so even better if I find a Chinese manufacturer.
Anyway, here is my problem. I know what I want as far as quality of the T-shirt, but since I'm new in the industry I have no idea how to describe this in technical terms to a manufacturer. All I know is that most "local" shirts I see made in Asia feel very... coarse or hard. Whereas t-shirts I buy from somewhere like American Eagle are very soft and more flexible (this is the kind I want). Both kinds claim to be 100% cotton but the feel is just totally different. Now I've done a little searching on the web, I do realize that there are different "grades" or "weight" of cotton and all sorts of different variables. Thats fine, but how do I describe (what are the different grades and weighs) the kind I want (something like American Eagle or Old Navy) in technical terms so the manufacturer understands? Or am I really just going to have to mail them one of my old T-shirts?
Also for printing. Some of the printing on T-shirts is like the color of the image or design is in the actual fabric, there is not a raised layer of paint or other material on top of the fabric. What method of printing is this? What kind of printing methods get the best quality (I'm talking for a large scale manufacturer, not for someone doing them in their garage)? Pros and Cons?
I might as well ask this while I'm here. Can anyone recommend any good manufacturers that they've worked with in China or South East Asia? Thanks!
I am going to do the design for the T-shirts myself. I want to have them custom made by a manufacturer. I own a small import/export company so I have experience dealing with manufacturers, also I live in Asia most the time and can speak Chinese so even better if I find a Chinese manufacturer.
Anyway, here is my problem. I know what I want as far as quality of the T-shirt, but since I'm new in the industry I have no idea how to describe this in technical terms to a manufacturer. All I know is that most "local" shirts I see made in Asia feel very... coarse or hard. Whereas t-shirts I buy from somewhere like American Eagle are very soft and more flexible (this is the kind I want). Both kinds claim to be 100% cotton but the feel is just totally different. Now I've done a little searching on the web, I do realize that there are different "grades" or "weight" of cotton and all sorts of different variables. Thats fine, but how do I describe (what are the different grades and weighs) the kind I want (something like American Eagle or Old Navy) in technical terms so the manufacturer understands? Or am I really just going to have to mail them one of my old T-shirts?
Also for printing. Some of the printing on T-shirts is like the color of the image or design is in the actual fabric, there is not a raised layer of paint or other material on top of the fabric. What method of printing is this? What kind of printing methods get the best quality (I'm talking for a large scale manufacturer, not for someone doing them in their garage)? Pros and Cons?
I might as well ask this while I'm here. Can anyone recommend any good manufacturers that they've worked with in China or South East Asia? Thanks!
