Short answer
Decide between decorating blank garments (fast, low minimums) and cut-and-sew to your own pattern (your fit and label, higher minimums). Choose the decoration by design and quantity: DTF or DTG for full-colour small runs, screen printing for one design in volume, embroidery for a premium logo. Wash-test a sample, fix your size chart, then order packaging made to the folded garment.
The stages
Blanks or your own pattern
Decorate ready-made blanks, or have garments cut and sewn to your design and label.
Garment suppliers ›Decoration
DTF, DTG, sublimation, screen printing or embroidery, chosen by design and quantity.
Garment printing ›Samples & wash test
Wear and wash a sample before you order a run.
Labels & sizing
Care and size labels, a size chart you can stand behind.
Packaging
Mailers and bags made to the folded garment.
Mailer boxes ›
Blanks or cut-and-sew?
Blanks are the quick start: plain T-shirts, hoodies and caps from a wholesaler, decorated locally. Ask decorators which blank brands they stock. Cut-and-sew gives you your own fit, fabric and neck label. In the UAE, AGA Traders states private-label apparel from 100 pieces per style per colour, and Apparel Factory in Ajman makes custom garments with its own printing and embroidery.
Choose the decoration
| Your design | Usual method | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Full colour, small runs | DTF (most fabrics) or DTG (cotton) | Garment printing |
| Light polyester sportswear | Dye sublimation | Garment printing |
| One design, hundreds of pieces | Screen printing | Screen printing |
| Logo that must look premium | Embroidery | Embroidery |
Sun Studio, our related UV studio, does not print garments, so it isn't part of this journey.
Sample, wash, then size
Order one finished sample in each fabric and method. Wash it several times the way your customers will, and check the print or stitching, the colour and the shrinkage. Measure the washed sample to build your size chart.
Packaging
Online orders usually ship in printed mailer boxes or poly mailers; retail uses bags. Al Mufeed lists die-cut mailer boxes and MPI Bags makes non-woven bags. Size them to a folded garment.
Production checklist
- Garment chosen: brand and style, or your own tech pack.
- Fabric weight and composition written down.
- Artwork at full size for each print position, in vector or high resolution.
- One washed and approved sample per method.
- A size chart measured from washed samples.
- Quantities by size and colour, not just a total.
Questions to ask suppliers
- What is the minimum per style, per colour and per size?
- Which blank brands and colours do you hold, and which are ordered in?
- Which method do you suggest for my design and fabric, and why?
- How does the print hold up after washing? Can I see a washed sample?
- Can you add my neck label, care label and swing tag?