Buying custom t-shirts in bulk can be an easy or daunting task, depending on your experience level with this type of activity.

As most people are used to buying readymade t-shirts in convenience stores, the knowledge and experience to procure and purchase custom designed t-shirts is something that we will explain in this blog post.

• Start with the design

Design is something that is essential, you probably already know this. However, when we say design we are not just referring to colors, logos, adhesive patches, color prints; etc. Rather, we are referring to the full design of the skeleton outline chart of your t-shirt; also referred to as a “size chart”.

Size chart

A size chart is a technical drawing that shows an outline of the following aspects of your t-shirt design:

• Chest circumference
• Sleeve length
• Shoulder width
• Length of your t-shirt
• Bottom width of your t-shirt

Any colors & design elements that you want to apply on top of this outline need to be included as well.

Ideally this design would be created by a professional designer but if you would rather do it yourself Lalaaji.com is more than happy to provide you with a free template.

• Order a sample

It’s absolutely crucial that you do not make a production order without having a final production sample in hand which has been verified and approved. Even if the factory is trying to convince you of their extensive experience and many customer success stories, it's still extremely important that you do this as there is always a communication gap in understanding between the buyer and the seller producing your t-shirt.

• Quality assurance

Once you receive a sample verify it in detail. Look at the fabric that was used, look at how the collar was cut and stitched, look at the quality of the stichting or printing of any design elements. Even go so far as to verify the quality of the tags and labels that were attached.

Often sellers will try to skimp on the tags, don’t allow this. We also recommend washing the t-shirt 3-5 times to see what happens with any prints and or coloring.

• Repeat

If you are unhappy with the initial sample, repeat the sample ordering process! We can not stress the importance of having a final production sample in hand as this is the single most important factor that will guarantee a successful production batch. Not sticking to this rule can potentially ruin your whole batch and put you in a loss.

Even if the seller says that he can make a small tiny adjustment in the production run, ask him for the final sample before providing approval. We have seen orders fall through even in this phase.

• Put in your order

Only when you have your exact final sample in hand, give the order for the production run. Make sure not to pay all the costs upfront. A typical scheme would be 40% upfront, 40% on completion, 20% on shipping. But feel free to negotiate hard to align on a payment schedule that minimizes risk for you as a buyer.

If you need any help with your production and or t-shirt samping, reach out to us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you!

If you want to know How to start a B2B-ecommerce company? read this blog