need to find a place that compares t-shirt quality

2080 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Solmu, Sep 27, 2006

ontheCoMeUP

Discussion Starter · Sep 26, 2006

compares the quality of multiple wholesale shirt companies because i cant buy 30 different shirts from all of these companies and find out which is best, that would be nice, but unrealistice. Can anybody help? thanks

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T-BOT

· #2 · Sep 26, 2006

Re: need to find a place that...

what shirts do your customers want ?

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Jasonda

· #3 · Sep 26, 2006

Re: need to find a place that...

ontheCoMeUP said:
compares the quality of multiple wholesale shirt companies because i cant buy 30 different shirts from all of these companies and find out which is best, that would be nice, but unrealistice. Can anybody help? thanks

Quality is very subjective, everyone has a different idea of what "quality" means. That's why this kind of "comparison" tool doesn't really exist.

My advice is to do a lot of reading on the forums, take all those opinions into account, and then check out the manufacturer's websites for as much info about each style as possible. You should be able to narrow down your selection to 4 or 5 different shirts - then order samples and compare them for yourself.

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Solmu

· #4 · Sep 26, 2006

Re: need to find a place that...

Besides which, it's perfectly realistic to buy 30 different blanks anyway (and easy to narrow it down so you're not buying quite that many).

Even at $5ea that's only $150 plus some change for shipping. As far as business expenses go that's nothing much, and it gives you test shirts for give aways, friends, etc.

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Twinge

· #5 · Sep 26, 2006

Re: need to find a place that...

You might check http://www.t-shirtforums.com/showthread.php?t=5862 for some discussion about t-shirt companies people go with.

Some popular ones include (but certainly aren't limited to) Gildan, American Apparel, Alternative Apparel, Fruit of the Loom (50/50), Hanes (Beefy Tee), and Bella (Ladies' cut).

Basically, the problem is that what qualifies as high quality for one person will not necessarily count for the next. It's too subjective to really list accurately.

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ontheCoMeUP

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 26, 2006

then could somebody compile a list of all of the known t shirt wholesalers, to make it easier for people to find them instead of having to dig through post after post. I think you guys confuse quality with preference, some people may not like cashmere and like polyester better but that doesnt change the fact that cashmere is better quality, I hope that helps clarify any confusion this board seems to have between the two. thanks for all of your help, without this place id be lost, just trying to return the favor!!!!!!!!!

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Rodney

· #7 · Sep 26, 2006

think you guys confuse quality with preference, some people may not like cashmere and like polyester better but that doesnt change the fact that cashmere is better quality

Interesting point, but I think when it comes to t-shirts, they actually do overlap.

I don't know if it is an objective "fact" that cashmere is better quality than polyester. I think it still might boil down to preference.

then could somebody compile a list of all of the known t shirt wholesalers, to make it easier for people to find them instead of having to dig through post after post

You are more than welcome to contribute to such a list

All it takes is one person to take the initiative.

The challenge comes when there are SO many different t-shirt wholesalers, distributors, brands. There's a pretty good list of them at: http://www.screenprinters.net/links.php (Garment Mills, Garment Wholesalers),

But it's not a complete list because companies continue to launch, close, and change their offerings.

We'll have our own similar resource for those who prefer the "one way" format as opposed to the forum/discussion format soon

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Solmu

· #8 · Sep 27, 2006

ontheCoMeUP said:
then could somebody compile a list of all of the known t shirt wholesalers, to make it easier for people to find them instead of having to dig through post after post.

I think the reason such a list doesn't exist is because no-one has seen it as necessary, the information really isn't hard to find. It's also an extremely important decision that you need to decide for yourself - the shirts you print on will influence so many aspects of your company (margin, marketing, style, etc.) that you really need to be happy with it. So it makes sense to buy samples from the wholesalers you have available to you - brands you can't get your hands on aren't particularly relevant.

(although when the project Rodney alluded to is open, I will contribute to such a list if someone hasn't already done it)

ontheCoMeUP said:
I think you guys confuse quality with preference

I think "us guys" don't universally agree on anything, and that it's quite offensive to say that as a group we're all making an ignorant mistake.

ontheCoMeUP said:
some people may not like cashmere and like polyester better but that doesnt change the fact that cashmere is better quality

Cashmere is a natural fibre. Before it can be sold to the general public you have to remove the feces that is found throughout. It is irregular and has a relatively short staple.

As a manmade fibre polyester is perfectly consistent and has an indefinitite monofilament. It can be easily and consistently dope dyed to whatever colour you want. It doesn't contain poo.

So, which one is better "quality"?

ontheCoMeUP said:
I hope that helps clarify any confusion this board seems to have between the two.

While some people can be a little extreme in their relativism (defending the quality of a brand like Gildan vs. American Apparel for example), I don't think anyone here is "confused".

Believe it or not, this stuff is subjective. Some markets require thick, some soft. Some tight, some loose. Some 100% polyester, some 100% cotton.

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